The “World’s Leading Conservation Company” trophy at the “World Travel Awards”, which “recognises the excellence” of PSML’s work since 2013, was announced in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, during the official awards ceremony that took place at the iconic Burj Al Arab, the company said in a statement.

The “World Travel Awards”, created in 1993, are considered the “Oscars of tourism” and “recognise, reward and celebrate excellence in all sectors of tourism, with the brand being globally a seal of quality”, which can be read in a note sent to Lusa.

PSML administrator Luís Calaim, responsible for monuments such as the national palaces of Pena, Sintra and Queluz, the Monserrate Palace, and the Convento dos Capuchos dos Mouros, was present at the ceremony representing the society and received the award on behalf of all employees, thanking those who closely follow the company’s work and make a point of distinguishing it with their vote, year after year.

“Continuing to win the “World Travel Awards” for “Best Company in the World in Conservation” after 11 consecutive years is only possible because, at Parques de Sintra, all teams pursue excellence every day, with maximum commitment”, stated Sofia Cruz president of the PSML board of directors.

The person responsible highlighted that “a successful project and the “know-how” adds to bettering the next project, and so on, in a spiral of improvement”.

“This work, which has been consistently recognised, both nationally and internationally and has allowed, over the last 10 years, more than 25 million people to purchase tickets to visit the cultural and natural heritage that we manage” highlighted Sofia Cruz.

The president of PSML added, in the same period, “€40 million were invested thanks to the virtuous circle that characterises the company’s pioneering management model, focused on the ability of assets to generate revenues that are then reinvested in their recovery and maintenance”.

“These are facts that demonstrate that we are on the right path, in the future we plan to invest another approximately €30 million in enhancing the heritage entrusted to us, always with the same capacity to innovate and that has elevated us to world reference of our area”.

The “World Travel Awards”, voted on by the general public and industry professionals, represent one of the most prestigious distinctions that tourism companies can receive, meaning that the different categories in the competition receive applications from all over the world.

PSLM is a public capital company, created in 2000, following the classification by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Landscape as a World Heritage Site, which manages the park and the national palace of Pena, the national palaces of Sintra and Queluz, the castle and gardens of Monserrate, the Convento dos Capuchos and the Portuguese School of Equastrian Art.