The Algarve Tourism Brotherhood mourns today after the discovery of the body of the well-known, popular and highly respected hotelier Dinis Pires.

Mr Pires’ family, 53, reported him missing on Thursday at his home in Monte Seco, Loulé.

The circumstances of his death were not explained, but according to the Algarve Postal, the hotel manager had suffered from a long period of depression.

When he was “mysteriously” missing on Thursday morning, family members imagined all sorts of scenarios, “but already feared the worst,” writes the online.

The search began in the evening with the help of friends and locals coordinated by the GNR and the city Bombeiros. Even a heat-seeking drone was used, but it appears that the body has been undetected for some time.

According to friends, it was discovered in a field not far from home.

Awards have been received through social media that show how much people feel and admire their unexpected loss.

Mr. Pires has been described as one of the most competent hotel managers in Portugal. On his career path he rose to responsibility in a number of 5-star establishments, including Pine Cliffs in the Algarve. Convento do Espinheiro Historic Hotel & Spa in Évora and then again Hilton Cilamouras Cascata Golf Resort & Spa in the Algarve.

His Facebook page, filled with messages of shock and condolence, describes him as 51% Algarvian, 49% Alentejan and 100% ‘môco do Sul’ (southern boy).

Mr Pires loved the landscape and apparently liked to see himself as a “weekend farmer”. Portuguese gastronomy was one of his passions – the calories he tried to get away from on long walks, says Algarve Postal.

One of the most moving honors was published this afternoon by Évora radio producer Luís Matias of Diana FM, who named Mr Pires “one of the most important people in validating the city of Évora and the Alentejo in the international tourism market”. He managed to show a city and a region – at the time with only one 5-star hotel – as an unforgettable, unique and calming travel destination for the body and mind. As we always said, it is much better to go to Évora than to the Seychelles. He brought sophistication to the people of Évora and made them feel that the hotel was for them too. He was a wizard. The brutality and surprise of this news makes me think of the suffering of his family – and what he must have been through recently. Dinis left, but I don’t think he left us. “

Other honors were shorter, but just as warm. One of his many colleagues said: “I am in shock. We lost a great friend and a great hotel manager. Until another day, Dinis Pires. Thank you for everything”.

natasha.donn@algarveresident.com

ENDS