by Jen Mallia
Last updated: 10:20 AM ET, Tue April 29, 2025
As power comes back on in the Iberian Peninsula, the governments of Spain and Portugal are still looking for answers as to what caused a widespread power failure throughout the two nations.
Millions of homes and businesses were left in the dark and people were stranded in elevators and on subways when power suddenly went out on Monday, April 28, 2025. By Tuesday morning, 99 percent of the grid was restored in Spain and Portugal reporting full power.
The travel industry is a major economic driver in Spain and Portugal — one that uses electricity for almost every aspect. Headlines reporting “Travel Chaos” underscored how trains, planes and traffic were impacted, stranding tourists and causing delays and snarls nationwide.
EuroNews reports that airports were not forced to close thanks to back-up generators, but many flights, particularly at Madrid, Barcelona and Seville airports, have been cancelled or delayed. Airport authorities are asking travellers to check with their airline on flight status before travelling to the airport. In Lisbon, it’s a similar situation with cancellations and delays as it digs out of the mess.
Located close to the Lisbon airport is the Martinhal Lisbon Oriente, which was inundated with last-minute bookings as travellers were forced to make unexpected changes to their plans. The hotel was able to accommodate all comers with the help of their back up generator.
In addition to the Lisbon Oriente property, Martinhal Resorts operates another hotel in Lisbon and two resorts and residences in the Algarve. TravelPulse Canada was able to reach Martinhal Resorts CEO, Chitra Stern, for comment. She praised the team for going above and beyond to keep operations running “as smoothly as possible” thanks in part to the crucial generators and to the contingency plans the team already had in place for power outage eventualities.
"We managed all challenges quite well, including ensuring our guests heard from us, especially those who are travelling either in or out of Lisbon, that they know that they can safely get to and from the airport and keeping them aware of the situation to manage their expectations,” said Stern. “We secured food and drink for our owners and guests in all properties. In fact, with the closure of supermarkets we still managed to supply everyone through our own inventory.”
Although widespread disruptions like this are thankfully rare, it underscores the importance of having plans in place and the flexibility and adaptiveness needed to succeed in the travel and tourism industry.
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