Customer spotlight: Visit Cascais
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How Visit Cascais uses Lighthouse’s Data Solutions to strengthen destination strategy
Key Results:
Enabled faster access to real-time data on local accommodation
Supported 300+ tourism businesses with monthly performance insights
Improved collaboration through centralized, accurate reporting
About Visit Cascais
Visit Cascais is the destination management organization (DMO) responsible for promoting the Cascais region in Portugal. As a private, non-profit association, Visit Cascais supports over 300 tourism businesses - from hotels and golf courses to local accommodations - by delivering data-driven insights that help shape strategy and drive performance.
Luedji Afonso, Digital Platform Manager at Visit Cascais, leads the development of internal applications and reporting tools. He works with Lighthouse’s Data Solutions to access timely, actionable insights that help the destination stay competitive.
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A new source of truth for local accommodation data
Challenge:
Before Lighthouse, Visit Cascais relied on outdated, top-level data from the National Tourism Board. “We’d get data from the previous year, but nothing close to real-time,” Luedji explains. The team had no consistent data on local accommodation, despite it being a major segment of their partner base.
Solution:
Lighthouse now provides detailed occupancy, ADR, and length-of-stay data for local accommodation in Cascais. “We use this in our monthly and yearly reports, which support both internal planning and our members’ strategic decisions.”
Results:
Replaced outdated data with real-time performance metrics
Supported 300+ tourism businesses with monthly insights
Created a trusted, centralised source of tourism data
“Previously, we had nothing on local accommodation. Now we can give our members data that actually helps them make better decisions.”
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Data that informs strategy and strengthens partnerships
Challenge:
Without detailed local data, it was difficult to assess market shifts or support partners with timely guidance. Internal reporting also required manual data requests from multiple stakeholders, an inefficient and error-prone process.
Solution:
Luedji uses Lighthouse dashboards to export pre-built reports, which are integrated into a custom Excel template. This streamlined workflow ensures monthly and annual reports are accurate, timely, and easy to share across the organization.
Results:
Reduced manual workload for internal teams
Enabled faster, more consistent report delivery
Built stronger collaboration with partners using shared insights
“Our members find the data really helpful. It’s not easy for them to access updated, reliable data these days. This helps them plan their own strategies.”
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A strong partnership built on support and accuracy
Challenge:
For a DMO, accuracy is critical. “We don’t work for revenue, but we work for results,” says Luedji. Having precise, easy-to-access data is essential to guide regional strategy and align efforts across stakeholders.
Solution:
Lighthouse provides not only accurate data but also a user-friendly platform and responsive customer support. “The new platform is easier to use, and the Lighthouse team is always there when we need help.”
Results:
Faster navigation and report generation
Personalized support and flexibility
Clear, confident strategic planning
“The platform is accurate and easy to navigate. And when we need anything, we just email and the team is always there to help.”
Advice for Other DMOs
“Understand what your organization needs before investing in any platform. But once you have that clarity, Lighthouse is a great solution – there’s no such thing as too much data if it’s well treated.”
