Upscale Room Inventory Tightens As Brazil Bustles

<B> Upscale Room Inventory Tightens As Brazil Bustles</B>

By Robert Selwitz

Increased demand by business travelers plus already steady tourist traffic have made securing top quality hotel rooms much more of a challenge for travelers doing business in Brazil.

According to Antonio Torres, regional director for Inter-Continental Hotels in Brazil, this business boom results from "extensive privatization that has sparked interest from worldwide multinationals, which has most immediately impacted Rio de Janeiro as well as Sao Paulo."

And, Torres stressed, the old image of Rio as a scary place is largely passe. "Rio is safer than Orlando where I used to live," he said. This increase in safety, as well as region-wide cleanup, was the result of attempts by Rio to win the 2000 Olympics. Though Athens won that contest, Rio's efforts produced some very positive benefits--one of these was a growing volume of world congresses, ranging from plastic surgeons to cardiologists; another was a wide swath of environmental concerns. "If they were worried about coming here," he said, "they simply wouldn't have come."

Inter-Continental's 470-room property has recently been aided by the April opening of a new super highway between its Barra de Tijuca district and Rio's international airport. The new road cuts transit time to roughly 20 minutes by taxi for a trip that used to take at least double that.

Torres said, "Earlier, to reach this property, you had to pass through all the traffic in Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon. Now it's a straight drive, and we're as close to the airport as any major Rio property."

A minivan run to the airport costs around 16 reals (roughly US$18.25) and a private taxi 37 reals (approximately $42.25), Torres noted.

At the property, 1999 should see completion of a total refurbishment. Hotel meeting and convention space has been doubled to 4,000 square meters, and all rooms will have easier computer access and more comfortable in-room workspace for business travelers.

Torres also said his property is the closest to Riocentro, which is the city's largest exhibition space. Featuring 102,000 square meters of area with an auditorium seating 2,600, Riocentro was the site of the 1992 Earth Summit.

In the heart of Rio's legendary Copacabana district stands the 226-room Copacabana Palace. Following a $40 million renovation, the 75-year-old hotel has been virtually reborn. Said general manager Philip Carruthers, "We've added penthouse suites, built a special executive floor for business travelers, and extensively revamped all other guest rooms." Work included new bathrooms, air conditioning, curtains, carpets and telephone system, "all designed to bring us back to the demanding Orient Express standards."

What hasn't changed is the hotel's location, in the heart of the city. A 15-minute cab ride from the airport, "You're much closer to the central business district, in Ipanema or Butofoco. And in the evening, hundreds of restaurants and entertainment sites are a shortwalk or cab ride away," Carruthers said.

As for safety concerns, Carruthers encouraged walkers to stay on the sidewalks and avoid after-dark strolls along the water's edge. Flaunting expensive cameras, jewelry or watches also is a poor idea.

As for business, he said, "it's very good to excellent. A huge rise in the past 18 months spurred by ongoing privatization efforts has kept occupancy levels well above 80 percent."

He also urged travelers to book early, to avoid "not being able to get into your hotel of choice. Indeed, many days we are totally full."

In Sao Paulo, Brazil's business and financial capital, the 244-room Sheraton Mofarrej, part of the chain's "Luxury Collection," overlooks Trianon Park. It's in the midst of the city's commercial, cultural, shopping and restaurant districts.

In addition to a complete renovation of all guest rooms, the hotel features a business center, health club, butler service, high tech conference and meeting services and a wide range of restaurants.

At Sao Paulo's Inter-Continental, a prime asset of the 193-room, less-than-two year-old property is its Paulista Avenue location. Being sited on the city's "Wall Street" is a real advantage, according to director of sales Marcos Mello. Indeed, carefully choosing one's hotel location is particularly critical here, he noted, since "this city is vast, with over 18 million people."

Furthermore, room rates can be as much as twice those in Rio, and the demand for top quality rooms "often results in sell-outs, particularly between Sunday and Thursday."

Due to intense room pressures, Mello said his hotel, like others, has a stiff cancellation policy. Cancellations within 24 hours of expected arrival are charged at least 50 percent of the rate, he said, though he added that the Inter-Continental also offers reduced rates for stays between Thursday and Sunday.

As for new appeals, Mello pointed to Jacuzzis in deluxe rooms, and virtual offices--including scanners, fax and Xerox machines, and a special wide desk in the 40 rooms on the hotel's four club floors.