About Us
Our Story
From Vision to Impact:
A Journey of Renewal.
VIDA means life—and that’s exactly what we bring back. VIDA was founded on a simple, powerful belief: that life deserves a second chance. For people seeking greater freedom and security, and for places—hotels, buildings, and spaces—that once thrived and are ready to live again.
Co-founders Alex Ohnona and Maria Alvarez, shaped by lives across continents, understand the true value of global mobility. When they chose Portugal as their home, they set out to contribute to its future building a fund that gives new life to underperforming hospitality assets, while offering international investors a safe, purposeful path to European residency.
Blending deep expertise in hospitality and finance, Alex and Maria created VIDA as more than a fund. It’s a mission: to invest with discipline and care, to upcycle rather than start from scratch, and to leave every place—and person—better than they were found. Just as importantly, VIDA was built around people.
Around the idea that working with integrity, building a team you trust, and creating value that lasts is the most meaningful investment of all.
What we stand for
At VIDA, our mission is to protect what matters most—your capital, your freedom, and your future. Through disciplined hospitality investments, we focus on capital preservation. Our fully regulated approach is built on a foundation of long-term security and global opportunity. More than a fund, we offer a stable path to global mobility and the freedom to shape your future.
Trust
Building and maintaining trust is at the heart of everything we do.
Service
Providing personalized, high-quality service to every client.
Growth
Fostering sustainable, long-term growth for our clients and their families.
Our Track Record
Decades of Experience
One Vision
Our leadership team has led over €1 billion in deals across hospitality, investment, and real estate—transforming underperforming assets into high-value destinations across Europe, the U.S., and Latin America.
€1B+
In transaction experience
Across hospitality, real estate and structured finance deals globally.
50+
Years of combined leadership
Experience in banking, hospitality, M&A, and asset management.
130+
Hotels repositioned
Spanning acquisition, repositioning, and growth strategy.
Curious what VIDA II could mean for you?
Our investment in action
VIDA's
Advisory team
Meet our founders. Each brings a wealth of experience and a track record of success in the investment and hospitality sectors, guiding our fund towards sustainable growth and profitability.
Maria Alvarez Garcia is a Partner at VIDA Advisors, where she oversees tax, legal, structuring, and fundraising.
She previously co-founded a €250M platform and worked at Macquarie Bank, Barclays, and Freshfields in Madrid.
Maria also specializes in delta one trading and holds degrees in Economics, Finance, and Law from Universitat Pompeu Fabra.
José Covas is CIO at VIDA Advisors, leading sourcing, investment, and disinvestments. He is also CEO of Iniciativability, a Portuguese family office and advisory firm.
With nearly 30 years in real estate, José has led valuation and advisory teams at firms like Colliers and Cushman & Wakefield, and co-founded Aura REE.
He teaches in top MBA programs and holds leadership roles in international valuation standards.
VIDA's
Executive team
Gisela has been Member of Board of Directors of STAG since 2021 and is directly in charge of the Legal and Compliance departments.
At STAG she is responsible for monitoring and ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and regulatory obligations specific to the fund management industry, such as those imposed by the financial regulatory authorities. She has extensive knowledge of 'AML' and KYC' procedures, due diligence, and risk assessment of both clients and investments.
Has over 20 years' experience having been involved in a wide variety of transactions, with a particular focus on; M&A, joint ventures and corporate reorganizations, asset purchases, private equity and venture capital financing.
Founder and current partner of STAG following an MBO in 2023. António is the COO of STAG while also being in charge of Finance and Human Resources.Previously was the Chief Investment Officer and also Chief Compliance Officer.
António has a deep track record in dealing with the Portuguese Stock Market's Regulator, from the setup of Venture Capital Funds, risk investment mitigation, identification, prevention and implementation of measures related to COl issues.
In his work experiences, António acted as a qualified Lawyer specialized in Private Wealth Management, providing consultancy services for the implementation of various real estate and financial investments.
Diogo Saraiva de Ponte is a partner of STAG following an MBO in 2023. He is the Chief Investment Officer and also in charge for Investor Relations and Business Development.
Previously established and managed two Asset Management Companies in different continents. He managed more than €2 billion of assets under management, covering different asset classes across a number of continents.
He has been a guest speaker at several conferences in; Luxembourg, Belgium, Angola and Portugal, opinion guest writer for an economic newspaper as also lecture for several entities as London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) and Architectural University of Lisbon.
VIDA's
Hopitality Team
Want to speak directly with our team?
Triple Check System
Triple-Layered Security, Fully Compliant.
VIDA is highly regulated to ensure each investment goes through a triple check system via the VIDA Advisors, Fund Manager, and Custodian Bank. The Fund is subject to a strict and thorough auditing process that complies with the Portuguese Regulator and assures sound management of the Fund.
1. Fund Advisor
The executive team of VIDA will source upon and review potential investments and submit non-binding recommended opportunities that meet the defined objectives and strict criteria for approval by the Investment Committee.
2. Fund Manager
Upon recommendation from the Investment Committee, the Fund Manager will be responsible for analyzing and deciding on each investment proposal and dictating the final sign-off on each investment.
3. Custodian Bank
The Custodian Bank is the final control in relation to the investors’ investment, in addition to the required approval and ongoing regulatory supervision by CMVM (Portuguese Regulator).
Three layers of oversight ensure transparency and compliance from end to end.
Invest With Us →Frequently asked questions
Who is behind VIDA?
VIDA was founded by Alex Ohnona and Maria Alvarez—bringing together decades of experience in hospitality and investment.
Why was VIDA created?
VIDA was built on a shared belief in second chances—for overlooked assets and for families seeking global mobility, legacy, and peace of mind.
Where is the team based?
Our team is headquartered in Lisbon, Portugal, and we frequently travel to meet with investors worldwide.
What makes VIDA different from other funds?
We’re asset-backed, investor-first, safety-focused, and human. Our strategy is built not just to perform, but to protect—and our team is always within reach.
Is the fund regulated?
We adhere to strict regulatory standards. VIDA is an investment fund rigorously managed by STAG Fund Management SCR S.A., and regulated by the Portuguese Securities Market Authority (CMVM). This ensures compliance with legal and ethical investment practices, safeguarding our investors’ interests. VIDA is also audited bi-annually by Deloitte.
Have questions?
Send a message directly to your personal consultant, we’re here to guide you through the entire process.
Alternatively you can also Whatsapp Maggie here.
Or send an email: ir@vida-cap.com
