RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – One of Rio de Janeiro’s symbols, the Copacabana Palace Hotel, in the South Zone, will resume its activities in August. However, there are still no details regarding the safety protocols to be adopted by the hotel during the reopening process.
The Copacabana Palace has been closed since the start of the Coronavirus pandemic. This was the first time the venue had been shut down since its inauguration in 1923.
Only two residents remain at the hotel: Andrea Natal, general director of the Belmond do Brasil Group, which runs the Copacabana Palace; and singer Jorge Ben Jor, who has lived there for two years.
Despite being closed, the Copacabana Palace is still conducting a minimal maintenance of the space. A group of chambermaids are in charge of cleaning the 293 rooms daily.
One of the hotel’s five kitchens will continue to operate to serve the staff and the two hotel residents.
According to Rio’s economic resumption plan, drawn up by the city government, hotels and hostels in the capital city of Rio de Janeiro are allowed to restart their activities, subject to a range of restrictive measures, as of Wednesday, June 17th.
However, some establishments have remained open, authorized by the municipality and following the health guidelines.