History

On Sunday Hallelujah of 1952, José Coelho Júnior opened the doors of his restaurant "The Toca do Coelho" in Quarteira, a dream that conquered with his wife D. Esperança Coelho. Well famous were the gastronomic delicacies that were served here, the stuffed squid, cuttlefish with ink and a special “Xerém”. There are still those who remember these good times. José Coelho Júnior, enterprising man has always believed that the best decision was to expand and build a hotel.

Who still remembers the shields? Or the times when each country had its currency? Or that the proposals were sent by fax or even letter? We are the generation that witnessed the biggest revolution in the way we communicate in such a short time. It is worth remembering the new generations that was always possible to get to the final guest, perhaps not so fast, but it was with a deep sense of serve guests well.

In the summer of 1965, the Hotel Toca do Coelho was inaugurated, already with 32 bedrooms, a good capacity of accommodation for that time. In the same summer, Faro International Airport was inaugurated with the presence of the President of the Republic, Alm. Américo Tomás. The Algarve was beginning to gain ground as a tourist destination, though they were few hotels in the area.

Quarteira conquered more and more travelers, national and international tourists. The beach that was once almost deserted, earned every year new colors and new visitors. Holidaying here was the best choice.

Some say that we are nothing without family, we believe! Thanks to a man with vision and a woman that has always been at his side, it was possible to make a dream come true. It's an immense pride to honor those who allowed us to get here from generation to generation, a family business that every day strengthens its ties and creates the future together with the younger ones. Dreams that are Life legacies.

Almost two years after the opening of Hotel Toca do Coelho, we were in 1967, José Coelho Júnior has passed the Hotel managing for his sons in law, João Manuel Soares and José Vitória Neto, an excellent decision that gave a new dynamism and strategy to the hotel. For easier promotion in international tourist markets, the hotel is now named Hotel Dom José, which at the same time was a tribute to the family patriarch, José Coelho Júnior.

It is with affection that we keep memory of the Athletics Team accommodation oriented by Prof. Moniz Pereira and where, the first Portuguese, the great athlete Carlos Lopes, won the gold medal in the Olympics of 1984.

Of its 32 original bedrooms are now 154, all with elegant design and equipped. How was this expansion possible? BELIEVE AND HARD WORK had always been these two values that guided the history of our hotel. Those were times that required a lot of determination because nothing was easy, always worth the strength of all to believe. Today the Dom José Beach Hotel is more dynamic than ever and convinced that there is still much to do.

Over the years the hotel has grown with the expansion, having at the present moment 154 bedrooms. In 2007, João Luis Soares takes over as General Manager of the Hotel. The witness reached the 3rd generation. Dom José Beach Hotel has won tourist awards that distinguish it as one of the most recognized and respected national hotels in its category.