For the panel, first and foremost. Because the new classification applies not just to hotels and resorts, but to all types of accommodation in Brazil: pousada, fazenda, cama & café - the equivalent of bed & breakfasts - and even rented flats.
Another original feature is the criteria chosen. Three were chosen: infrastructure and services, of course, but also the "sustainability. So, to obtain its five stars, a Brazilian hotel will not only have to offer 4m2 bathrooms and bathrobes in all rooms, but it will also have to take permanent measures to reduce energy consumption, select suppliers who meet environmental standards and offer a training programme for employees.
This update comes against a backdrop of buoyant growth for tourism. Brazil received 7.8 million foreign visitors in 2010, 20.9 % more than in 2009. And the first six months of 2011 confirm the trend, with spending by foreign tourists up 15 % on 2010. This trend is set to continue with the organisation of the 2014 Football World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games back-to-back!
According to Ernst & Young, this should lead to the opening of 62,000 rooms in Brazil by 2014. The Ministry of Tourism and the Brazilian Development Bank have also launched a plan worth one billion reals, or 450 million euros, to support the renovation and, above all, the construction of new hotels.
Major business destinations in Brazil
Cities visited by French business travellers (including events and conferences)
