Meliá Hotels International will launch its first luxury hotel from the Gran Meliá brand in Brazil with the opening of Gran Meliá Nacional Rio in March 2017. Located São Conrado, an exclusive area of Rio de Janeiro, Gran Meliá Nacional Rio is one of South America’s most anticipated hotel openings.

Originally built in 1972 by architect, Oscar Niemeyer, the famous ‘Hotel Nacional’ will reopen after more than a decade of lying abandoned as the Gran Meliá brand’s flagship property. Following extensive renovations, the property has been restored to its former glory, maintaining the hotel’s original features whilst incorporating the modern Spanish flare of the Gran Meliá brand. Renowned Brazilian interior designer Débora Aguiar has designed the communal areas of the hotel, including the VIP floor and the rooftop.

Located in the southern zone of the city, Gran Meliá Nacional Rio will boasts 413 guestrooms, from 33 to 300m², including one presidential suites and 66 executive suites. The circular design and glass façade of the property results in panoramic floor to ceiling views of Rio de Janeiro from the hotel’s guestrooms, suites and communal areas.

Recognised as a national heritage site, Gran Meliá Nacional Rio will house some of Brazil’s most treasured modern art. The entrance of the hotel features the Painel de Carybé”created by Hector Bernabó (aka Carybé), a painter, sculptor, historian and journalist. Further artwork will include 270 individually sculpted concrete slabs depicting classic carioca characters.

Elsewhere, the property’s historic Burle Marx gardens feature 46 species of native Brazilian plants and classic paving stones, known as calçado which have been imported from Portugal. Roberto Burle Marx was a Brazilian landscape architect whose designs of parks and gardens made him world famous and he is accredited with having introduced modernist landscape architecture to Brazil.

It will incorporate two restaurants including Sereia and its own signature restaurant. Located near the pool, Sereia will specialise in Mediterranean cuisine with a Spanish touch and is named after a mermaid sculpture by Alfredo Ceschiatti, which stands at the front of the hotel looking out onto the ocean. Located on the 32nd floor, the signature restaurant will serve avant-garde cuisine, by Brazilian chef, Felipe Bronze, set against the stunning backdrop of Rio de Janeiro. The restaurant is scheduled to open in April 2017.

Gran Meliá Nacional Rio will also feature the exclusive RedLevel service. It provides access to exclusive spaces allowing guests to enjoy a privileged sense of privacy and tranquillity, as well as a more personalised service. The RedLevel Lounge has a private reception area, lounge-library with TV and music, private breakfast area and an open bar with premium drinks. The service will be fully operational from April 2017.

Additional facilities will include three contemporary bars, the Bardot pool bar, Amaro, and a rooftop bar. The exclusive rooftop bar will boasts 360-degree views across the city and São Conrado Bay and will offer a helipad for VIP arrivals. The hotel will also boast the only Spa by Clarins in Latin America, as well as a fully equipped gym and fitness studio, and is situated moments from São Conrado beach and a vibrant shopping, nightclub and sightseeing district.

The hotel boasts the only Spa by Clarins in Latin America and is a luxurious wellness space dedicated to health, beauty and sensorial experiences. There is also a luxury fully equipped gym and fitness studio with personal trainers.

Gabriel Escarrer, Vice Chairman and CEO at Meliá Hotels International, comments: “Rio de Janeiro is a city with a huge amount of history, incredible architecture and a booming luxury market. The outstanding cultural heritage, art and natural scenery available in the city really enriches the traveller’s experience. We are very excited to finally launch this unique property with such a huge historical significance in one of Latin America’s most important cities and we believe it has the potential to bring back the time of splendour of the city’s tourism.”

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