Fairmont Victoria Golf Resort Portugal: Vilamoura’s Golf Flagship Reinvented
A new chapter is underway for one of Vilamoura’s crown jewels. The Victoria Golf Resort & Spa, long admired for its location beside the iconic Victoria Golf Course, soon to be renamed the Els Club Vilamoura, is being reimagined as the first Fairmont-branded hotel in Portugal.
As of 30 April 2025, global hospitality group Accor assumed management of the 260-room property, marking the beginning of a bold transformation. With a full renovation now in motion, the resort will soon join the prestigious Fairmont Hotels & Resorts portfolio, known globally for delivering refined luxury rooted in local culture. For golf travellers with an eye for comfort, consistency, and course access, this is a story worth following closely.
The property already features four restaurants, four bars, multiple outdoor pools, a gym, and a spa with six treatment rooms. Every room and suite includes a private balcony, and its expansive conference centre can host up to 700 guests, making it ideal not only for leisure breaks, but for high-end events, golf retreats, and society travel. As the resort undergoes its transformation, these features are being enhanced under Accor’s direction, with the Fairmont rebranding expected to complete in 2026.
But what truly sets this hotel apart is its proximity to the Els Club Vilamoura, formerly the Victoria Course and host of the Portugal Masters. Now a private members-only course designed by Ernie Els, it offers guests the rare opportunity to play one of the Algarve’s most prestigious layouts, steps from their room.
This development is more than cosmetic. It signals Vilamoura’s continued rise as the beating heart of luxury golf in Portugal. Already a mainstay in Algarve golf holidays, Vilamoura is being redefined, less as a sun-and-golf stopover, and more as a complete lifestyle destination. The arrival of the Fairmont brand only reinforces this trajectory.
According to Fairmont CEO Omer Acar, the company is “thrilled” to debut in Portugal through this flagship project, calling Vilamoura “one of the country’s most exciting and sought-after destinations.” The sentiment is echoed by property owner Arrow Global Group, whose long-term strategy is to create a multi-layered leisure, sports, and hospitality hub in Vilamoura. The result is a destination that blends international standards with authentic local experiences.
Guests won’t just be drawn to the greens. Beyond the fairways, the Algarve offers hiking along the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail, oyster tastings in the Ria Formosa, and day trips to the market town of Loulé, all easily reached from the resort. And with Faro Airport just 30 minutes away, access remains effortless.
For those planning golf holidays in Portugal for late 2025 or 2026, the Fairmont Victoria Golf Resort Portugal is poised to become a flagship experience: high-spec, well-located, and rooted in the best of Algarve golf.
Explore our full range of Vilamoura golf holiday packages
