Design Hotels Club Rio

Many of those coming to see the World Cup or the Olympics in Brazil are going to have a tough time finding a hotel in Rio de Janeiro. Copacabana Palace has been sold out “for years” for those two events and cruise ships are going to be docking to add a few thousand beds to the meager supply. According to one of many articles about the hotel shortage (28,000 rooms for 1.5 million visitors), here’s what The Washington Post said: “49 of the 89 Rio hotels on the FIFA official accommodation site are already reserved for groups such as the news media or appear online to be fully booked. Reports abound of sky-high rates.”

There’s a little bit of good news on the way for the future though.

Project Rio This Summer

pop-up Rio hotel BrazilDesign Hotels Project Rio is a pop-up hotel, dining experience, and art gallery that will run from June 9 to July 15. The Club House will be the official Design Hotels headquarters, “providing the Community with a touch down spot in Rio. Bossa nova greats will mash-up with international DJ’s, while the likes of artists, architects and designers mingle and swap ideas. The temporal dining experience concept, Pret A Diner …will be on site, bringing their own unique brand of savoir-faire and gastronomical expertise to The Club House BBQ’s and dinner series.” Rates at The Club House start at $500 per night for each of the five bedrooms and one bungalow.

A pop-up boutique. Shop Latitude will feature “handpicked accessories, clothing and jewelery, showcasing the best of Brazilian luxury brands through to artisanal and handmade goods.”

All are located near The Guest House Maria Santa Teresa, which will be open through December. The six rooms in the home mix “Scandinavian design with regional curio.” There’s a speakeasy cigar lounge on the lowest floor and an upper level pool and terrace with a view. Rates start at $280. See more at the Design Hotels website for Rio.

Trump Rio de Janiero Coming Later

The recently announced Trump Rio won’t open until the big events are over, but its 171 rooms will substantially increase the number of available beds for upscale travelers over the long term.

Trump Hotel Brazil

It will be located in the Jardim Oceanico sub-district of the Barra da Tijuca borough, prime rooms facing the water. The 13-story property will be Trump Hotel Colletion’s first one in South America, following its first in Latin America: Trump Ocean Club Panama. It’s slated for a 2016 opening, but going by the (lack of) speed displayed on other building projects in Rio, my money is on an opening a year or two after that.

We’re looking forward to this place opening though. Sure, it’ll have a great pool deck, a nightclub, and probably the best-equipped rooms in town, but also probably a level of service that will easily leapfrog over what’s on offer now.