Atlantica Hotels International proclaims a significant addition to its network of hotels in the city of Sao Paulo. The new hotel, an imposing development on Avenida Ibirapuera in Moema, also marks the arrival of the Park Inn by Radisson brand in Brazil, the first country in the Americas to have the brand in operation. The Park Inn by Radisson Ibirapuera will complete the flag conversion on February 17. The new addition strengthens Atlantica Hotels as flag conversion leader. Investment in modernization of the hotel and adaptation to the new flag will reach R$1.7 million in the next 12 months.

“Conversions account for 24 of our 76 hotels, or 32% of the portfolio,” says Rafael Guaspari, Senior Vice President, Development, Atlantica Hotels International. “This performance is increasing in proportion to recognition of our company for its significant experience in hotel operation, with a team of specialists who are exclusively dedicated to managing the process of changing flags.”

The new hotel takes the chain’s supply of rooms and hospitality suites in the city of Sao Paulo past the 3,700 mark, with options in the Midclass, Superior and Luxury categories.

According to Guaspari, one of the key concerns for Atlantica Hotels during the takeover stage is to assure complete business continuity without losses for investors or disruption for guests. “We have excellent examples, such as the Quality Porto Alegre or the Clarion Hotel Lourdes in Belo Horizonte,” he said. “Both responded with better results shortly after we took over management.”

The Park Inn by Radisson Ibirapuera is classified in the Superior category. It is an important addition to the Atlantica Hotels chain in terms of the hospitality options available, especially for business tourism, which is substantial in the region and the company’s main focus. The hotel has 350 guestrooms on 18 floors. All rooms have individually controlled air conditioning, cable TV, complimentary broadband internet access, minibar, direct-dial telephone with voice mail, in-room electronic safe, laundry service, cosmetic mirror, iron and ironing board, and 24-hour room service.

The public and leisure areas offer a business center, space for meetings and events, a convention center (with eight meeting rooms that can be reconfigured for small groups of up to 12, a conference room seating 200 or a 100-seat banquet in an area of over 400 m2), outdoor patio for events (gazebo for up to 100 people in theater seating or banquets for social events, and business center with secretarial services, workstations, meeting rooms, home theater, fax, photocopier, multiline telephones, internet access and audiovisual equipment), covered heated pool, fitness center and home theater. The restaurant can accommodate 150 people for banquets.

The brand – Park Inn by Radisson is a young brand of Carlson Hotels, a U.S. company with which Atlantica Hotels has had a strategic alliance since 2001. In just over ten years the flag has built up a portfolio of 155 hotels in 67 countries. Its salient features are dynamism and joviality, and it is widely recognized for comfort and high-quality service. The brand is the European leader in guest satisfaction, especially services, according to a 2009 study by J.D. Power and Associates.

Carlson Hotels currently recommends Park Inn by Radisson as one of the best in flag conversions and new hotels. “We are privileged to bring first-hand to Brazil a young, cheerful and clean brand that translates the dynamism of Sao Paulo, especially in neighborhoods such as Moema, one of the city’s most vibrant areas. This is a brand that expresses a contemporary reading of the hotel business,” says Annie Morrissey, Vice President, Marketing & Sales, Atlantica Hotels.

Founded in 1998 by Paul J. Sistare, currently president and CEO, Sao Paulo-based Atlantica Hotels International is South America’s largest independent hospitality management company. The company has strategic alliances with Choice Hotels International (owner of the Sleep, Comfort, Comfort Suites, Quality and Clarion brands) and Carlson Companies (Radisson, Park Inn and Park Suites). It also has an own brand, Go Inn, and the Atlantica Collection hallmark for independent hotels. The chain has 76 units in operation, with almost 13,000 guest rooms and apartments in major Brazilian cities and more than 6,000 hotels around the world in its booking portfolio. Atlantica Hotels International supports Childhood Brasil, the Brazilian arm of the World Childhood Foundation (WCF), to struggle with exploitation of children and support sustainable tourism.