The deadline was given to journalists by the CCB Chairman, Elísio Summavielle, at the end of the presentation of the 2019/2020 cultural season.

In question is the analysis of the only proposal received for the project, presented by the construction company Mota-Engil.

The commission created for the analysis will have to assess whether all the requirements of the specifications are met, having scheduled another deliberation meeting for next 3 October.

If the green light is given to Mota-Engil and the contract is signed later this year, Elísio Summavielle explained that, in 2020, the first €300,000 of annual rent will enter the CCB coffers.

"What is foreseen is: an annual rent of €300,000 until the beginning of the operation of the hotel, the shops and offices. From the moment they go into operation, the annual rent is €900,000," he said.

The concession for a hotel and commercial area aims to finalise the original architectural project by architects Vittorio Gregotti and Manuel Salgado, but is also related to the need for the CCB Foundation to have more financial resources of its own.

"The construction of the hotel will allow us to have greater ambition in programming, such as internationalization and put Lisbon on the map of the major performance attractions of Europe," said Elísio Summavielle.

Today, the director maintained his optimism about the continuation of the project, saying that, "if all goes well", and after overcoming the "invisible work" of procedures, permits, authorisations and previous archaeological surveys, the work could start at the end of 2020 and the conclusion could take place in 2023.

According to Summavielle, the project will have to comply with Vittorio Gregotti and Manuel Salgado’s original architectural design.