Vila Galé and TAP Air Portugal promote travel to Europe at Toronto event
Representatives from Bahia state's tourism board were present
TORONTO—Last night, Vila Galé Hotels and TAP Air Portugal hosted an exclusive event for approximately 150 media professionals at Casa do Alentejo in Toronto, Canada, to promote travel to Europe and raise awareness of TAP’s offerings from the Canadian market.
Vila Galé currently operates 52 hotels worldwide, with 34 in Portugal, 13 in Brazil, and one each in Spain and Cuba.
The evening began with a welcome reception featuring wines from Santa Vitória, a Vila Galé winery in Portugal. Guests were greeted by CEO Gonçalo Rebelo de Almeida, alongside the ambassadors of Portugal and Brazil. Presentations followed, highlighting Vila Galé’s properties and tourism opportunities in Brazil’s Bahia state—known as the “State of Happiness”—famous for its white sand beaches, Afro-Brazilian culture and syncretic religious traditions, the scenic Chapada Diamantina National Park, and the historic city of Salvador, Brazil’s first capital.
TAP Air Portugal offers daily flights from Lisbon to Bahia, a popular destination for European travelers that remains relatively undiscovered among Canadians. The airline recently announced promotional round-trip fares to Europe from Toronto and Montreal, starting at CAD$579 (US$399) for travel between September 15, 2025, and March 22, 2026. Bookings are available until May 4.
Liliana Vieira, District Sales Manager for TAP Air Portugal in Canada, spoke about the airline’s sustainability initiatives, premium service in Business Class, and its onboard gastronomy featuring Portuguese wines. She noted that the A321LRneo—TAP’s only aircraft currently serving Toronto—is designed to showcase Portugal while offering efficient, long-haul comfort. She also highlighted the airline’s growing North American network, including new and popular routes such as Lisbon–Los Angeles and Boston–Porto, the latter of which she said “is doing well.”
Vieira also touched on trending destinations, noting that routes like Lisbon–Naples have increased summer frequency and that Madeira is currently in high demand.
“TAP Air Portugal offers the most affordable Business Class to Europe and the most traveler-friendly Economy seat when it comes to fare, baggage, and service,” she said.
The evening concluded with a standing dinner and networking. Vila Galé and TAP will host a second and final event tonight in Montréal.
Find images of the Toronto event below:
Representative from the tourism board of Bahia
Vila Galé Hotel CEO Gonçalo Rebelo de Almeida
Vila Galé representatives on stage at the May 26 event in Toronto, Canada
Grace Gonzaga, Sales Director, Vila Galé at the entrance to the event
Jorge Ferreira, Sales Director at Santa Vitório
The venue
Representative from Bahia, Brazil with event attendee
Wines from Santa Vitória, a Vila Galé winery based in Portugal, were sampled during the event
