Gran Melia will open its first luxury hotel in Rio de Janeiro in June 2016, which is set to become an official venue for the 2016 Olympic Games.
Originally built in 1972, the renowned ”Hotel Nacional” had been closed for decades. Following extensive renovation work, the property will be restored to its former glory with the launch of Gran Melia Nacional Rio.
Designed by the late Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer, in its heyday Hotel Nacional was renowned as a celebrity hot-spot, with A-list guests staying at the hotel, including Liza Minnelli, BB King, and James Brown. It even hosted the spectacular Rio Film Festival.
Gran Melia Nacional Rio will be located in the South Zone of the city, tipped to be the next big destination for 2016, and within close proximity of the Olympic venues. The Olympic Games will take place across 33 locations in four regions of the city, including Barra, Copacabana, Deodora and Maracana, making it the ideal hotel for guests attending the sporting event.
Situated in one of Rio’s most exclusive and sought-after areas Sao Conrado, the property will boast 417 rooms, from 33 to 300 m2, including two presidential suites and 50 executive suites. It will feature an avant-garde restaurant and modern bars in the lobby and on the penthouse terrace, with spectacular 360 degree views of Rio de Janeiro and the San Conrado Bay, Ipanema and Copacabana.Gran Melia hotels combine timeless luxury with avant-garde and stunning architecture. Gran Melia Nacional Rio will become the Spanish hotel group’s most luxurious hotel in Brazil. Melia Hotels International already has 17 hotels in the country’s top tourist destinations, including Angra dos Reis and Sao Paulo, with three new hotels set to open in 2018.
