Welcome to episode twelve! Today we are travelling to perhaps the most incredible hotel in South America. It is the Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel, Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Rio is all about the environment, the people and a healthy dose of fun. The Harbour of Rio de Janeiro is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Today, we will explore the harbour, the beach and the iconic hotel that has placed Copacabana on the world stage for more than a century. Here we go! I'm your podcast host, Peter DeMoor. I have a fascination for the hotel industry and over the last quarter-of-a-century I have studied it, been a hotel manager and passed the torch to next generation. Now, as part of an emerging hotel industry tech-startup, I am independent from any specific hotel or chain, and able to talk about the industry with a balanced perspective and with a certain level of expertise. It’s time to check-in! 02:30 – HISTORY (Official Belmond Hotel Videos - The Crown Jewel of Rio, Copacabana Palace, Getting Ready for the Carnival Ball, Warm Winter Days in Rio. The Hotel’s History - Belmond Hotels). Flying Down to Rio - Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers). 10:20 – THE GM (GM Ulisses Marreiros - Antonio Paraiso and Wilka Nascimento). 20:52 – HOTEL ROOMS 22:24 – F&B and EVENTS 24:16 – FACILITIES (Ask the Concierge – Belmond). 26:47 – FUN FACT (Showers – Shower Away). 28:29 – CELEBRITIES (Copacabana – Barry Manilow. Hall of Fame – Belmond). 35:04 – AWARDS Rio is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the southern hemisphere with being the only city in the world to have two of the seven wonders of the world, the Harbour and Christ the Redeemer. Rio and the Copacabana Beach will continue to be an iconic world destination. If your journey ever brings you to, or back to, Rio be sure to stay at the Copacabana Palace, the crown jewel of the world’s most iconic beach. Thank you for joining today’s episode. Whether you're an industry insider, a student of hotel management, or simply curious about the world of hotels, I hope you were inspired, amazed, and enlightened as we unlocked the secrets of the hotel industry's most iconic leaders and iconic hotels. If you had a wonderful time, the best way to say thank you is to follow our podcast, so that you never miss our monthly episodes. If you love showers in luxury hotels, please check-out our tech start-up, at showeraway.com, where we hope one day to provide people on daytrips access to the very best hotel showers in the world. Farewell, until the next time you check-in to the Hotel Leaders podcast! Music by Musictown. To reserve you stay, visit the Copacabana Palace website at https://www.belmond.com/hotels/south-america/brazil/rio-de-janeiro/belmond-copacabana-palace/. Please consider following the hotel on X, Facebook and Instagram.