The Sterns entrepreneurship story from the first hotel opening, through education to the latest ultramodern Branded Residences in Lisbon.
Chitra and Roman Stern, our long-standing members, have been continuously developing their businesses and creating amazing new destinations and innovative projects in real estate, education, and hospitality. Their first project, the hotel brand Martinhal, is now a well-known name among the most discerning family travelers in Europe and beyond. After successfully opening the Martinhal Sagres Beach Family Resort in 2010, through very tough economic times, the Sterns continued to explore opportunities across Portugal to bring the Martinhal brand concept to different locations in Portugal. Driven by their passion and entrepreneurial vision, the couple has grown their business with the opening of Martinhal Quinta do Lago in the Algarve, Martinhal Cascais in Quinta da Marinha, and Martinhal Chiado in the heart of Lisbon between 2015 and 2016.
Martinhal Cascais was sold when a local family repeatedly approached the Sterns to buy the hotel. Within 6 months of the sale of Martinhal Cascais, Martinhal Lisbon Oriente opened in June 2023. An innovative Hotel and Branded Residences in Lisbon’s modern Park of Nation neighborhood. Chitra and Roman Stern, have carefully chosen the right location to execute the visionary project of Martinhal Lisbon Oriente, reflecting the commitment to excellence, sustainability, and opportunity of creating unforgettable family living and holiday experiences, designed by the world renowned and distinguished architect Eduardo Capinha Lopes. With this ultramodern project, the Martinhal Resorts embarks on a journey of unveiling a landmark building that will redefine elegance and distinction in the already interesting landscape of Lisbon.
Through the 14 floors, Martinhal combines a high-end selection of hotel and residential apartments, with Martinhal Lisbon Oriente, featuring 91 exquisite apartments for leisure and business travelers, primarily on the first 4 floors. And Martinhal Residences with 60 luxurious residential units, from floor 5 to 14, for those you want to indulge in a world of 5-star services in their everyday life. Both the hotel and residences benefit from 24-hour reception, invigorating heated indoor and outdoor pools, a captivating bar lounge, a versatile workspace, enticing play spaces and kids club for children and a sophisticated restaurant providing unique food experiences. Terrace restaurant offers unique Eastern-influenced food and drink experiences in the varied landscape of food in Lisbon.
The Sterns are passionate about promoting local culture and they have worked in conjunction with O Apartamento to collaborate with 8 different Portuguese artists for art that adorn the walls of the reception, restaurant, apartments, corridors and even the indoor pool. The hundreds of pieces throughout the building pay tribute to the works of Bordalo II, Graça Paz, Angela Ferreira, Oficina Marques, Jorge Santos, Tamara Alves, Pedro Batista and Vasco Águas.
Beyond Hospitality
The Sterns have also diversified their real estate business through development of other asset classes. They developed the office building that is now Ageas Headquarters in Lisbon, just next to Martinhal Oriente which has won several awards on the international stage.
They have also developed an international school complex set within a wider Education Hub campus of 36,000 sqm in the same trendy area of Parque das Nações/ Marvila. United Lisbon International School, now a member of the Dukes Education family, opened its doors in September 2020 offering world-class K-12 international education and has now more than 617 students and 85 teachers across 53 nationalities.
Edu Hub Lisbon
Currently the Sterns are working on the development of the Edu Hub Lisbon, planned as a collaborative campus for the future of education in the city of Lisbon.
They already hosted Bordalo II’s first solo exhibition in 5 years in the last quarter of 2022 – Evilution, which exhibited more than 40 pieces of Bordalo’s exciting work, including several pieces in new exploratory themes for the artist. The film REWILD featured several from his series of LIGHTED ANIMALS, some of which now adorn Martinhal Oriente.
The Hub will have apartments designed to accommodate both long-term stays for teachers, students, young urban professionals, and short-term stays for business travellers, tourists and others seeking to experience this well-located, creative campus.
This Hub aims to foster a real-world approach to lifelong learning, driven by digital transformation and innovative partnerships. This first-of-its-kind campus community for Portugal will come to life within revitalized industrial buildings with new spaces for learning, working, and living.
Chitra and Roman are delighted to have chosen Portugal as place to live, start a business and a family! They keep looking for business opportunities in Portugal, always committed to create value and bring innovation.
If you are interested in buying a property in Portugal, visit https://www.martinhalresidences.com to find out more about the new Branded Residences in Lisbon. For more information, please contact info@martinhalresidences.com
For world-class international education in Lisbon, check out United Lisbon International School, a member of the Dukes Education family of schools https://www.unitedlisbon.school or contact info@unitedlisbon.school
If looking for holidays in some of Portugal’s best locations, visit https://www.martinhal.com and https://www.longtermrentalsportugal.com for long term stays.
For Enquiries about potential investments in the EduHub, please visit https://www.eduhublisbon.com
