The Savoy Hotel was the venue for yet another glamorous night full of celebrities on New Year’s Eve. Well-known national businessmen, sportsmen, politicians and artists mingled in the panoramic Bellevue room at an event that included a 6-course gala dinner, accompanied by the best Portuguese wines. 700 people in all were at the party, including hotel guests and locals who chose what is considered the most emblematic place in the city to spend New Year’s Eve.

Amongst the guests was the world-famous footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo and his family, the fashion designer, Fátima Lopes, the sports manager, Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa, the sports agent, Jorge Mendes and, of course, their host, Cmd. Joe Berardo as well as other regional and national figures. At midnight, on the huge Júpiter terrace, guests watched the famous and spectacular fireworks display that invariably marks New Year’s Eve in Madeira and which is considered one of the Region’s main tourist attractions. Back inside, entertainment continued to enchant everyone with the festive rhythm of the guest orchestra, Lorenzo’s Combo.

But 2008 was really the special year for the Savoy and Cristiano Ronaldo. After giving us the honour of his visit in September last to receive the “Golden Boot” trophy in Madeira at the Savoy, Cristiano Ronaldo, considered best footballer in the world today, chose to celebrate New Year’s Eve at our Hotel. Here, together with us and his whole family, he shared the magic moments of the arrival of the New Year. To end his stay in Madeira in style, Cristiano Ronaldo recuperated for the second and decisive half of the current sports’ season in the swimming-pools and sea of the Royal Savoy.

Photos of the New Year’s Eve party environment at the Savoy

Cristiano Ronaldo, his mother, Dolores Aveiro and Cmd. Joe Berardo

Cristiano Ronaldo poses for the photograph with Graça Guimarães, General Manager of the Savoy Group and Cmd. Joe Berardo

  Cristiano Ronaldo with his family

As a happy coincidence, the Aveiro Family celebrates Dolores’ birthday on New Year’s Eve

Cristiano made a point of posing for the photograph with the Berardo family

Fátima Lopes with her husband, Eduardo da Bernarda

Sports agent Jorge Mendes and his wife

Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa accompanied by his wife and daughter