About Desouza Hotels Goa in Calangute, Bardez- Goa., Panjim (Panaji)

The de Souza Group is a leading business house based in Goa. It has 5 hotels and 3 travel companies, a foreign exchange wing and a real estate & holdings firm. It started off in 1989 as a very modest enterprise and has now grown into a business house that turns over a billion rupees per annum. The dynamic nature of the group has seen it evolve constantly to keep ahead of the changing trends. What hasn’t changed, are the standards of excellence they have always been known for.

The group was founded by two brothers Ralph and Late Norman de Souza from Goa, India. At the time, Ralph was a realtor, Late Norman worked as a sales manager at a prominent hotel. Their foresight of the growth of tourism in Goa in the 1980’s motivated the two brothers to venture into the hospitality business. In 1989, ‘Colonia Santa Maria’ their first resort was started in Baga, marking the beginning of the de Souza Group.

The next five year witnessed a rapid expansion of the Group with ‘Aldeia Santa Rita’ a 3 star boutique resort in Candolim opening its doors in 1991. 94’ saw the group diversifying into travel and tour operations with ‘trans orient holidays’ an IATA accredited company which started off with tour operating, ground handling, and foreign exchange, but today has been reconstituted to be the most advanced and competitive online accommodation provider in the state. Additionally, its foreign exchange wing is the second largest in Goa. Trans Orient Holidays also operate Trans Orient Kerala, a travel agent and tour operator located in Kovalam, Kerala.

The group started the ever popular ‘Santiago’ a 3 star 75 room hotel in Baga, in 1992. It was the first resort in Goa to offer an “all Inclusive Plan” which subsequently became very popular trend in the industry.
In 1994 the group ventured into real estate. “De Souza Holdings”, a construction and estate development firm, fulfills the in-house construction requirements of the entire group.
1997 saw ‘Sun Village Resort & Spa’ a 135 room 4 star property open its doors to guests in Baga-Arpora followed by ‘Horizon’ a 55 room 3 star hotel located in the heart of Calangute.

The turn of the millennium saw the group open its second travel company ‘The Spice Route’ in 2003 which today is Goa’s biggest and most competitive accommodation provider with synergies with over 100 hotels in Goa, and is a leader in the British and Russian market. In 2007 the group pioneered the Serviced Apartment market with its 4 star project ‘Surya Sangolda’ located in Sangolda. With over 350 rooms, 3 travel companies, Goa’s second largest Forex division and estate development, the de Souza Group, is poised to conquer new horizons.