Miguel Afonso dos Santos — Hilton Vilamoura © European Hotel Awards 2026
BOARD’S CHOICE 2026 — Wellbeing as a complete resort experience
The European Hotel Awards have named Hilton Vilamoura Wellness & Spa Hotel of the Year 2026. The distinction recognises a resort where wellbeing extends beyond the treatment room and is expressed through water, relaxation, outdoor space, atmosphere, food, leisure and service.
Represented by Miguel Afonso dos Santos, Hilton Vilamoura As Cascatas Golf Resort & Spa benefits from the Algarve’s natural association with light, outdoor living and restorative travel. The Board’s decision, however, is based not simply on destination, but on the way the property converts that context into a coherent hospitality experience.
Wellness & Spa Hotel of the Year 2026
Hilton Vilamoura — Vilamoura, Portugal
Represented by Miguel Afonso dos Santos, General Manager
Why the Board selected Hilton Vilamoura
The Board considered the hotel’s ability to make wellbeing a structure for the entire stay. The spa, pools, relaxation areas and resort environment do not operate as separate products; they support a common objective of allowing guests to change pace.
This wider interpretation is increasingly important in contemporary hospitality. Guests may define wellbeing through a treatment, swimming, quiet time, golf, dining or simply the freedom to spend time outdoors. A strong wellness resort must allow these different rhythms to coexist without losing identity.
The Algarve setting and outdoor resort environment form part of the hotel’s wider wellbeing proposition © Courtesy of Hilton Vilamoura
Water and calm as central elements of the guest journey
The spa plays a defining role in the property, with aquatic spaces and relaxation environments creating a dedicated centre of gravity. The Board’s assessment looked beyond equipment alone. Technical quality matters, but it becomes hospitality only when atmosphere, care and ease of movement make the experience feel integrated with the rest of the hotel.
Hilton Vilamoura succeeds in connecting structured spa time with less formal forms of recovery throughout the resort.
Aquatic and hydrotherapy spaces give water a central role in the resort’s wellness identity © Courtesy of Hilton Vilamoura
A contemporary definition of resort wellness
The Award also recognises versatility. Not every guest follows the same programme, and wellbeing cannot be reduced to a single ritual. The property allows spa treatments, swimming, relaxation, golf, dining and resort life to form different combinations according to individual preference.
For the Board, the operational challenge is to keep those experiences coherent. Public areas, restaurants, rooms and spa facilities need to feel part of the same hotel rather than independent products sharing one site.
Relaxation spaces support a slower rhythm across the wider resort experience © Courtesy of Hilton Vilamoura
The meaning of Wellness & Spa Hotel of the Year 2026
Wellness & Spa Hotel of the Year 2026 recognises Hilton Vilamoura for demonstrating that wellbeing can become a culture rather than a marketing label. The distinction reflects the relationship between spa, relaxation, resort environment, facilities, atmosphere and service.
It also acknowledges the property’s relevance within one of Southern Europe’s major leisure destinations. The Algarve provides the setting; the hotel’s achievement lies in shaping that setting into a consistent guest experience under the leadership of Miguel Afonso dos Santos.
The distinction was presented at the European Hotel Awards ceremony on 28 September 2026 in Bordighera, Italy.
Official 2026 laureate film
https://youtu.be/8g5YuPkMdDU
Hilton Vilamoura — Wellness & Spa Hotel of the Year 2026
Hilton Vilamoura As Cascatas Golf Resort & Spa
Rua da Torre d’Água, Lote 4.11.1B
8125-615 Vilamoura, Portugal
Tel. +351 289 304 000
Internet: www.hilton.com
Discover the Main Awards dedicated to excellence across European hospitality and visit the Hall of Fame to explore previous laureates.
Tags: Awards Insights, European Hotel Awards, European Hotel Awards 2026, Hilton Vilamoura, Miguel Afonso dos Santos, Portugal, Vilamoura, Wellness & Spa Hotel of the Year 2026, wellness hospitality
