Rita Soares named Best Portuguese Hotelier at DUCO Awards

Rita Soares, CEO and founder of Herdade da Malhadinha Nova, has been awarded the Best Portuguese Hotelier title at the DUCO Spain & Portugal Awards 2026. The ceremony took place in Marbella, Spain, during the second edition of the DUCO event, which focuses on the luxury travel and hospitality sectors.

Located in the Beja district of the Alentejo region, Herdade da Malhadinha Nova is a family-run project that integrates luxury hospitality, enotourism, gastronomy, and sustainability. As a member of the Relais & Châteaux network, the estate features a hotel, private villas, a winery, and a signature restaurant.

Soares attributed the recognition to her family and her team of approximately 100 employees, emphasizing a philosophy of luxury rooted in nature, territory, and the cultural traditions of Alentejo. The Alentejo Regional Tourism Promotion Agency (ARPTA) noted that the distinction helps project the region's tourism capabilities to international luxury markets.