Housed in a cylindrical tower designed by Oscar Niemeyer in the late 60s and adorned with gardens designed by Roberto Burle Marx, the Hotel Nacional in Rio de Janeiro will be restored to its former glory from next March. Reviving this establishment, which has been derelict for almost twenty years, is one of the many projects being undertaken by the Spanish Melia group. The future Gran Melia Nacional, located in the upmarket district of Sao Conrado, has been completely renovated and will offer its guests 431 rooms and suites "with a refined contemporary décor", according to the hotel group. All have free WiFi, a computer docking station and a work area, with RedLevel category rooms adding features such as a location on higher floors, slippers and bathrobes, a Nespresso coffee machine and butler service.
While the establishment has taken on a very contemporary look thanks to the work of agencies Debora Aguiar Arquitetos and VOA Brazil, this metamorphosis has respected the spirit of this modernist building, which is a listed historic monument. The staircases and curved banisters have been retained, and above all, the vast lobby has retained its immense volumes. Evoking a beach scene, this 45-metre-long concrete fresco made up of 270 elements has been completely restored.
The mermaid statue created by Alfredo Ceschiatti, which sits beside the swimming pool, has also been given special attention. Guests can admire this emblem of the hotel from the Seria restaurant or the Bardot bar. There, they will probably sip a caipirinha while whistling to the samba tune "Brigitte, beijo, beijo", unless they prefer to gaze out over Guanabara Bay from the newly-created rooftop bar. In 2018, the Gran Melia Nacional Rio will have a conference space equipped with the latest technology. With a capacity of almost 4,000 people, it will be added to the business centre with its 12 meeting rooms.
The revival of this Carioca legend is one of many openings planned by Melia Hotels International in 2017, with at least 24 new establishments on the programme. Alongside its flagship Melia brand, which is preparing for its arrival in Shanghai, Cartagena in Colombia and Mallorca, the island where the group originated, development will focus mainly on the trendy, upmarket ME brand and its four-star Innside business and lifestyle brand. Several MEs are in the pipeline in Caracas in Venezuela, Sitges in Spain and Dubai in December, with a spectacularly shaped hotel designed by the late architect Zaha Hadid.
Innside, originally a German chain, was acquired by the Melia Group in 2007. Recently opened in New York and Manchester, it will continue to expand its international footprint, with openings expected in Bogota, Doha, Yogyakarta and Hamburg in 2017. Other projects have been announced, including a hotel in the Amsterdam business district and another at Roissy airport. Located in the western part of the Roissypole business district, close to terminals 1 and 3, the Innside Paris-Charles de Gaulle will offer 267 rooms from 2019.
