SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS August 2006 International meetings are heading to Brazil in droves: In just four years, the country jumped 10 places-from number 21 to number 11-on the annual list of most popular destinations for international events, as ranked by the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA). These results come thanks in part to government infrastructure investments and an aggressive marketing campaign by the Brazilian Tourism Office (EMBRATUR), but the country also boasts the world's 10th largest economy, a hurricane-free climate, favorable exchange rates, and friendly, hospitable people. The sleeping giant awakes.
Convention Facilities:
SAO PAULO Blue Tree Morumbi Convention Center; International Trade Mart (ITM); Reboucas Convention Centre; Transamerica Expo Center Sao Paulo
RIO DE JANEIRO Riocentro (Rio Convention & Exhibition Centre)
For more listings, visit Facility Quick Search at www.mimegasite.com
Average Daily Business Travel Costs*:
SAO PAULO Hotel $277 F&B $73
RIO DE JANEIRO Hotel $338 F&B $69
For More Info:
Brazilian Tourism Office
www.braziltourism.org
Rio CVB
www.rioconventionbureau.com.br
Sao Paulo CVB
www.visitesaopaulo.com
*Business Travel News 2006 Corporate Travel Index
A Rising Star
What accounts for Brazil's increasing popularity on the international meetings circuit? VNU Expositions (a division of Successful Meetings' parent company, VNU Business Media) is the largest international show organizer in Brazil, with 10 expositions in industries ranging from food to pharmaceuticals to cosmetics to construction. "Brazil is part of the so-called BRIC countries-Brazil, Russia, India, and China-which are considered the countries with the largest growth potential in the world," says Joris van Wijk, managing director for Sao Paulo-based VNU Business Media in Latin America. "It has a large home market of 180 million people, and most international companies have their Latin American headquarters there."
Wendy Parsley, founder of Quint Strategies, an integrated marketing company in New York City, organized an international conference for the pulp and paper industry in Rio de Janeiro in May. Holding the event in Rio "definitely built attendance," she says. "It also made sense for our industry because there are a lot of pulp and paper companies based there so it was easy for locals to attend, plus Rio is a very attractive destination for North American and European attendees." As an international meetings destination, Brazil "was and continues to be very impressive," she says, adding that the country is becoming increasingly sophisticated in its dealings with the international marketplace. "We're definitely going back next year."
Rio and Sao Paulo are the most popular Brazilian cities for international meetings, but they're hardly the whole story. State capitals from Fortaleza in the north to Curitiba in the south are investing in new hotels, convention centers, and other infrastructure, says Miguel Jeronimo, CEO, North America, for the Brazilian Tourism Office (EMBRATUR) in New York City. As for interest from U.S. meeting planners, "We get inquiries every day," he adds.
Getting Down to Business
* Airlift: In June, Delta Air Lines launched a daily nonstop flight from New York City's JFK Int'l Airport, in addition to the daily nonstop service it already offered from its Atlanta base. At the same time, the up-and-coming TAM Brazilian Airlines, which already offered daily nonstop service to Sao Paulo from Miami, also began offering a daily nonstop flight from JFK.
Although the new service comes at a time of severe troubles at Varig, Brazil's bankruptcy-plagued legacy carrier, it's largely in response to increased demand. "The Latin American market is growing," says Gina Laughlin, a Delta spokeswoman. "Our Sao Paulo flights are very, very full, and that was true even before the problems at Varig."
* Visas: Going to Brazil requires a getting a visa directly from the Brazilian consulate, and doing business there requires a business visa. For more information, go to the Brazilian Embassy website at www.brasilemb.org
* Hotels: All major brands are represented in Brazil. Recent openings include the 165-room Four Points by Sheraton Macae, which opened last month in Rio de Janeiro with comprehensive meeting facilities; and the 310-room Sonesta Sao Paulo Ibirapuera, which opened in 2004, featuring 4,000 sf of meeting space.