Finding the Best Business Conference Spaces in Rio de Janeiro

By Jack Arnhold, Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Doing business in Brazil has a somewhat mixed reputation, with red-tape and bureaucracy often coinciding with exciting investment opportunities and new business models. However, for those looking to host a business conference, an industry congress, or a larger event, there are a number of options spread throughout the Cidade Maravilhosa.

Beatriz Lemgruber has been working in the area of businesses conferences for over thirty years and is former president of Abeoc-RJ ‘Associação Brasileira de Organizadores de Congressos e Eventos’ (Brazilian Association of Congress and Events Organizers). “There are a few nice event locations in Rio that are very good.” she comments.

“For big events, I would recommend three suitable convention centers.” Lemgruber continues. She picks, “Riocentro, Centro de Convenções SulAmérica, and Windsor Barra” as her recommendations, with both Riocentro and Windsor Barra being located in the city’s modern, American-style bairro, Barra da Tijuca, and Centro de Convenções SulAmérica located in the centrally-located Cidade Nova.

Built in 1977, Riocentro is currently the largest exhibition and convention center in Latin America. Recently, it has hosted such events as the Rio Matsuri Japanese Cultural Festival, Rio Water Week, and Rio Oil & Gas 2018.

The Centro de Convenções SulAmérica was more recently inaugurated in 2007, designed as a multipurpose space aimed at meeting the demands of various industry and business sectors.

It is centrally located, with state-of-the-art technology, and is fully equipped to host national and international lectures, workshops, congresses, conventions and fairs. It plays host to the annual ‘Rio Artes Manuais’ (Rio Manual Arts) festival as well as the ‘Marintec South America’ Marine Technology congress, among many other conferences and events.

“Every year, I go to the Marintec exhibition for the maritime industry to visit some of my clients. The Centro de Convenções SulAmérica is conveniently located near the metro station of Estácio, just fifteen minutes from Cinelândia.” comments Amit Ramnani, British expatriate at Ipanema Wealth.

“There are many nice cafes and restaurants in the area, and it’s a good space for medium-sized trade fairs with smaller exhibition rooms available in the complex.” Ramnani adds.

The Windsor Barra Hotel offers another one of the best locations for events in Rio de Janeiro. It is linked to the Windsor Expo Center and provides facilities for putting on events of different sizes and purposes.

From small meeting rooms to spaces with a capacity for 2,000 people, the Windsor Barra is a modern structure that regularly hosts trade shows, conventions, conferences and other major events.

Beatriz Lemgruber adds, “There are other fine locations such as the Marina da Glória that can be adapted to host fairs and expositions.”

Located in Rio’s ‘Zona Sul’ and conveniently positioned next to Santos Dumont airport and the historic city center, Marina da Glória often hosts concerts, outdoor events and exhibitions, such as ArtRio International Art Fair and Shell Open Air film showings.

“For other hotels with rooms that can hold events for 800 people or less, I would recommend the Rio Othon, the Hilton Copacabana, and the Sheraton São Conrado.” Lemgruber concludes.