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One of the world’s fastest growing economies and holiday destinations will soon play host to tens of thousands of new tourists each year, as Dubai-based carrier, Emirates Airline, expands its international network to include a non-stop service to Sao Paulo, Brazil, considered by many to be the trendiest city in South America.
And Grand Hyatt Sao Paulo is hoping to become the hotel of choice for discerning Middle East travellers visiting South America’s largest country, thanks in large part to its city-centre location and world-class levels of customer service, say hotel executives.
“South America is a destination that is certain to become a favourite for Middle East travellers. It just has so much to offer tourists and businesses,” said Thierry Bertin, area director of marketing – Middle East, Hyatt International Hotels and Resorts.
“Brazil, in particular, shares much with the Middle East lifestyle: the people are generous and warm, the food is plentiful and shared, and the culture is rich in local traditions and customs.
“Additionally, travellers from both South America and the Middle East look for accommodation that they can call home, a familiar, luxurious environment with all amenities within easy reach,” he added.
The 470-room Grand Hyatt Sao Paulo, Hyatt’s flagship South American property, is conveniently situated in the heart of Sao Paulo’s Marginal Pinheiros business district close to the World Trade Centre complex and some of the city’s best shopping.
Unusual amenities await guests such as an extensive organic soap menu for different skin types and in-suite check-in.
Another surprise is the atmosphere at Grand Hyatt Sao Paulo. Visually, the hotel’s architects and designers created a seamless bond between interiors and exteriors with steel, glass, and granite highlights.
The dramatic 10-metre-high (nearly 33 feet) lobby is surrounded by glass between the front palm-tree lined driveway and landscaped garden behind, flooding the space with natural light and bestowing a spacious feeling.
This theme continues throughout the hotel, allowing light to bounce between rich, native Brazilian materials such as the orange, warm tones of Louro Faia wood and creamy-coloured granite.
Over one hundred pieces of Brazilian art and botanic-themed photography are featured through the hotel’s guestrooms and public areas.
Guestrooms also reflect local culture and are simple in concept yet rich in materials, with the most advanced technological support.
The design objective was to give an overall feeling of awe and wonder, with large windows overlooking dramatic cityscapes and river views. Details in textures, such as blonde Ivory wood panelling and intricate stonework are emphasized and lend to the guestrooms’ overall feeling of calmness and serenity.
Bathrooms are spacious and refined, each with five bathroom fixtures including a unique half dome rain shower finished with marble tiling and a spacious, well lit vanity area leading directly into the bedroom.
The hotel holds a number of signature restaurants including a gourmet Japanese restaurant, Kinu (key-new), whose comprehensive a la carte menu offers sushi, sashimi and many varieties of sake in a strong, contemporary Japanese atmosphere.
Within the hotel itself, another favourite eatery, Grand Caffè, features Italian cuisine for all-day dining. Large, floor to ceiling windows integrate the interiors with the poolside and garden terrace.
The cuisine focuses on Mediterranean Italian culinary with signature desserts from French Chef Laurent Grolleau.
A coffee area with a selection of gourmet coffees and the traditional High Tea make the pleasant ambience of Grand Caffè even more charming.
On the other end of the spectrum, the Amanary Spa offers an extensive variety of treatments, many of which incorporate oils and essences that have been specially developed from sustainable rainforest flora.
The spa consists of seven individual suites – one of them tailored for two persons, each with private shower and changing area.
Additional facilities include steam rooms, a fitness area, and an indoor lap pool. A glass bridge and panoramic elevator connect Amanary to a large outdoor pool with a snack bar and sun deck.
Emirates Airline’s six-a-week flight from Sao Paulo, Brazil will be the first-ever non-stop service between South America and the Middle East, providing travellers access to the Emirates’ network of 94 destinations in 60 countries, via Dubai.
The flight time from Dubai to Sao Paulo is 15 hours and 30 minutes.
From Sao Paulo, Emirates’ technologically-advanced 777-200LR will offer eight luxurious private suites in First class, 42 of its latest lie-flat seats in Business class, and space for 216 passengers in Economy. The 777-200LR will also offer shippers up to 18 tonnes of cargo capacity.
Passengers in all classes will enjoy the meals prepared by gourmet chefs; award-winning service from its international cabin crew recruited from over 100 countries around the world; as well as Emirates’ cutting-edge ‘ICE’ (information, communication, entertainment) Digital Widescreen system, which offers a selection of over 1,000 channels of entertainment on demand, which will include selected movies dubbed in Portuguese; as well as the ability to send and receive email and text messages from their personal in-seat entertainments systems.
