10 Questions: Joachim Hartl, Conrad Algarve

10 Questions: Joachim Hartl, Conrad Algarve - Joy Pecknold, Passport blog editor

In our General Manager series, we catch up with heads of hotels for some unique insight and perspective on the hospitality industry. This week, Joachim Hartl of the Conrad Algarve in Portugal answers our questions.

Best hotel room at the property: Our 300-square-meter Roof Garden Suite with private, en suite swimming pool and retractable roof, sauna, steam room, and a 180-square-meter roof garden terrace. It also offers completely independent access via a private lift to six private car parking spaces, as well as butler service.

The hotel’s most interesting detail, service or historical tidbit: As part of the overall architectural concept, the Conrad Algarve was built as an 18th century palace into the 21st century.

I love the palatial details, such as the impressive avenue approach flanked with torches and fountains, as well as lightflooded lobby representing a Moorish Central Dom. Favorite drink at the nearest bar: Passion Fruit Mojito. Mojito with Zacapa 8-year rum with fresh passion fruit. The perfect sundowner, to die for, and available only at a secret place—you have to come to find out.

Favorite dish at the nearest restaurant: Line-caught red snapper barbequed with rosemary-scented charcoal accompanied by a fresh watercress salad, with mango and peach dressing, and oven roast potatoes. To grill the fish you only need but olive oil, a bit of garlic and flos salis—flower sea salt from the Ria Formosa in the Algarve—just before you serve the fish. The best fish in Europe lives in the Algarve.

The neighborhood shop or boutique you love: In line with my favorite dish, I love visiting the Fishmarket in Quarteira, approximately 15 minutes from the hotel. You do need plenty of time though as you will meet god and the world, from restaurant owners to the actual fisherman, and everybody has a story to tell. The variety of fish and seafood is just fascinating as well as the passion of people for great produce.

Best touristy activity or outing in your city: Swimming with the dolphins. We have done this for the first time with our kids at Zoomarine which is one of the best

marine zoos in Europe located close to Albufeira in the Algarve. The staging is fantastic and if you book one-on-one sessions with the dolphins it is an incredible emotional experience for both kids as well as adults.

Best non-touristy activity or outing to do in your city: Clam picking in the Ria Formosa. You go out to the Natural Reserve with local fishermen friends and pick racer clams in the seabed at low tide. The whole experience is just fantastic, from the original fisherman boats all the way to how you have to put salt onto the right holes in order for the racer clams to surface and Flamingos flying above you in the sky.

Outside the lobby, what’s your hobby?

Golf and hunting.

Your last holiday destination and hotel: Our last holiday was a tour through Andalusia in Spain by car with the family. Generally speaking, I like touring rather than staying for too long in one place. We started in Seville where we stayed at the Afonso XIII, an unbelievable hotel with great history representing what the lifestyle in Seville is all about. Try the rooftop bar of the EME Cathedral though overlooking the Cathedral – breathtaking. We moved on to Cadiz where we stayed in a very small 17th century hotel and experienced some great seafood—not as good as the Algarve though. Next stop was Ronda with the oldest bull fighting arena in Europe. We just walked through the old town absorbing all the history of the place. Last stop was Granada.

Alhambra is probably the pinnacle of cultural influences with an incredible history. The kids loved exploring it. We also stopped at a great hotel close to Granada on the way back called La Bobadilla, a beautiful small hacienda-type village resort. Overall, it was great to spend quality time with the family as well as exploring a great region very close to the Algarve and still culturally very different.

Your next holiday and hotel destination, planned or wished: It has to be the Okavango Delta in Botswana, Africa.