The Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express brands are strengthening their presence in Portugal alongside the Real Hotels Group, which now has eight properties in the country.
In addition to a new opening, the property in Príncipe Real is the first in the country with the “Express & Suites” concept, offering a wide range of options for families, business travellers, and extended stays. The Holiday Inn Express & Lisbon – Príncipe Real will also house a separate restaurant, which promises to become part of the city’s culinary scene with signature cuisine.
IHG Hotels & Resorts and Real Hotels Group announce the opening of the new Holiday Inn Express & Suites Lisbon – Príncipe Real. With this opening, the Real Hotels Group adds eight Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express properties alongside IHG in Portugal, bringing a new generation of flexible, accessible, practical, and efficient hospitality to one of the city’s most creative neighbourhoods for travellers, families, business owners, and entrepreneurs.
The Holiday Inn Express & Suites concept was designed for the contemporary traveller—practical, independent, and who values simple, functional solutions with excellent value. Located in the vibrant and charismatic Príncipe Real neighbourhood, this new hotel offers the essential ingredients for a smarter travel experience, curated by IHG and operated by Real Hotels Group, which has 20 properties in the country and is operationally the third-largest hotel group in the country.
Note that the different brands under the Holiday Inn umbrella cater to distinct traveller profiles. Holiday Inn is the most comprehensive version, with four-star mid-to-upper-range properties located primarily in urban and tourist areas, such as the most recent example, the Holiday Inn Algarve Albufeira, opened by Real Hotels Group in July 2025. Holiday Inn Express—which Real Hotels Group has four properties in Greater Lisbon and two in Porto—offers a more practical and accessible approach, without a traditional restaurant and ideal for those seeking convenience and value. The Holiday Inn Express & Suites brand, now in Príncipe Real and the first in the country, combines the simplicity and agility of the Express with the added comfort of suites equipped with kitchenettes and living areas, perfect for families or extended stays.
Created for the Smart Traveller and Families.
Children and teenagers with families, under 18, stay free.
With 184 rooms equipped with all the essentials, including 30 spacious suites with kitchenettes, sofa beds, and separate living areas, this property is ideal for families, extended stays, or business travellers seeking greater flexibility. The experience includes free high-speed Wi-Fi, smart workspaces in the rooms, and restful sleep guaranteed by the Express Recharge program, with premium bedding and blackout blinds.
Guests can also enjoy the Express Start breakfast, a distinctive offering of the Holiday Inn Express & Suites brand.
Every detail has been designed to simplify the stay and provide freedom of choice. Whether it’s a quick break before a meeting, a relaxed start to the day, or a productive work session in the hotel’s shared areas, everything here is designed to make travel easier and smarter.
The Holiday Inn Express & Suites Lisbon – Príncipe Real is also designed for families. In keeping with the brand’s policy, children up to 18 years old stay free when sharing a room with their parents or guardians. The suites, with a kitchenette and sofa bed, provide a practical, comfortable, and affordable solution for families visiting Lisbon.
Smart Design for the Modern European Traveller: Generation 5
The Holiday Inn Express & Suites Lisbon – Príncipe Real fully embraces the new Generation 5 design standards, the latest evolution of the Holiday Inn Express brand in Europe. This new approach redefines public spaces to offer a more functional, fluid, and comfortable experience, aligned with the demands of the contemporary traveller. With Generation 5, the brand reinforces its commitment to a more streamlined, connected hospitality that adapts to today’s pace of life—without compromising comfort.
The spaces combine lounge, dining, and work areas with clean yet inviting lines, ergonomic furniture, integrated charging points, and a smart layout that promotes both rest and productivity. The goal is to create versatile spaces where guests can work, relax, or socialise naturally.
Among the highlights of this new-generation concept is the Express Café & Bar, which takes on a more informal and functional format, and offers amenities that include indoor parking with charging stations for electric vehicles, a Lobby Lounge Bar, a Street View Bar, a gym, luggage storage, and a 24-hour reception.
550º: Where fire unites, flavour rules, and the table belongs to everyone
Located in the new Holiday Inn Express & Suites Lisbon – Príncipe Real and opening soon, the 550º Restaurant will be a new signature space on the city’s culinary itinerary, with a simple purpose: to bring back the warmth of conviviality and the prominence of flavour to the table. Based on fire-based cuisine—cooked over coals, in the oven, or directly over a flame—the menu, which will be unveiled soon, is designed to share and whet the appetite for authentic moments in the “heat of the moment.” Without artifice, but with fire, 550º will be a place of flavours with personality, where each dish is a “fire that burns” to be seen, savoured, and warmed by the moment.
A brand owned by IHG and managed in Portugal by Real Hotels Group
This opening marks a new chapter in the group’s presence in the capital, reinforcing its commitment to quality and democratic hospitality in the country’s main urban destinations.
João Marques, Director of Operations for the Essentials Collection at Real Hotels Group, emphasises, “At Real Hotels Group, we are proud to be longtime partners with IHG, with eight Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express properties, and now a Holiday Inn Express & Suites hotel under our management. These brands have established a solid presence in Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve, offering reliable, modern, and comfortable stays in key urban centres. With this new opening in Príncipe Real—considered one of the trendiest neighbourhoods in Europe, for example, by The Telegraph—we reinforce this position in one of the most vibrant and cosmopolitan areas of the city.”
Inês Meneses, Director of Holiday Inn Express & Suites Lisbon – Príncipe Real, also points out that “this opening represents an important step in our vision of a more open, people-centred hospitality, adaptable to all types of stays. By combining the accessibility and efficiency of the Holiday Inn Express & Suites concept with the prestige of this location, we have created a space that welcomes professionals, families, digital nomads, and urban explorers, always with an authentic connection to the local community.”
Express & Suites, in sweet Lisbon
Located between numbers 12 and 20 on Travessa Fábrica dos Pentes, in one of the city’s most authentic and charming neighbourhoods, the hotel is just steps from the Amoreiras shopping mall and 900 meters from the iconic Marquês de Pombal roundabout. It’s an ideal starting point for leisure or business travellers seeking comfort, convenience, and true local flavour. From the hotel, it’s easy to immerse yourself in Lisbon’s historic charm: with panoramic views from the Príncipe Real viewpoint, strolls along Avenida da Liberdade and Chiado, or a ride on the iconic tram 28, which passes just a three-minute walk away, heading to Graça, Alfama, Baixa, and Praça Luís de Camões.
About Real Hotels Group
Real Hotels Group is one of the largest hotel groups in Portugal, with 20 properties located in Lisbon, Porto, Cascais, Oeiras, Estoril, Setúbal, and the Algarve. The group is the result of the merger between Real Hotels and Newpalm. The group operates both its own brands and properties integrated into the international portfolio of IHG – InterContinental Hotels Group, through the Holiday Inn brand. This partnership strengthens the group’s presence in urban and business segments, with international hospitality standards.
The Real Hotels Group portfolio encompasses 3- to 5-star hotels—from beachfront resorts to urban centers—with a focus on authentic experiences, excellent service, and a strong connection to the region.
More information at: www.realhotelsgroup.com
About IHG® Hotels & Resorts
IHG Hotels & Resorts is a global hospitality company, dedicated to delivering True Hospitality for Good. With a family of 19 hotel brands and IHG One Rewards, one of the world’s largest hotel loyalty programs, IHG has more than 6,500 hotels in operation in over 100 countries, in addition to a development pipeline of more than 2,200 properties. Luxury & Lifestyle: Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, Regent Hotels & Resorts, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Vignette Collection, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Hotel Indigo
Premium: voco Hotels, HUALUXE Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, EVEN Hotels
Essentials: Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Express, Garner Hotels, Avid Hotels
Suites: Atwell Suites, Staybridge Suites, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Candlewood Suites
Exclusive Partners: Iberostar Beachfront Resorts
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group’s parent company and is incorporated and registered in England and Wales. Approximately 375,000 people work in IHG hotels and corporate offices worldwide. More information at: https://www.ihg.com/hotels/pt
About Holiday Inn Express
For travellers on the go, Holiday Inn Express offers more where it matters: a good night’s sleep with the Express Recharge program, attentive service from genuine teams, and the complimentary Express Start™ breakfast, all designed to make guests feel truly prepared for the day ahead. As the fastest-growing brand within the IHG Hotels & Resorts portfolio, Holiday Inn Express’ mission is to facilitate authentic human connections through a simple, smart, and efficient travel experience.
More information at: www.holidayinnexpress.com
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