Pillar 2. Financial integrity: your money stays closer to where you sleep
What is "economic integrity" in a hotel?
It means ensuring that the operation is financially sound, yes—but without passing on the costs to others: not to the team, not to the producers, and not to the region.
For you, this is less "marketing hype" and more real value:
more consistent service,
kitchen with clear origins,
more carefully thought-out experience,
and the rare feeling that your money does not disappear into a chain of intermediaries.
1) Diversification: more choice, fewer “one-thing hotels”
Gandum doesn't just live off rooms. This makes the project more resilient and, at the same time, gives you more reasons to stay.
How does this translate into your experience?
Comfortable and detailed accommodation, without the "luxury script."
Provenance as a destination in itself (not just "the hotel restaurant").
Experiences and activities that connect nature, food, and local culture.
Events, retreats, and teams when it makes sense, without detracting from the character of the place.
Coworking/workation for those who want focus with serious space and light.
Result: more options in one place and less dependence on a single source of income—which helps maintain quality and consistency throughout the year.
2) Local partnerships: short supply chain, more consistent flavor
Local partnerships are not just "nice." They are a concrete way to create quality and stability.
What we do
We work with local producers and artisans whenever possible.
We create synergies with local businesses (guides, farms, vineyards, culture).
We have created packages and experiences that showcase Montemor as a natural extension of your stay.
What do you gain from this?
Ingredients with clear origins and more consistent quality.
Less transportation, less logistical noise—more reliability.
More authentic experiences because they are not "invented" already exist here.
3) Ethics and transparency: better service starts behind the scenes
A hotel can only be good on the outside if it is fair on the inside.
What we do
Decent wages and stable working conditions.
Continuous training to improve service and attention to detail every day.
Relationships with suppliers based on fair pricing and continuity.
Clear communication: prices, policies, and how things work, with no fine print.
What does this change for you?
More attentive service, less "robotic."
Less turnover, more consistency.
A lighter atmosphere: sit down when the team is doing well.
4) Direct bookings: fewer commissions, more margin for what matters
When the reservation comes through an intermediary, a significant portion of the value immediately leaves the system. Direct reservations reduce this leakage and improve the experience.
What we do
We are committed to a simple website and booking engine.
We create advantages for those who book directly (when applicable and without empty promises).
We use direct communication (email, editorial content, one-off offers) to maintain relationships—not dependence on platforms.
What this allows (in practice)
More capacity to reinvest in:
team,
maintenance and detail,
experiences,
and sustainable improvements that make Gandum more resilient.
5) Certifications and differentiation: proof, not pose
Certifications are not the goal. They are a way to validate and organize what we already do — and to give confidence to those who choose us.
What we want to ensure
Credibility (e.g., Green Key, B Corp, and others that make sense).
Clearer metrics over time (e.g., carbon, water, waste).
A unique positioning: real regeneration, not just a "generic eco-hotel."
What this means for you
Less greenwashing. More facts. More trust.
Goals that guide this pillar (to keep our feet on the ground)
Annual revenue balanced between accommodation, Provenance, and other areas.
50% direct bookings as a target (to reduce dependence on OTAs).
70% of suppliers are regional (to strengthen the local economy).
20% of revenue from experiences/events/services (for resilience).
SDGs linked to this pillar (in simple terms)
SDG 8 Decent work and economic growth
SDG 12 Responsible consumption and production
SDG 17 Partnerships to implement impact
Economic integrity, in the end, is this: a hotel that stands on its own two feet without cutting corners.
And when the model is healthy, you feel:
more consistency,
more quality,
more calm,
and the rare feeling that your money is feeding the place where you are—not a system around it.