Dom Gonçalo Fatima Hotel & Spa offers a complimentary shuttle service between the hotel and the Sanctuary grounds for guests. Advance booking is required and the service is subject to availability. Please check the available times and book at reception.
Dom Gonçalo Hotel presents the project co-financed by P2020, the Centro Regional Operational Programme, and the ERDF.
PROJECT DETAILS:
Beneficiary: Dom Gonçalo Hotéis, Sociedade de Hotelaria e Turismo
Approval Date: 2016 – 01 – 01
Start Date: 2016 – 03 – 08
Completion Date: 2019 – 03 – 08
Project Name: Individual Projects – Internationalisation
Project Code: Centro-02-0752-FEDER-013085
Operational Programme: Programa Operacional Regional do Centro
Investment Priority: PI 3.2 – The development and application of new business models for SMEs, especially regarding internationalisation.
Intervention Typology: TI 52 – Internationalisation of SMEs
Intervention Region: Centro de Portugal
Thematic Objective: OT 3 – Reinforce the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises
Main Objective: Reinforce company competitiveness and internationalisation
Fund: Feder, FSE
Investment: 135.060,17€
Total Eligible Cost: 117.545,17€
Non-repayable Incentive: 52.895,33€
PROJECT SUMMARY:
To implement the internationalisation project, several marketing, promotional, and organisational activities were defined, including the following:
– Web presence through the digital economy: investment directed towards online marketing, with prior rebranding and renewal of photographic image and creation of a new website adhering to best practices and SEO techniques, email marketing actions, social media marketing, among other SEM actions, inclusion in international directories or alternative international sales channels, and adherence to International Associations of Tour Operators;
– Prospecting and presence in international markets: carrying out prospecting actions at international fairs with the aim of promoting/reinforcing the brand’s presence and image in international markets;
– International Marketing: conception and production of promotional material for use in prospecting actions in target markets. This activity also includes the translation of the respective materials into English and Spanish, among others;
– Introduction of a new organisational method: hiring two qualified technical staff to monitor the internationalisation plan and its implementation.
– Introduction of new methods with the acquisition of online distribution tools and adaptation of the booking channel.
In the pre-project year, Dom Gonçalo had a sales volume where 48,64% was destined for external markets. In the post-project year, the company aims to achieve a minimum of 56% of exports.
OBJECTIVES ACHIEVED:
Considering the pre-project year of 2014 and the project’s financial closing date, 8 de Março de 2019, the company is very satisfied with the objectives achieved:
A. From a qualitative merit perspective, the project achieved its objectives with an effective impact on the company’s competitiveness, evaluated by its new positioning in the value chain (it remained almost always in first or second place in the TripAdvisor ranking of Fátima hotels in recent years), level of productive efficiency (with marketing and organisational innovation), and business logic orientation, now with a predominance of the external market in its sales, with a clear increase in new markets such as Brasil, Estados Unidos, Canadá, Polónia and Israel. Houve um redirecionamento dos mercados alvo dados os acontecimentos politicos e económicos na América Latina que era onde estavam localizados alguns dos mercados alvo no projecto inicial.
a) In terms of marketing innovation, significant changes were implemented in product design with rebranding, a new mobile-responsive website translated into English and Spanish, a more efficient proprietary booking system, new promotional brochures, as well as in promotion and distribution with 15 idas a feiras e 6 workshops e 2 acções de prospecção e ainda inúmeras acções de marketing digital com SEO (Search Engine Optimization) e SEM (Search Engine Marketing como publicidade nas redes sociais).
b) In terms of organisational innovation, the application of a new business practice, with the implementation of the Channel manager, allowed for an immense expansion of the unit’s distribution through many more OTA (Online Travel Agencies) with enormous productive efficiency.
B. In terms of Export Increase, the project was very close to achieving the objectives of 56% de exportações, but continuous and very positive growth was observed, reaching 66,76% de internacionalização in 2017. The trend is growing, and the company believes it will achieve the objectives of 56% until the end of 2019. Furthermore, the company achieved its objectives in terms of sales volume due to the increase in exports.
Occupancy rate: 2014: 43,08%; 2018: 58,09% ; 2019 (until 24/03/2019) 53,23%
Exports: 2014:48,64%; 2017: 66,76%; 2018: 51,88%; This means that between 2014 and 2018, we received a difference of 4000 more foreign guests.
C. In terms of Net Job Creation, the project exceeded its objectives with a net increase of 7 directly employed workers. 2014: 37; 2019: 44.
D. Regarding the Regional Impact of the project, a ripple effect was observed in the regional economy through its contribution to upstream activities (Net value of orders to suppliers in 2014: 430.057,53€; Net value of orders to suppliers in 2018: 704.347,18€) and downstream, naturally, with more local sales and more tourists visiting the region. The impact on the thematic domain of employment with 7 more qualified hires should also be mentioned.
As has always been our stance and position in the hotel industry, we respect your confidentiality. Therefore, as of this date, we are in strict compliance with the new General Data Protection Regulation, which will come into force on 25 May.
Following the publication of the diploma, we asked our customers to read our new Privacy Policy.
To all customers who agree to remain in our database and receive information from us via the newsletter, we thank you for your interest and trust.
We will endeavour to keep you informed of news, benefits and promotions, but only send you information of interest to you, in strict compliance with the new GDPR and our Privacy Policy.
Thank you very much,
The Director.
Following the publication of the new General Data Protection Regulation, which will come into force on 25 May 2018, we ask our customers to read our new Privacy Policy.
We understand any customers who do not wish to remain in our database. We suggest that you stay informed of news, promotions and benefits by following us on social media.
We also inform you that, in accordance with the new legislation and the Privacy Policy, all personal data holders have the right to information, access, rectification, erasure, restriction of processing and portability of their data, and to object to their processing. For this purpose, you can contact the hotel via email at mail@hoteldg.com.
Dom Gonçalo Hotel & Spa would like to thank the Mayor of Ourém, Luís Miguel Albuquerque, for choosing and trusting us to host the lunch on 16th May. We were greatly honoured to welcome and serve the President of the Republic of Malta, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, and the President of the Portuguese Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
- It is with great pleasure that we announce the renewal for 2019 of our sponsorship of GAF – Grupo de Atletismo de Fátima (Fátima Athletics Group), an association of public utility based in Fátima that we have been supporting for several years. Its mission and achievements could not be more deserving: training, competition, education and organisation of activities related to athletics. Many athletes from this “school” have reached the podium, and we are delighted to support them.
- At the same time, GAF has kindly offered Dom Gonçalo guests who practice athletics the opportunity to use the GAF track and facilities while staying at the Hotel. A big thank you to the Board of the Club!
Traveller’s Choice Award 2019 – Family Hotels Category
Dom Gonçalo Hotel has once again been recognised as one of the winners in Portugal in the Family Hotels category of TripAdvisor’s 2019 Travellers’ Choice® Awards. We have always loved families and children, so it is with immense pleasure that we receive this award. See everything we offer children here: https://www.hoteldg.com/pt/familias/
List of awarded hotels here: https://www.tripadvisor.pt/TravelersChoice-Hotels-cFamily-g…
At Dom Gonçalo Hotel & Spa, we believe that economic growth and social well-being are intrinsically linked to the environment. We embrace our responsibility and are committed to developing and integrating good practices and sustainability principles into our business strategy, seeking to minimise the ecological footprint of our hotel operations. To this end, the following good practices, among others, have been implemented:
• Installation of solar panels for water heating;
• Installation of double glazing and renovation of air-conditioning equipment;
• Waste separation;
• Installation of electronic key cards that automatically switch off lighting when leaving the room, and water-saving taps and flush systems;
• Installation of lighting sensors and low-energy light bulbs;
• High-efficiency boiler for water and ambient heating;
• Planting of aromatic herbs and flowers for hotel use, as well as native plants in the garden, to reduce water consumption;
• We prioritise the purchase of raw materials, equipment, and services from local suppliers.
As a result of these practices, we yesterday received the 2018 Environmental Sustainability Seal, awarded by AHP – Associação da Hotelaria de Portugal (Portuguese Hotel Association), for our commitment to the HOSPES programme – the Environmental Responsibility Programme for Hotels in Portugal.
We want our hotel to be safe. Therefore, we have implemented a set of measures recommended by the Directorate-General of Health for your safety and have made a commitment to health and safety with Turismo de Portugal. We are officially a “Healthy & Safe” establishment. You can read our protocol on our website. Welcome back to Fátima!
