“At the time I knew I was going to be a father, I started thinking to myself what I really wanted to give as an example and a legacy. Not in a material perspective, but in terms of what I wanted to do with my life. Having kids increased that intergenerational perspective. I changed from a short term vision to a long term vision.”
We’re in great company with Pedro Franca Pinto, Chief Dream Officer of Belong, a multifaceted business model where he hopes to create a sense of community and circular economy connecting agriculture and culinary experiences to hospitality and the natural environment, which he first envisioned and invented with his concept Craveiral Farmhouse, a countryside estate in Alentejo, Portugal.
After starting his career as a Lisbon lawyer, Pedro had bigger dreams for future generations, wanting to impart a positive impact with the world around them, valuing a symbiotic relationship with nature above all else. Once Pedro swapped his city office for what land he could afford on the unspoiled Alentejo coast, he dove into the unfamiliar hospitality industry full of passion, purpose and curiosity.
In this episode, Pedro shares how he brought Craveiral Farmhouse to life, between luxury and sustainability, between the connection to nature and the comfort of modern life. While this is his first realization of Belong, he shares much more about all that it can become.
Top Takeaways
[1:50] Pedro shares his life changing moment. From following his parent’s wishes in pursuing a career as a lawyer in Lisbon to becoming a parent himself and pursuing a lifestyle of positive impact that will leave a legacy.
[6:30] Set alongside one of the “best coasts in Europe,” why Pedro chose the region of Alentejo to build Craveiral Farmhouse - from the unspoiled land to the circular conditions needed to support the local community.
[11:45] How creating a resort with restaurants and a working farm is not the end goal, rather a means to regenerate the region through a circular economy.
[17:00] Guests can expect to experience a sense of freedom and authentic countryside life - from picking strawberries, to petting goats, to finding the chickens’ eggs - while enjoying the comfort of modern amenities.
[21:30] “Belong, Giving Shape To Meaning” goes beyond a sense of place to stay. We learn about how the other pillars of growing & tasting, nature, experience and school all play a part in this world Pedro is bringing to life.
[27:00] Pedro explains what a future schooling system could look like where children don’t specialize in a certain career path, but rather learn to innovate and collaborate across a multitude of skill sets.
[29:40] Belong will continue to expand with new properties focused on adult wellness, gastronomy paired with local wineries, and a farm to skincare product line.
Notable Mentions
Vinha da Micaela
Daylesford Stays, Cotswold, UK
