The Dom Pedro story begins in 1968 when an Italian businessman, Pietro Saviotti fell in love with Madeira Island where he made his first investment in Portugal, the Dom Pedro Ba’a Hotel, which opened in 1972 in the beautiful bay of Machico. Originally the island's capital, because it was the spot where the Portuguese navigators first disembarked in the year 1420. At the age of 22, his younger son Stefano went to Madeira to work with his father, becoming the leader of the Group in 1973. Then, relevant investments were made in the Algarve , at Vilamoura, started with the Dom Pedro Golf, a milestone in Portuguese hospitality. In 1998 the Group opened its first five star hotel, The Dom Pedro Palace in Lisbon. Presidents like Clinton and Putin were two of the most honourable guests of the 420m2 Penthouse Suite with a 360¼ view of the city of Lisbon. It is known for its wide range of quality services for business meetings, along with its excellent location. The foreign expansion of the Group began with the construction of the Dom Pedro Laguna Beach Villas & Golf Resort, the first five-star hotel built on the Luxury Eco Resort Aquiraz-Riviera", spread across approximately 740 acres being 143 acres under environmental protection with 2kms of sea coast. The "Aquiraz-Riviera," has the first golf course in Cear‡, the "Ocean Golf Course."