Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has announced that Sheraton Rio Hotel & Resort, the city’s only beachfront hotel, has finished the first phase of a comprehensive renovation. In the last two years, Starwood invested US$50 million to restore this asset, which is an iconic property in Latin America’s largest market. The landmark hotel boasts a newly designed lobby, fully remodeled guestrooms and suites, a brand-new Shine Spa, a completely renovated Sheraton Fitness Center, as well as new restaurants and bars, including L’Etoile under the leadership of renowned French chef and restaurateur Jean Paul Bondoux.
“Sheraton is one of the most beloved brands in Latin America with a rich history and first-mover advantage in many of the region’s key cities, including Rio de Janeiro,” said Hoyt Harper, Global Brand Leader for Sheraton Hotels & Resorts. “The comprehensive redesign of this iconic Sheraton will propel it to new heights and reinforce its status as the most sought-after hotel in Rio, Brazil’s top tourist destination.”
Sheraton continues to be one of the most appealing brands for hotel developers and investors in Latin America, where Starwood currently operates more than 30 Sheraton hotels, and plans to open three more in the next two years, including the Sheraton Santa Cruz Hotel in Bolivia, The Sheraton Cartagena Hotel in Colombia, and Sheraton Reserva do Paiva Hotel near Recife in Brazil, which opens its doors this month.
“The multi-million dollar renovation of the Sheraton Rio Hotel & Resort is part of our ongoing commitment to our portfolio in Brazil where we remain the leading operator in the upper-upscale segment,” said Simon Turner, President Global Development, Starwood Hotels. “The Sheraton Rio Hotel & Resort is an iconic, brand-enhancing property and we are proud to fly the Sheraton flag on this landmark asset for decades to come. Brazil’s sheer size, natural beauty and relative under-penetration in the hotel market, create many growth opportunities, and our strong presence in the country positions us well for continued expansion across all of our segments in this important market.”
The second phase of the renovation begins in the fall of 2014 and will be completed in 2015, resulting in a full renovation to the resort’s outdoor public spaces, including the pool, outdoor restaurants and bars.
“The transformation of Sheraton Rio Hotel & Resort is the largest renovation project in the history of the resort and underscores the Sheraton brand’s strength in this market,” said Marcelo Moretti, General Manager Sheraton Rio Hotel & Resort. “We are thrilled to unveil the redesigned hotel to visitors from all over the world and offer them all the recently enhanced signature Sheraton amenities and services in a truly spectacular location.”
The newly designed lobby at Sheraton Rio Hotel & Resort includes a fully renovated lobby bar with stunning views of Rio’s magnificent beaches and the brand’s signature “Link@Sheraton experienced with Microsoft” – where lively interactions are a constant—whether face-to-face or virtually through our up-to-the-moment technology. Guests can enjoy complimentary breakfast, beverages, evening hors d’oeuvres and magnificent ocean views in the newly refurbished Sheraton Club Lounge on the 26th floor. As part of the redesign, Sheraton Rio Hotel & Resort added approximately 5,400 square feet to its meeting facilities, resulting almost 29,000 square feet of total space, including 14 meeting rooms and a brand-new business center.
The hotel’s 538 guestrooms, including 77 suites, are outfitted with the all-white Sheraton Sweet Sleeper bed and fresh, contemporary decor inspired by Sheraton’s new brand design. As part of the renovation, all guestroom balconies now feature glass, which allows for better views and a more modern look. In addition, the 61 rooms located between the first and fourth floors are ocean-facing and offer a larger balcony with a seating area.
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First Shine Spa in Latin America
As a result of the multi-million dollar make-over, Sheraton Rio Hotel & Resort is now home to the first Sheraton Shine Spa in Latin America. Located on the fourth floor, the brand-new spa offers breathtaking ocean views, four treatment and relaxation areas for men and women, and a sauna. In addition, guests can receive spa treatments in poolside outdoor bungalows facing the sea. The resort’s freshly renovated fitness facility, located on the fourth floor adjacent to the spa, offers stunning views of the pool and beach and features the brand’s revolutionary health and fitness program, Sheraton Fitness.
New restaurants and bar
L’Etoile, the hotel’s fine-dining French restaurant on the 26th floor led by renowned French Chef and restaurateur Jean Paul Bondoux, overlooks Rio’s skyline, mountains and Leblon and Ipanema beaches. The menu includes traditional French specialties such as Steak Tartare, Oysters and Fois Gras, as well as recipes infused with tropical Brazilian influence, such as Duck with Mango, Tagine of seafood with citric juices, and a Caipirinha sorbet, inspired by the Brazilian cocktail. Emmanuel Serrano, a talented young chef appointed by Bondoux, is at the helm of the kitchen.
Bene, the hotel’s casual dining restaurant, has also made its Americas debut in Rio. Under the direction of head chef Ciro Piedimonte, Bene serves breakfast and dinner and features an à la carte Italian menu, ideal for families, and the Bene Belissimo Brunch on Sundays.
DRY Martini, a distinct bar and lounge, specializing in creative and refined cocktails, will open following the second phase of renovations. Located in the pool area, DRY will bring DJs, mixologists and exclusive nightlife events to Rio. DRY is the brainchild of Spanish Javier de Las Muelas, who owns DRY bars in several locations including Madrid, Barcelona, San Sebastian, Bali and Singapore.
