MEET THE TEAM
" We believe in disruptive luxury travel, quality over quantity, allowing businesses to grow strategically, exponentially, consistently, and consciously. " Matilde Haour Ayala
MATILDE HAOUR AYALA
Founder & CEO
Meet Matilde, a proud French citizen, born in sunny Portugal, who brings a unique blend of cultures and languages to her work in the luxury hospitality industry.
As a bilingual speaker of French and Portuguese, with fluency in English and Spanish, Matilde delights in experiencing the diverse idioms and cultures she encounters in her travels, with Thailand, Morocco, and the Azores topping her list of favorite destinations.
Matilde is a countryside lover who can't go a day without cheese and knows how to appreciate the finer things in life. It's no wonder she fell in love with hospitality.
Holding a Hospitality Management Diploma and a BBA in Events Management from the prestigious Les Roches Global Hospitality University.
In her previous roles, Matilde has worked with renowned hotels such as Corinthia Hotel Lisbon (Lisbon, Portugal), Kempinski Hotel Bahia (Marbella, Spain), Emirates Palace (Abu Dhabi, UAE), Iberostar Selection Lisbon (Lisbon, Portugal), Bairro Alto Hotel (Lisbon, Portugal) – The Leading Hotels of the Word, and Bomporto Hotels: The Lumiares and The Vintage Lisbon (Portugal) – Small Luxury Hotels of the Word.
With over 12 years of experience in the luxury hospitality industry, Matilde decided to pursue her entrepreneurial dream and founded Iconoclast Hotels & Travel in late 2022. Her vision is to bring a healthy disruption to luxury travel, to be free-spirited, and to not follow the usual path.
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FRANCISCA ALBUQUERQUE
SALES MANAGER
Meet Francisca, a Portuguese-born sweetheart with vibrant African roots.
She's got a heart full of love for Angola and a thing for places that serve up stunning scenery and mind-blowing food. Italy and Greece? They're at the top of her list.
Francisca is a master at making people feel right at home and loves encountering new faces. It's no wonder Francisca fell in love with the hospitality industry! Oh, and let's not forget, Francisca is a dancefloor rockstar.
With nearly 6 years of expertise in hospitality, Francisca has worked in renowned properties like Four Seasons Lisbon, Sheraton Porto, Sheraton Cascais, and Bomporto Hotels.
Her unique charisma, joy, and authentic contribution to the greater good are like rocket fuel for your business growth.
ANDRE BORGES
REVENUE MANAGER
Meet André, 100% made in Portugal but 99% Spanish at heart. Although he currently lives in Madrid, his favorite place on earth is Sevilla - for its unique and captivating vibe.
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A connoisseur of good red wine and a steak tartare enthusiast, it's no wonder André fell in love with the hospitality industry! Oh, and André is a true tech-savvy.
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With over 10 years of expertise in Revenue Management & Sales, André has worked in renowned properties like Bairro Alto Hotel, Meridien Barcelona, and Sao Lourenco do Barrocal.
His exceptional pricing and strategy skills combined with a 360-degree vision, make him a key asset to elevate and grow your business.
CATARINA LAIRES
IC COMMUNICATIONS & PR
CL International is an international Travel & Lifestyle boutique PR consultancy founded by Catarina Laires.
With over 20 years experience in PR – both overseas and in Portugal – CL International is able to provide clients all over the world with quality media results, domestic & international, thanks to a strong network of international media contacts built over the years.
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The growing influence of social media is also key to ensure great ROI.
CL International works with a selected group of skilled influencers that will help generate bookings and sales.
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