By Georgia Grimond, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – On Monday March 29th, the Hyatt hotel group opened its second offering in Brazil, a 436-room hotel in Barra da Tijuca in Rio de Janeiro. Situated between Barra’s white sandy beach and the Marapendi lagoon, the hotel is an urban resort benefitting from the beauty of Rio’s famous landscape.
The group have been operating in São Paulo since 2002. This hotel, however, is their first elsewhere in the country. Launched in time for the 2016 Olympic Games, the Grand Hyatt Rio de Janeiro is close to the main Olympic site and is well placed to service the many business visitors and tourists that are due to arrive in the area.
“We are delighted to open our first hotel in Rio de Janeiro, a vibrant destination known for its natural beauty and hospitality. Expanding Hyatt’s brand presence in South America is critical to our global expansion strategy as we bring more quality experiences to our loyal guests in destinations where they want to travel to,” said Pete Sears, Hyatt’s America group president. “With much attention on Brazil this summer, we couldn’t be more excited to welcome travelers from around the world to Grand Hyatt Rio de Janeiro.”
Designed from scratch with international architects Yabu Pushelberg, the hotel sits in harmony with its natural surroundings. Rooms face either towards the sea or the lagoon, with large balconies and big window. Two Phoenix palm trees mark the entrance and seventeen green walls and hanging gardens define the outside areas. The floor design in the common areas play homage to revered Brazilian landscape architect, Roberto Burle Marx.
With a five-star rating, the rooms are the pinnacle of comfort, making use of natural products and styled with a selection of woods, stone and fabrics in soft colours. To reflect its location, local art hangs on the walls and each guest receives a pair of Brazilian flip-flops. Bathrooms are stocked with Granado products, the quintessential Carioca brand.
Under the command of French executive chef Yvan Didelot, the Grand Hyatt has three restaurants. The Cantô Gastrô & Lounge is a relaxed and informal space, where guests can settle into breakfast, light options during the day and a wide selection of cachaca and caipirinhas in the evening. Shiso specialises in sushi and sake, and Tano Cucina Italiana serves authentic Italian food throughout the day, including freshly cut cold meats and homemade breads and jams.
As well as having extensive business facilities, the hotel’s Marapendi Lounge provides facilities for guests who have checked out and special services for executive guests can be arranged from the Grand Club Lounge. With over 2,000 square-meters of flexible space, the hotel can host a variety of corporate and private events, such as conferences and weddings.
The nine-room spa offers a selection of treatments and use of the steam room, gym and yoga studio. Guests can lounge by the pool, sunbathe on the beach or go paddle-boarding, sailing or kayaking on the nearby lagoon with the hotel’s assistance.
It isn’t even necessary to leave your pet behind. The Grand Hyatt welcomes and caters to small- and medium-sized dogs, with advice on pet-friendly places, local shops, vets and dog-walkers.