Senior leadership with deep, decades-long market expertise

Gonçalo Batalha is the Managing Partner of IHSP and an investment and hospitality executive with extensive international experience in private equity, investment banking and asset management. Throughout his career, he has built a strong track record in identifying investment opportunities, structuring complex transactions and creating sustainable value across different markets.

Between 2008 and 2022, Gonçalo served as Partner and later Co-CEO of ECS, where he led a period of significant growth and portfolio expansion. During his tenure, he was responsible for the structuring, execution, management and divestment of assets with an aggregate value exceeding €1 billion, with a particular focus on the hospitality sector. His role combined a disciplined investment approach with close operational oversight, contributing to the optimisation of asset performance and the creation of long-term value.

Prior to joining ECS, Gonçalo built his career in investment banking and corporate private equity, working in London and New York, where he was involved in large-scale transactions and strategic advisory assignments for international companies and investors.

Gonçalo holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management from the Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP).

Paulo Pinto is an Executive Partner with more than 15 years of experience in the tourism and hospitality industry.

Prior to joining IHSP, he served as Senior Advisor at ECS Capital, where he was an Executive Board Member of approximately 20 hotels and resorts and played a key role in the development and opening of 10 hospitality assets.

Paulo holds a Degree in Economics and Management from ISEG. Throughout his career, he has also held senior positions in the Portuguese public sector, including seven years as Coordinating Director at Turismo de Portugal and six years as Director at ICEP and IAPMEI, contributing to the development and promotion of Portugal's tourism and business sectors.

Joana Matias is the Director of Transactions & Asset Management at IHSP, having joined the company in 2025. With more than 15 years of experience in private equity, investment advisory and transaction execution, she is responsible for investment execution, business development and asset management, with a particular focus on the hospitality sector.

Previously, she held senior investment and advisory roles at Restart Capital and Deloitte, where she spent 12 years within the Financial Advisory practice, advising leading private equity funds and corporate groups on buy-side and sell-side transactions.

Throughout her career, she has been involved in large-scale transactions across the hospitality, real estate, banking, insurance, industrial, energy and healthcare sectors, developing extensive expertise in investment analysis, transaction structuring and transaction management.

Joana combines strong execution capabilities with strategic insight, contributing to value creation and the sustainable growth of the assets under management.

She holds an MBA from The Lisbon MBA Católica | Nova, developed in partnership with the MIT Sloan School of Management, as well as a Master's Degree and a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management from ISCTE Business School.

Carlos Costa is an Executive Partner with more than 25 years of experience in the tourism industry, combining extensive expertise in operational management, strategic leadership and public sector roles.

He holds both a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree in Economics from ISEG – Lisbon School of Economics & Management.

Prior to joining IHSP, Carlos was a member of the Executive Committee of NAU Hotels & Resorts for 10 years, where he had direct responsibility for the operational management of a portfolio of 10 hotels and resorts.

He also served as Director of Casino Lisboa for eight years, overseeing complex operations across gaming, entertainment and leisure.

Earlier in his career, Carlos was a Lecturer at the Estoril Higher Institute for Tourism and Hotel Studies (ESHTE), where he taught Tourism and Hospitality Management for 11 years.

In the public sector, he served as Chief of Staff to the Minister of Finance and the Secretary of State for Tourism for four years, and as a Board Member of ICEP, contributing to the promotion of tourism and investment in Portugal.

Mercedes Branca is the Revenue Director at IHSP, with a career dedicated to optimising hotel performance through revenue management, pricing strategy, forecasting and distribution.

At IHSP, she is responsible for maximising the performance of the asset portfolio under management through market analysis, pricing strategy and the implementation of revenue management initiatives focused on profitability and value creation.

Between 2021 and 2026, Mercedes served as Head of Revenue Management at SANA Hotels, where she led a team of five Cluster Revenue Managers and oversaw the revenue strategy for a portfolio of 22 hotels. During this period, she played a key role in driving revenue growth, improving profitability and enhancing the operational performance of the assets under management.

Ana Pereira is the Office Manager at IHSP, with more than 15 years of experience in executive support, office management and team leadership.

Prior to joining IHSP, she spent 14 years at ECS Capital, where she served as Executive Assistant to the Board of Directors and Office Manager, providing executive support while overseeing the day-to-day management of the office.

Earlier in her career, Ana worked in the hospitality industry for 12 years as part of Front Office teams at three hotels in Lisbon, gaining extensive experience in guest services and hotel operations.

Ana completed the Hotel Reception and Accommodation Programme at the Lisbon School of Hospitality and Tourism and has further training in Business Protocol and Work Organisation & Methods from KEY School.

Luís Filipe Pires is an Executive Partner of IHSP, with more than 15 years of experience in hospitality, specialising in Asset Management and Property Management. He is also a Partner at Altos Equity Partners, where he leads the firm's Hospitality practice.

Throughout his career, Luís has developed extensive expertise in Private Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) and Corporate Finance. He spent 12 years at ECS Capital, where he served on the boards of several tourism and hospitality companies and was actively involved in investment, restructuring and value creation initiatives.

Earlier in his career, he worked in the Corporate Finance practice at Deloitte, further strengthening his experience in financial advisory and transaction execution.

Luís holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management and a Master's Degree in Finance and Management Control from ISCTE Business School.

Pedro de Almeida is a Non-Executive Partner at IHSP, with more than 30 years of experience in the tourism and hospitality industry.

Prior to joining IHSP, he served as Senior Advisor at ECS Capital and was a member of the Boards of Directors of several tourism and hospitality companies.

Pedro holds a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from NOVA School of Business and Economics. Throughout his career, he has held senior leadership positions across both the public and private sectors. He served as Economic and Business Affairs Advisor to the President of the Portuguese Republic from 2006 to 2016, Secretary of State for Tourism from 2002 to 2003, and represented Portugal as Ambassador to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) from 2004 to 2006.

He also chaired some of Portugal's leading tourism institutions, including Pousadas de Portugal and ICEP, where he played a significant role in promoting and developing the country's tourism sector.

Alongside his executive career, Pedro has built a strong presence in the art and antiques market. He completed a Postgraduate Programme in Art Markets at Universidade Nova de Lisboa and undertook professional placements at Christie's and Sotheby's in London. Today, he is an art consultant and investor, owns two galleries in Lisbon and Cascais, and is an Associate Member (No. 175) of the Portuguese Association of Antique Dealers (APA).