PRESS KIT OUR HISTORY 3 THE HOTEL, ITS EXCELLENCE, SERVICES AND QUALITY APARTMENTS AND SUITES 6 7 THE SIXTH FLOOR THE TOWER WING BUILDING RESTAURANTS 10 CIPRIANI MEE PÉRGULA COPACABANA PIANO BAR COPACABANA PALACE SPA BEAUTY SALON 13 14 LUXURY STORES 15 LEISURE AND ENTERTAINMENT EVENTS 16 17 THE CARNIVAL BALL NEW YEAR’S 20 21 THE CELEBRITIES 22 2 OUR HISTORY The history of the most luxurious hotel of Rio began when President Epitácio Pessoa asked the hotelier Otavio Guinle to construct it in 1923. The French architect Joseph Gire modeled the hotel on the Mediterranean style of the Hotels Negresco in Nice and the Carlton in Cannes – and so the Copacabana Palace became a symbol of Rio. The Copacabana beach was still quite deserted and unknown at that time. Besides depicting tradition and luxury, the Copacabana Palace hotel has added historic value to the city of Rio de Janeiro. Since its inauguration, this sumptuous hotel has been the stage of important political, cultural and social events, transforming Copacabana into one of the most famous districts of the world. In the 30´s, the Golden Room was inaugurated as the number one show venue in the Latin America. Famous artists such as Dionne Warwik, Josephine Baker, Ella Fitzgerald, Marlene Dietrich, Ray Charles and Nat King Cole have performed there. At the time when the Belmond group, acquired the Copacabana Palace, in 1989, the hotel had just become a National Heritage building. The company, which has more or less 50 leisure units made up of hotels, trains, cruise ships and restaurants, has already invested over US$ 50 million in reforming and remodeling the hotel with the aim of making the Copacabana Palace the best in South America - it now ranks as one of the three most important businesses of Belmond. In 1990, a brilliant new illumination system was inaugurated and lit up the magnificent façade, making the decorative details stand out even more. By the end of 1991, the swimming pool had been enlarged and remodeled to become the semi Olympic size it is today. With the stunning surroundings, it is now considered to be one of the most beautiful swimming pools in Rio. 3 The well-known French decorator Gerard Gallet, who had already been involved in with the decoration of other Belmond hotels, such as the Vila San Michele (Florence) and the Cipriani (Venice), took over the remodeling and refurbishing of the interior of the Copacabana Palace. The French Painter Dominique Jardy, famous for her murals, was chosen by Gallet to transform his ideas into reality. Her beautiful tromp l´oel can be seen in the elevators, along the corridors of the Penthouse floor, and in other places along the hotel. Among past guests are members of Royal Families, presidents, famous film stars, musical artists, athletes and top politicians. Many famous names make up the long list of guests that have signed the hotel´s valuable Golden Book, initiated in 1923. A gallery of photos of some of those who signed lines the wall of the large reception salons on the mezzanine floor. Such familiar names as Santos Dumont, Gene Kelly, Orson Welles, Nelson Mandela, Prince Charles and Princess Diana, Arturo Toscanini, to mention a few, are there to be seen. In 1933, the hotel was the backdrop for the film “Flying Down to Rio”, making the city into a cinematographic landmark, especially as it was the first film that Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers danced together. In 1994, the Cipriani Ristorante was inaugurated replacing the former Bife de Ouro Restaurant. It was soon considered one of the three finest in Brazil. The best of Italian cuisine was in the hands of Chef Francesco Carli, an amazingly creative Venatian who came straight from the Cipriani and Palazzo Vendramine Hotel in Venice, until 2010. On that same year another Italian, Nicola Finamore, came to Brazil to be the new chef as Francesco was given the title of executive chef of the hotel after working there for 16 years. In the end of 2013, Nicola decided to go back to Italy and therefore we welcomed Luca Orini, which was the head chef of the Hotel Grand Timeo in Sicily. Clients dining at the Cipriani enjoy the outstandingly beautiful view of the pool. At the other end of the pool is the Pérgula Restaurant, which has a magnificent view of the Copacabana beach. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner, its claim to fame is the Saturday Feijoada and its sumptuous Sunday Brunch, considered the best in Rio. Also, the hotel has a new Asian restaurant opened in 2014 called MEE. 4 The end of the year 2012 was very important for the hotel due a major refurbished on the main building. With an investment of US$ 15 million (35 million reais more or less) and duration of 5 months, the work changed the 147 apartments and lobby making it more comfortable for our guests. The first part of the project designed by French architect Michel Jouannet was the opening of the main lobby that gained 80% more space than the original one. With walls and stair made with the finest marble originals from the time when the hotel was built in 1923, the lobby and check in area has now almost 2.200 ft². With the renovation, the car drop of also became larger in order to fit more than one car for the guests and clients arrival. But the main objective of this entire work was to transform the hotel into a handicap friendly space. As the building is old and also part of National Heritage every chance inside or outside needs to be 100% approved by many members of the Brazilian government. 5 THE HOTEL, ITS EXCELLENCE, SERVICES AND QUALITY Guests leave the Copacabana Palace with a feeling of having experienced the best of excellence and a unique experience from a very personalized service from a staff of 2.5 per apartment. The atmosphere in the hotel is family friendly due to the special personal service which has a way of making families feel welcome and at home. Their every need is attended to, and the individual histories compiled makes sure guests are well remembered on when they return. Exclusive products such as the Copacabana Palace´s own aromatic scent which pervades throughout the hotel, along with personalized amenities such as boxes made of chocolate with the guest´s name on it, mineral water labeled with the name of the hotel, candles, bathrobes, luxurious towels embroidered with the hotel logo, brings to guests a feeling of being part of the hotel. The stay at the hotel is a unique experience of pleasure and sophistication. The hotel offers services such as florist, boutiques, spa, beauty salon and fitness center. 6 APARTMENTS AND SUITES The hotel has 241 rooms and suits, of which 147 are in the main building. Included in this number are 7 luxurious penthouse suites as well as 94 suites in the Tower Wing. This wing was built in 1948 and was modernized and soundproofed during the first renovation of 1991 to 1992. A second renovation of 1991 to 1995 brought about the complete remodeling and modernization of the two buildings. On December 2012, the restoration of the main building was concluded and also remodeled the rooms keeping the traditional style of the hotel. All the rooms and suites of the Copacabana Palace are luxurious and have king-size beds, or single beds in accordance with the guests’ preferences. As well as having soundproofed windows, all have air conditioning, bathroom with shower, TVs with access to an extensive range of news and sport channels, mini-bar and room safes. All telephones have two lines and direct international dialing. Internet connection is accessible in all rooms and suites for free. All rooms are equipped with Ipod / Iphone player devices. Decoration of the rooms and suites is unique as it lends an ivory touch to the walls. The furniture is made out of the Brazilian freijó or mahogany wood encrusted in the main suites with beige, green and red pieces of agate. Bathrooms on this floor have specially imported large comfortable American bathtubs and equipped with telephones. The walls and floors are of white, itaóca pink, aurora and jú-paraná pink Brazilian marble. 7 THE SIXTH FLOOR Seven luxurious Penthouse suites, with an exclusive swimming pool, are located on the sixth floor of the Copacabana Palace. French fabrics, beautiful marble, oriental carpets and specially chosen antiques, plus the technical infra-structure of wireless connections, make this a perfect accommodation for those seeking privacy, maximum comfort and excellence in service provided by a butler. The totally black elegant 10 meters by 4 meter swimming pool is surrounded by plants and white trellis, whilst the other side overlooks the amazing Copacabana beach, making it a secluded paradise that so many royal, presidential and famous guests have enjoyed. It was on this Penthouse floor that Dona Mariazinha Guinle, widow of Octávio Guinle, the great hotelier and founder of the Copacabana Palace, lived. The remodeling of this floor started soon after the hotel was bought by Orient-Express, and was carried out by the French decorator Gerard Gallet. 8 TOWER WING BUILDING In November 2005, after a year of remodeling, at a cost of US$ 5.5 million, the 36 Pool and Ocean View suites of the Tower Wing re-opened. This wing, inaugurated in 1948, comprises 94 suites and has always been famous for its elegance and charm. The area of the building with the view of the city was completely remodeled and re-opened in the end of 2010. Thirty six new rooms were built, to increase the hotel`s capacity and add even more quality to its already high standards. From the second to the ninth floor, there are two suites and four apartments on each floor. The four rooms on the first floor did not go under renovation. They have been adapted for people with special needs. The Pool and Ocean View Suites have an area of approximately 70m2 and were decorated by the French architect Michel Jouannet, who is in charge of all the architectural and decoration projects of the hotel. Each has a living room, bedroom and bathroom, and a private balcony facing the Copacabana beach. The fine bed linen made by Trussardi has 300 to 600 threads and is finished with detailed stitching. Mattresses are of a latest top quality brand and are extremely comfortable. All suits are equipped with two telephone lines, wireless connection for lap tops, electronic safes, TVs, bath robes, slippers and flip-flops. A special express check in service may be requested for these suites. 9 RESTAURANTS CIPRIANI The Cipriani is surely one of the most sophisticated restaurants of the city of Rio de Janeiro. It was inaugurated in March 1994, replacing the old Bife de Ouro, and its windows frame the hotel’s swimming pool. Its cuisine is run today by Italian chef Luca Orini that just arrived in Brazil in November 2013. Orini has a lot of experience in restaurants. Before moving to Rio with his entire Family Luca was working as head chef of another hotel of the Orient Express Group, the Grand Timeo in Sicily, Italy. The new menu will be launched in February 2014 and while it’s not ready, Luca is creating weekly options of dishes for the Cipriani Mezzogiorno, a special menu with starters, main dishes and desserts that clients can choose from. Another new activity on his life is the Chef´s table (La tavola del chef) that is located inside the kitchen and can sit only 6 people for lunch or dinner. A unique exclusive gourmet experience, the menu is created by the chef according to the client’s taste and appetite. Cipriani offers the soft music of a live piano, next to it, one can find the restaurant bar, a cozy place that offers a wide range of drinks. 10 MEE MEE is Rio’s first pan-Asian restaurant that inaugurated in February 2014 inside the hotel, where used to be Bar do Copa. The menu of the new restaurant was created by BBC star and idol of Chinese gastronomy, Ken Hom, together with Brazilian chef Rafael Hidaka. With dishes from Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Korea, Vietnam, China and Japan, the idea is take the client on a journey across Asia. Chef Hidaka is originally from São Paulo and already worked abroad in places like Japan, Peru and Argentina. He guarantees that clients will be surprised with the quality and freshness of the food. “We are using the best produce on the market and our customers will be able to tell the difference”. From the sushi bar, the most ordered is the combo Sashi MEE with the chef’s special choices such as eel, salmon belly, king crab, truffled scallops, and others. As an entrée, customers will be able to try dishes like the crispy salmon carpaccio or the spicy Thai salad with tangerine. For the main course, a southern Chinese roast pork belly or the duck with lettuce and fried rice with pineapple. The dessert can be with warm mango and vanilla ice-cream or a ginger crème brûlée. To accompany the food, barman Paulo Freitas is responsible for the drinks and has created 18 different options such as the New Delhi stand with gin, mango, curry and marsala. Or the Bloody Mee with duck infused vodka, tomato juice and Asian spice mix. The restaurant also has a Sake Stewardess, Rejane Kawano, who combines each dish with one of over 25 different types of sake. The area is decorated in a contemporary Asian-inspired style and seats 92 people. In the walls, pieces of art from Belgian painter Christian Develter. At the end of the dining room, a long bar lined with small golden tiles, where customers can sit and watch the sushi be prepared. In the background a special playlist with Shangai lounge music. 11 PÉRGULA Under the command of the new chef Paulo Henrique Maneira, the Pérgula restaurant specializes in International cuisine. Its location gives the restaurant a magnificent view of both the pool and the Copacabana Palace beach. Guests have the choice of dining inside the restaurant or outside, on the terrace by the pool. Besides the à la carte menu, with selections choices from all over the world, the Pérgula offers an outstanding buffet for lunch, which includes several options of hot main dishes, cold dishes, salads and desserts. Paulo is from Minas Gerais, in the southeast of Brazil and he brings much of his regional influence into the à la carte menu and the buffet. Introducing a great variety of grilled meats with a choice of side orders, his idea is to present a new menu every season. The new menu will be launched in February 2014. The Pérgula is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and is famous for its traditional feijoada, served on Saturdays, and its brunch, served on Sundays. COPACABANA PIANO BAR The piano bar at the Copacabana Palace is a sophisticated place for clients and guests to have drinks and snacks. The piano bar became a meeting point before dinners and parties. 12 COPACABANA PALACE SPA In the end of 2007, the Copacabana Palace inaugurated the largest urban spa in Brazil. More or less US$ 9 million were invested in the Spa area where the Copacabana Palace Saunas of the 1960s and 70s used to be. The project was designed by the French architect Michel Jouannet, who supervised the purchase of each and every piece of furniture and decorative item. Straight lines and a clean style decoration is the theme of this contemporary spa. The floors are a mixture of sucupira wood and redit juparaná granite. The walls are in shades of lilac, beige and white. Two paintings of Brazilian fauna and flora by Dominique Jardy give the ambiance of the space a final touch. The Copacabana Palace Spa has two floors and seven treatment rooms, of which five are individual and two are spa suites. A dry and wet sauna and a peaceful relaxation area make up this wonderful spa. Open to the public, its beauty services offers facial and body treatments, therapies and both relaxing and energizing massages. Amongst the 22 treatments offered by the spa, quick relaxing massages and complete rituals with five hours duration for the balancing, beauty and wellbeing of body and face. All products utilized are natural and organic, made from flowers, fruits and plants. On arrival, the client receives a kit containing flip-flops, a disposable bikini or swimming trunks. In between treatments, clients can relax in a restful room equipped with chaises longues, magazines and headphones connected to four music channels or a plug to plug in their own MP3 players, which by the way are connectable in the treatment rooms. In this lounge area, clients may also sample the spa cuisine, from a menu prepared by chef Luca Orini. The team of professionals has undertaken over 240 hours of specific training focused on standards of excellence used in the best spas in the world. The spa opens Tuesday to Sunday from 7am to 10pm. 13 THE BEAUTY SALON In order to combine all the necessary beauty and body treatments in one place, the hotel inaugurated, in 2007, a beauty salon, together with the spa. The salon offers high quality services for guests and visitors such as haircut, hair color and style, manicure, pedicure, makeup, waxing and others. At the salon there are different services, always performed with the best products in the market. The salon has two floors and on the lower level there is an exclusive makeup room that can be reserved for special occasions. This space is used a lot for future brides and their families when they are getting ready for the wedding. With capacity for two people at the same time, the room is not only available for guests but also all clients even if they are not staying at the hotel. The salon is open from Monday to Saturday from 10am to 8pm. 14 LUXURY STORES When the main building of the Copacabana Palace was refurbished on December 2012, even more changes were presented. Along with the new lobby and suits, we launched the exclusive boutiques 1923 and Villa Copa. Directed by the Copacabana Palace in partnership with Seaside Luxe, an American company assembled to conceive, develop, design, and operate retail environments in luxury hotels, 1923 and Villa Copa sells clothes, accessories, jewelries, home objects of the most diverse local and international brands. Some pieces are unique, therefore, they can only be found inside the stores of the Copacabana Palace Hotel. The 1923 boutique, located in the hallway that connects the new lobby to pool, is a multi-brand fashion retailer. An edited collection of the season's best fashion brands is done by a specialized company and includes brands like Adriana Degreas, Patricia Vieira, Mylene Peltier, André Lima, Roland Mouret, Yigal Azrouel, Roberto Cavalli, Oscar de la Renta and Jean Paul Gaultier. Jewelry’s from Brazilian designers Carla Amorim and Silvia Furmanovich are exposed together with pieces from celebrities’ sweetheart Kimberly McDonald. Shoes from Giuseppe Zanotti and bags designed by Laura Lima. The store Villa Copa carries a more casual line of woman’s and men´s wear, along with a beach collection and home decoration. In the racks you will be able to see creations of Kelly Wearstler, Kat Maconie, Benson, Orlebar Brown and others. The Brazilian team also brings dresses, flats and many bikinis with designers like Lenny, Vix, Andrea Marques, Doiselles, Amapô and Glorinha Paranaguá. Located at the porch next to the main entrance of the hotel, the boutique has lounge area where the clients can relax and enjoy the services of the hotel during their shopping. Store hours: open daily from 9am to 9pm 15 LEISURE AND ENTERTAINMENT Apart from being a landmark in one of the most beautiful areas of Brazil, the Copacabana Palace is also a center of wellbeing. One of its most famous assets is its semi Olympic swimming pool which from its beginning has always been a success with Brazilians and foreign tourists. Throughout the day, guests by the pool may enjoy the sun and may be refreshed by fresh fruit trays and iced towels offered to them by the pool staff. A tennis court is located on the 1st floor of the main building, for guests, from 7am to 10pm. Other sports such as golf, boating, water skiing, sky diving and paragliding can also be pursued through the Concierge. The hotel also has a Solarium and a very well equipped Fitness Center, open daily from 6am to 10pm. 16 EVENTS As well as being considered the best hotel in Brazil, the Copacabana Palace is known as one of the most sort after venues for parties and Rio`s social events. The hotel has a convention center with ten different rooms and salons of different sizes and shapes, to suite the various needs of the clients. Together they have a capacity of 1,000 people. The convention center is equipped for banquets, receptions, lunches, meetings, workshops and exhibitions. For parties, the hotel offers the luxurious Golden Room, the Nobre Room and the recently inaugurated Copacabana Rooms, which were once the hotel casino. These areas can be used for cocktails, dinners, wedding receptions, business meetings and other large parties. Producing the best services and personalized menu options, the Copacabana Palace always meets its clients’ needs in a unique way. COPACABANA BALL ROOMS After the completion of an R$ 10.6 million project, in 2006, the Copacabana Palace inaugurated the Copacabana Salons, located where the casino used to be. The overall capacity of these salons is 800 people seated and 1,200 standing. The Palm and Crystal Salons have ceilings of 10.4 meters high, and measure 450m2 each. The foyer of the theater measures 260m2. The 6-meter high windows and 8.5-meter high side doors bring back the memories of an age when la crème de la crème used to stand around the roulet and gaming tables during the 12 years the casino was open. The floors in Peroba Mica and Ipê Tabaco were totally reproduced based on the originals. Restoration of the façade freijó wooden frames and the Carrara marble on the entrance staircase was all painstakingly restored. 17 THE GOLDEN ROOM The Golden Room with a capacity for 500 people seated is recommended for large meetings. Its stage used for speeches and lectures makes the salon ideal for small conventions and wedding receptions. The central dome has recently been relined with sheets of gold leaf. THE NOBRE ROOM The Nobre Room has been seen in several movies that were made in the hotel. The Nobre Room is recommended for food and beverage events and can be joined to the Golden Room, transforming it into our largest salon, with a capacity of 800 people. THE RIO DE JANEIRO ROOM The Rio de Janeiro Room can hold up to 120 people and is indicated for small to medium size social or business events. THE CARIOCA ROOM The Carioca Room can hold up to 60 people and is indicated for small to medium size events. This salon is also used as a business back up room for events in the Rio de Janeiro Room. 18 THE RED ROOM The Red Room can hold up to 60 people and is recommended for small and medium sized meetings. This room can also be connected to the smaller Yellow Room. Both are beautifully paneled, lending an English touch and making the ideal background for the large botanical paintings. THE YELLOW ROOM The Yellow Room holds up to 20 people and is recommended for intimate meetings, or as a support to meetings held in the Red Room. THE BLUE ROOM The Blue Room can hold up to 40 people and is recommended for both small and medium sized meetings and social events. READING ROOM, LIVING ROOM AND VISITORS ROOM These salons with their magnificent chandeliers and marble floors have access to the hotel´s very spacious verandas, which overlook the famous Copacabana beach. These three salons are ideal for large receptions, elegant cocktail parties, and special business events. 19 THE CARNIVAL BALL Traditionally held on carnival Saturdays, the Copa Ball started in 1924, one year after the hotel was inaugurated. In 1973, the hotel ball ceased to be, but was officially reinitiated in 1993, when the hotel management saw what a wonderful opportunity they had to recreate this luxurious carnival ball. Apart from bringing back the best traditions of the carnival in Rio, the ball also brings back memories of the grand galas and balls of the early days of the Copacabana Palace. To many, bringing back the glory of the gala balls of the past would be an impossible fete. How wrong they were! The glamour, the elegance, the luxurious costumes, black tie attire, the music, the enormous fun were back in all its glory to the delight of Cariocas and tourists alike. 20 NEW YEAR’S The Copacabana beach is one of the best places in the world to celebrate New Year’s eve. For decades, guests from all over the world come to our traditional New Year’s Ball and gather on the hotel´s enormous balconies to see one of the greatest firework shows on earth. Every year the hotel organizes three different New Year events: the Gala Ball, which takes place in the Nobre and Golden Rooms, beginning with cocktails in the large front Reception salons. For those who desire a quieter New Years, there are special New Year’s dinners in the Cipriani and Pérgula Restaurants. New Year’s Dinner at the Cipriani has a special menu with champagne and live piano music. Guests dining in the Cipriani may watch the firework show from the grand balconies together with those attending the ball. The Ball serves cocktails and dinner with champagne, with live music from a band that starts to play at 9:30pm 21 THE CELEBRITIES Because of its tradition, luxury an excellence of service, the Copa is the first destination of the illustrious in Brazil. Since it opened its doors in 1923, the Copacabana Palace welcomed literally hundreds of personalities. Amongst those most notable are political leaders, members of royal families, film stars and musical artists, athletes and famous top models. The last ten to fifteen years have been highlighted with visits of the Illustrious and the famous, such as: Prince Charles and Princess Diana, of England, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, of Spain, Queen Beatriz and Prince Wilhem-Alexander, of Holland, the ex-Chancellor of Germany, Gerhard Schroeder, and Nelson Mandela. Actors and huge stars such as Madonna, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Monica Bellucci and Vincent Cassel, Mick Jagger, Rod Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Cameron Diaz, Tom Cruise, Will Smith, Penelope Cruz and Javier Barden, just to mention a few. The Brazilian Top Model Gisele Bundchen and the charismatic Brazilian TV presenter Hebe Camargo are two personalities who will only stay at the Copa when in Rio, sweetly referring to it as their “second home”. Other new celebrities are also starting to love “Copa” as they kindly call the hotel. In the past years, young starts such as Justin Bieber, Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Miley Cyrus, Lana Del Rey, the Jonas Brothers and others. In the Copacabana Palace´s early years such celebrities as Gene Kelly, Orson Welles, Nelson Rockfeller, Julio Prestes, Kirk Douglas and Arturo Toscanini all had the pleasure of staying in the hotel´s magnificent suites. 22 About Belmond Owned and operated by Orient-Express Hotels Ltd., Belmond is a global collection of exceptional hotel and luxury travel adventures in some of the world’s most inspiring and enriching destinations. Established over 30 years ago with the acquisition of Belmond Hotel Cipriani in Venice, its unique and distinctive portfolio now embraces 45 hotels, rail and river cruise experiences in many of the world’s most celebrated destinations. From city landmarks to intimate resorts, the collection includes Belmond Grand Hotel Europe, St. Petersburg; Belmond Copacabana Palace, Rio de Janeiro; Balmond Hotel das Cataratas, Iguassu Falls; Belmond Maroma Resort & Spa, Riviera Maya; and Belmond El Encanto, Santa Barbara. Belmond also encompasses safaris, six luxury tourist trains including the Venice Simplon-OrientExpress and three river cruises. Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. also operates ‘21’, one of New York’s most storied restaurants. belmond.com FURTHER INFORMATION HOTEL COPACABANA PALACE: Isac Pena Marketing & Communications Manager 55 21 2545-8705 [email protected] FSB COMUNICAÇÕES: Manoela Gentil 55 21 3206-5080 55 21 9 8181-9699 [email protected] Nina Mansur 55 21 3206-5050 55 21 9 9604-5381 [email protected] Mariana Pinheiro 55 21 3206-5057 55 21 9 8121-7175 [email protected] 23
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