In 2018, video-sharing app TikTok became a global sensation almost overnight. Surpassing two billion downloads in less than three years, the platform quickly became a go-to hub for musicians, comedians and celebrities, who still upload an estimated ten million videos a day as of this year. So perhaps it was inevitable that golf destinations would eventually carve out a home on TikTok – and one of the first is Portugal’s Onyria Quinta da Marinha.
The established resort has launched a behind-the-scenes account on the social media phenomenon, giving guests and media a one-of-a-kind look at the workings of a five-star golf and lifestyle resort.
Set amongst the idyllic town of Cascais, just a short drive from Lisbon Airport, the destination debuted on the video-sharing platform last September and wasted no time creating a plethora of trend-inspired and original content.
Posting bite-sized daily videos, the profile pulls back the curtain on every aspect of life, work and relaxation at Onyria Quinta da Marinha, with everyone from culinary staff to engineers given a chance to shine.
Much content is focused on the never-ending evolution of a world-class resort in the search for perfection, with staff on hand to tell viewers about various refurbishments both present and future. In recent years, such developments have included the opening of the picturesque Onyria Marinha Boutique Hotel in 2023, adding 84 opulent rooms, villas and suites to the resort’s offering.
Also under the spotlight is the venue’s acclaimed golf course, built by legendary architect Robert Trent Jones – regarded by many as the greatest golf designer of all time. The par-71 course has gone from strength to strength since opening in 1984, recently adding a luxurious new clubhouse and upgraded Trackman driving range with new putting and bunker practice areas.
With more than 140 uploads and counting, here are five things revealed by Onyria Quinta da Marinha’s team over the last six months.
1: Star connections
With staff from all over the world (employees hailing from countries as diverse as Greece, Brazil, Cape Verde and the Netherlands are featured on the resort’s TikTok) it’s inevitable that a destination of Onyria Quinta da Marinha’s scale will have ties to some serious household names. Sales director João Pinto Coelho cited rock legend Alice Cooper among the most interesting guests he has shared a round of golf with – despite confirming that the School’s Out singer “didn’t bring the big snake”.
Meanwhile, assistant food and beverage director Frederico Albuquerque revealed his connection to iconic chef and TV personality Gordon Ramsay, with whom he had previously worked as a bar manager in London. While giving the viewers a tour of the recently refurbished bar and restaurant areas, Albuquerque described the Hell’s Kitchen star as “an amazing chef, amazing person.”
2: Adapting to change
Last month, Pinto Coelho – who has been part of the resort’s journey since 2004 – went back to the very start to discuss how Onyria Quinta da Marinha had adapted to changing customer tastes over the decades.
“Although it looks new, we are almost celebrating 25 years of history,” said Pinto Coelho, “and hotels change a little bit because the trends change a lot.” At their most notable, those changes can come in the form of major renovations – which were carried out by Onyria Quinta da Marinha in 2007, 2014 and again during the pandemic. “Clients are different all the time. We had to adapt, so we did.”
3: Environmental innovations
Part of the Eco Hub Cascais, a collaboration of five-star hotels in the region committed to environmental sustainability, Onyria Quinta da Marinha is no stranger to all things green – and one TikTok clip with the Onyria Group’s maintenance engineer highlighted that some of the key initiatives are actually tucked out of guest view.
On the roof of the Onyria Marinha Boutique Hotel, viewers got an exclusive look at the rows of solar panels used to heat the resort’s water. Along with techniques like waste limitation, ‘paperless’ events and recycling, it’s no surprise that thinking like this earned the resort recognition at the 2023 Sustainable Future Awards.
4: Individual staff contributions
One idea consistently reinforced throughout the resort’s TikTok feed is the importance of offering products and experiences that guests can’t find anywhere else. That philosophy is rarely more evident than in one clip from February, in which a member of the bar staff walked viewers through the mixing of his own invention, a seasonal cocktail called Winterbrise.
5: Family philosophy
As a family-owned business, it’s no surprise that the importance of team spirit and togetherness is another recurring theme that crops up again and again in Onyria Quinta da Marinha’s TikTok feed. Operations General Manager Paulo Figueiredo sums up the philosophy while showing guests the new Onyria Marinha Boutique Hotel.
“Family values are really important to the way we manage the hotel. We believe that everything is easier if we look at our guests and staff as family.”
For more insightful and entertaining regular content, you can follow Onyria Quinta da Marinha on Tiktok at @onyriaresort
For more information about Onyria Quinta da Marinha Hotel and to book, email reservations@quintadamarinha.com or call +351 214 860 141.
