Victor Albuquerque, Chairman and Managing Director of Alcon-Victor Group and one of Goa’s most respected business leaders, passed away on March 6 afternoon at the age of 81, following a brief illness.
His life story is inspiring because he started his career as an Asst. Engineer in PWD in the mid-1960s and went on to establish one of Goa’s largest Construction & Hospitality Groups. He was the Chairman and Managing Director of Alcon. Along with Anil Counto, he founded his company Alcon-Anil Counto Enterprises. The Radisson Hotel Group and the Victor Hospital are both parts of the Alcon Group. His funeral will be held at St. Inez Cemetery on March 7, 2022.
He was passionate about the hospitality industry and was concerned about the state’s tourism. He stated that Goa will have to do something different in order to attract foreigners.
Victor Albuquerque, an Engineer by trade, has a degree in Civil Engineering and over 30 years of design and construction experience, gradually moved to the hospitality business, where he managed hospitals and hotels in the state with his two sons, Vinay and Varun. He was also appointed Honorary Consul General of Russia in 2013.
Mr Victor M. Albuquerque,.was also the Promoter / Founder and Chairman of the Goan People’s Urban Co-operative Bank Ltd. in Goa. He had the vision to venture into alternative medicine as well, which led to the establishment of Devaaya Ayurveda & Nature Cure Centre & Mercure.
Victor Albuquerque believes that medical tourism is a good industry with 10-15% occupancy during the season. Sensing a need, he established the first super-speciality hospital in Margao, Apollo Hospitals, which performs surgeries on foreign patients. In Divar Islands, he also established Devaaya Ayurveda and Nature Cure Centre.
Mr Albuqerque has a long history with the Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry, where he has guided the Chamber’s Real Estate and tourism initiatives.
In his condolence message on Twitter, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said, “Saddened by the demise of eminent businessman, Shri Victor Albuquerque. His contribution to Goa’s hospitality industry has been tremendous. My deepest condolences to the bereaved family.”
Former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat on social media said, “Saddened by the passing away of my friend Victor Albuquerque. He was a philanthropist who always gave a helping hand to the needy. My condolences to his family. May his soul rest in peace.”
Victor Albuquerque’s long time business partner Anil Counto who is now the Chairman of Alcon-Anil Counto Enterprises told Herald, “I lost a very good friend. For 27 years from 1971-to 1998, we worked together during our good and bad days. He always thought out of the box and came out with very innovative and brilliant ideas. In fact, we grew together and in the mid-60s we both worked for the PWD. He was very enterprising, daring and hardworking and hence we came close. In fact, our thought processes were the same. I feel extremely saddened. Very unfortunate.”
Mr Ralph De Sousa, President of the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Managing Committee extend their heartfelt condolences on the untimely death of Mr Victor M. Albuquerque.
