Former Secretary of State for Tourism, Commerce and Services Rita Marques labeled the return to the private sector as “legitimate”, despite the fact that she started running a company to which she paid benefits less than a year ago.
The Observador newspaper reported this Saturday that, despite the law providing for a three-year period of disgust, Rita Marques, who left government a little over a month ago, will now lead The Fladgate Partnership, which owns WOW, a company to which, as Secretary of State, he granted final tourist utility status.
The weekly Expresso reported this Sunday in its ‘online’ edition that the former governor also confirmed to SIC Notícias that she was “absolutely sure of the decisions taken as secretary of state” and also “of the decisions she takes in the private sphere”. since she left the government”.
According to the law, “holders of political offices of an executive nature cannot, for a period of three years from the date of termination of their respective office, exercise functions in private limited companies (…) which have been directly intervened by the political office holder”.
Rita Marques will become manager of The Fladgate Partnership group, with responsibilities in the hotel and tourism division.
The note released by the company indicates that, “Following the termination of roles as Secretary of State for Tourism during 2019-2022, Rita Marques will now be taking on roles as manager of The Fladgate Partnership, responsible for the hotels and tourism, leading the management of key units such as WOW, the cultural district of Gaia”.
The former ruler is believed to be “functioning as a member of the board of directors of The Fladgate Partnership as of January 16 and will be responsible for the Hotels and Tourism division,” the company said, indicating that “leading Rita Marques to the will be in charge of WOW, the Gaia cultural district, the Taylor’s and Fonseca cellars, the Yeatman hotel, the Vintage House in the Douro, the Hotel da Estrela and the Palacete Chafariz d’El Rei in Lisbon, as well as the Stained Glass Museum, the Ferry on the Douro River and the group’s 20 restaurants”.
In addition, “the new luxury hotel, which will be born in Vila Nova de Gaia at the end of 2024, and the shops in the center of Porto will also be added to this portfolio”.
“I am very excited to be part of the great team of The Fladgate Partnership. Port wine is Portugal’s oldest ambassador. I am sure we will create excellent opportunities to continue to appreciate port wine and the rediscovery of the city of Porto and the Douro region, as wine and cultural destinations par excellence,” stated Rita Marques, quoted in the same note.
Adrian Bridge, Executive President (CEO) of the group, for his part, said that “It is a great honor to integrate Rita Marques into the Fladgate Partnership group, benefiting from its knowledge and experience in business management and tourism. Strong commitment to the tourist area, in which the group has invested and will continue to invest and which is a good support for the main activity, Port.
The Fladgate Partnership is a holding company that owns port wine, tourism and distribution businesses, with “the group’s founding company being Taylor’s, which dates back to 1692”.
“In 2001, it acquires Croft, founded in 1588, which has already celebrated its 430th anniversary. With its other houses (Fonseca and Krohn), it is a leader in the production of special categories of Port wine, which is sold in more than 105 countries “, the group remembers.
The company has moved into the tourism field more recently, focusing on the establishment of The Yeatman Hotel, which opened in 2010.
“It also owns the Vintage House Hotel, in Pinhão”, as well as WOW, (World of Wine), an “initiative that aims to transform the historic area of Vila Nova de Gaia with a cultural district of seven museums, twelve restaurants and bars, a wine school and various shops”.
Source: DN
