Tourism entrepreneur André Jordan dies age 90

By Michael Bruxo (Portugal Resident) with additional reporting by Chris Graeme (Essential Business)

André Jordan, the mastermind behind Quinta do Lago and considered by many to be one of the founding fathers of the luxury residential golf resort in Europe, a model he successfully implanted in Portugal from the US, has died at the age of 90.

André Jordan was renowned as one of the driving forces behind the development of luxury golf resort tourism in Portugal, being best known as the founder of Quinta do Lago in the Algarve and Belas Clube de Campo in Sintra. He also played a key role in the development of Vilamoura into the resort destination it is today.

Born in 1933 in Poland, a country he fled as a child when the threat of World War II and Nazi persecution intensified, Jordan settled in Brazil, although Portugal was where he developed several of his best-known projects.

Quinta do Lago has already lamented André Jordan’s death in a statement. “Today, we say goodbye to a true visionary, André Jordan, whose extraordinary vision and resilience created Quinta do Lago and ingrained his legacy into what we proudly call home today,” the resort says.

“André Jordan’s journey with Quinta do Lago began with a dream—a dream to create a world-class resort that embraced the charm and elegance of our local surroundings. Despite facing challenges, he embarked on this journey with unwavering spirit. From the modest beginnings of a dilapidated farmhouse to the vibrant hub of luxury and leisure it is today, André’s foresight transformed Quinta do Lago into a haven of peace and tranquillity. Throughout the highs and lows, André’s dedication never faltered. His early development efforts in the 1970s paved the way for Quinta do Lago’s success, welcoming guests from across the globe and setting a standard of excellence.”

Quinta do Lago adds: “Today, as we remember André Jordan’s remarkable life, we celebrate his vision, his passion, and the enduring legacy he leaves behind. Quinta do Lago will forever bear the mark of his spirit, inspiring generations to come. Your legacy lives on in every sunset, every smile, and every cherished memory.”

Just last year, Loulé Council named a street after André Jordan in Vilamoura, with mayor Vítor Aleixo describing the entrepreneur at the time as an “exceptional man” and a “businessman of uncommon qualities”, who was “faithful to his nature as an entrepreneur” but knew how to conduct his business “tastefully, with art, balance, elegance and great awareness about the relationship between the economy and the environment.

“Economic growth didn’t have to exist at the expense of the environment. The economy had to fit in with the environment to create value, to create excellence, to create economic activity. That is why he made Quinta do Lago the resort we know today,” said Aleixo in June 2023.

The mayor added that it is due to the “extraordinary vision of this brilliant man” that the Algarve is now a leading international tourism destination, and praised André Jordan’s role in the development of Vilamoura at a time when it needed to “regenerate and take a leap forward.

Aside from the public approval he received from countless figures, André Jordan was also awarded an honorary doctorate by ISCTE and the University of the Algarve and served as Honorary Consul of Brazil in the Algarve for 17 years. In Portugal, he was named a Grand Officer of the Order of Infante D. Henrique.

The Brazilian government also appointed him a Grand Officer of the Order of Rio Branco, and he was an honorary citizen of the cities of Rio de Janeiro and New York, having also received the Gold Medal of Loulé (1998) and Sintra, as well as the Algarve Tourism Medal.

André Jordan was also appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II and received the National Tourism Award in the Career category.

He was also involved in the founding of several important institutions in the business and cultural fields, and was the author of several books, with the most recent being “A Journey through Life.”

“It is with deep sorrow that we see the departure of a Friend, one of the
founders of the APPII and the ‘Father of Tourism in Portugal’. Our André Jordan, as we have always called him, will never leave us, because his legacy, his presence and his inspiration will be eternal, in all of us, at APPII, in the Real Estate and Tourism sectors, in the Country and the World”, said Hugo Santos Ferreira president of the Association of Portuguese Real Estate Professionals and Developers (APPII).

Bruce Hawker of the Open Media Group based in the Algarve commented: “I was deeply saddened today by the passing of a dear friend and mentor. A man who did so much for Portugal but also helped me in so many ways over the years. He was always one of the biggest fans of Essential Algarve Magazine and Portugal Resident and he actually inspired me to create what is now our events business ‘Living in Portugal Seminars’ when during the depths of recession in 2010 he gave me the idea and helped me create an event which we called the Algarve Property Show, held at the Tivoli Marina in Vilamoura.

He touched me with his genius and compassion as he did so many of us who are in businesses related to tourism and property here in Portugal. He will be deeply missed, rest in peace André, you will never be forgotten by your beloved Algarve”.

In a statement, the American Club of Lisbon noted: “In loving memory of André Jordan, a remarkable member of the American Club of Lisbon. We are deeply saddened by his passing and will forever be grateful for the immense contributions he made to the fields of tourism and real estate in Portugal. André’s visionary spirit and unwavering dedication have left an indelible mark on our community. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time. May his soul rest in eternal peace”.

Quinta do Lago, the development he founded in the 1970s and considered a pioneering flagship example of a luxury gated residential golf and leisure community, stated: “Today, we say goodbye to a true visionary, André Jordan, whose extraordinary vision and resilience created Quinta do Lago and ingrained his legacy into what we proudly call home today”.

“André Jordan‘s journey with Quinta do Lago began with a dream—a dream to create a world-class resort that embraced the charm and elegance of our local surroundings. Despite facing challenges, he embarked on this journey with unwavering spirit. From the modest beginnings of a dilapidated farmhouse to the vibrant hub of luxury and leisure it is today, André‘s foresight transformed Quinta do Lago into a haven of peace and tranquillity”.

“Throughout the highs and lows, André‘s dedication never faltered. His early development efforts in the 1970s paved the way for Quinta do Lago‘s success, welcoming guests from across the globe and setting a standard of excellence”.

“Today, as we remember André Jordan‘s remarkable life, we celebrate his vision, his passion, and the enduring legacy he leaves behind. Quinta do Lago will forever bear the mark of his spirit, inspiring generations to come. Your legacy lives on in every sunset, every smile, and every cherished memory. Rest in peace 1933 – 2024”.

The President of the Association of Hotels and Tourism Developments (AHETA), Hélder Martins remarked: “This is a incalculable loss for Algarve tourism. He was a man that did so much for the Algarve and was a lesson of life because for him quality and not quantity was what mattered”.