Claudia Fernandes — Hilton Vilamoura © European Hotel Awards 2026
BOARD’S CHOICE 2026 — Wellbeing as a complete resort experience, shaped by people
The European Hotel Awards have named Hilton Vilamoura As Cascatas Golf Resort & Spa Wellness & Spa Hotel of the Year 2026. The distinction recognises a resort where wellbeing extends beyond the treatment room, taking shape through water, relaxation, outdoor space, atmosphere, gastronomy, leisure and attentive service. Just as importantly, it recognises the people whose expertise transforms these facilities into a genuine guest experience.
Under the overall leadership of Miguel Afonso dos Santos, General Manager, the resort benefits from the Algarve’s natural association with light, outdoor living and restorative travel. The Board’s decision, however, rests not simply on the destination or the quality of individual facilities, but on how the establishment brings them together in a coherent hospitality experience. A central figure in this story is Claudia Fernandes, Spa Manager of 7 Seven Spa, who represented the hotel during the 2026 awards ceremony.
Wellness & Spa Hotel of the Year 2026
Hilton Vilamoura — Vilamoura, Portugal
General Manager: Miguel Afonso dos Santos
Ceremony representative: Claudia Fernandes, Spa Manager, 7 Seven Spa
Claudia Fernandes — the human face of an outstanding wellness experience
Hilton Vilamoura was represented in Bordighera by an exceptional spa professional. Claudia Fernandes combines substantial experience with genuine warmth, natural elegance and a charismatic presence. During the ceremony, she embodied the human qualities that distinguish thoughtful hospitality: attentiveness, authenticity and the ability to make others feel welcome.
A member of the 7 Seven Spa team since 2007 and its Spa Manager since June 2010, Claudia has devoted much of her career to the discipline of wellbeing. Her professional journey speaks to continuity, perseverance, operational knowledge, ongoing development and a commitment to the people who work alongside her. Her responsibilities concern the management of the 7 Seven Spa; the name does not imply that she manages seven separate spas.
Beyond professional expertise, Claudia brings an unmistakably human dimension to her work. Her leadership is rooted in the conviction that technical excellence and sophisticated treatments must be accompanied by empathy, listening, team cohesion and sincere care for each guest. Her experience illustrates why the work of a Spa Manager is not simply to supervise equipment and treatments, but to create the conditions in which a whole team can perform with confidence and purpose.
Facilities may define the setting; professionals create the experience. Through Claudia Fernandes, the European Hotel Awards wish to highlight the contribution of spa therapists, reception teams, housekeeping, maintenance and support professionals alike — whether their work is visible to guests or performed quietly behind the scenes.
Why the Board selected Hilton Vilamoura
The Board considered the resort’s ability to make wellbeing a guiding structure for the entire stay rather than a decorative marketing theme. The spa, pools, relaxation areas, overall atmosphere and Algarve surroundings do not function merely as separate attractions: together, they allow guests to change pace and enjoy a coherent experience of rest and care.
This wider interpretation reflects contemporary guest expectations. Wellbeing may mean a restorative treatment, swimming, quiet time, golf, dining or simply freedom to spend time outdoors. The quality of a wellness resort depends on whether these experiences reinforce one another while maintaining consistent hospitality standards.
The Board’s recognition therefore concerns both the quality of the physical resort and the organisational effort needed to connect its many services. The expertise of Claudia Fernandes and her spa teams gives a human dimension to this overall approach, while the work of the wider hotel teams contributes to the consistency of each stay.
The Algarve setting and outdoor resort environment form part of the hotel’s wider wellbeing proposition © Courtesy of Hilton Vilamoura
7 Seven Spa — where water, expertise and personal care meet
The spa plays a defining role in the property, with aquatic spaces and relaxation environments providing a dedicated centre of gravity. The Board’s assessment looked beyond equipment alone: technical quality becomes genuine hospitality when professional attention, atmosphere and ease of movement help guests feel understood and cared for.
This is where Claudia Fernandes’ experience is especially relevant. Years of involvement in the spa’s daily operations provide an understanding of the details behind an apparently effortless wellness experience: preparation, consistency, coordination, team motivation and individual attention. The most memorable result is not simply a treatment delivered, but a guest leaving with a lasting sense of wellbeing.
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 one ritual. Hilton Vilamoura allows spa treatments, swimming, relaxation, golf, dining and resort life to form different combinations according to individual preferences.
For the Board, the operational challenge is to keep these experiences coherent. Public areas, restaurants, rooms and spa facilities must feel part of the same establishment rather than independent products sharing one address. Every department contributes to this continuity, including professionals whose essential work remains largely unseen.
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 honours Hilton Vilamoura for bringing its spa, relaxation facilities, resort environment, atmosphere and service into a coherent culture of wellbeing. The Algarve provides a setting of natural appeal; the hotel’s achievement lies in shaping that setting into a consistent guest experience.
Under the leadership of Miguel Afonso dos Santos, and with Claudia Fernandes managing the 7 Seven Spa, this distinction also reminds us of the professionals behind the result. A hotel may receive the Award, but its excellence is created each day by dedicated teams: those welcoming and caring for guests directly, and those ensuring that every detail works behind the scenes.
During the European Hotel Awards ceremony on 28 September 2026 in Bordighera, Italy, Claudia Fernandes represented Hilton Vilamoura and received the distinction on the hotel’s behalf. Her experience, warmth and charismatic presence brought a personal dimension to an Award celebrating much more than facilities alone.
Our warmest congratulations to Claudia Fernandes, Miguel Afonso dos Santos and every member of the Hilton Vilamoura team. Great wellness hospitality is not simply what guests see. It is how they feel — and the commitment of every professional who makes that feeling possible.
Official 2026 laureate film
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, Claudia Fernandes, European Hotel Awards, European Hotel Awards 2026, Hilton Vilamoura, Miguel Afonso dos Santos, Portugal, Vilamoura, Wellness & Spa Hotel of the Year 2026, wellness hospitality
