On March 24 and 25, Fairmont in Rio de Janeiro hosted the SAHIC Latin America & The Caribbean, Hotel & Tourism Investment Forum, one of the most important events in the tourism and hospitality sector in Latin America. The conference brought together investors, executives and experts to discuss strategies and business opportunities, consolidating Rio as an investment center beyond traditional tourism.
One of the event's panelists, Pedro Simões, Head of Market Intelligence at Invest.Rio, highlighted the importance of the forum for the city's economy and the need to expand its vocation for business events.
Breaking seasonality and boosting the economy
During his participation, Simões emphasized how events of this size help combat seasonality in tourism, a historical challenge for the city. "Extreme seasonality affects both hotel business and the city's economy as a whole. If we can maintain a continuous flow of events, this benefits the economy and improves Rio's image as a business center," he said.
The numbers reinforce this relevance. The financial impact of the events sector in Rio is significant: Carnival alone generates around US$ 1 billion, and New Year's Eve has a similar impact. The focus now is on diversification, including business and technology events, to strengthen the Rio economy throughout the year.
From leisure tourism to business tourism
Rio de Janeiro has a natural vocation for large-scale events, such as Carnival and New Year's Eve, but Simões argues that the city should expand its presence in the corporate segment. "Parties bring in money, without a doubt, but we also need to strengthen business events. It's a change of mindset to see Rio not only as a leisure destination, but as a strategic location for major negotiations," he highlighted.
Events such as SAHIC and Web Summit are examples of this movement. “When investors come to Rio and close deals here, it reinforces the city’s credibility as a hub for innovation and investment,” added Simões.
Technology and innovation as pillars of the future
Another crucial point raised by Simões was Rio's potential for the technology sector. The city already produces more than 10,000 professionals in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) field each year, but many of these people end up seeking opportunities outside the state.
"The goal is not only to keep these talents here, but to attract even more professionals and companies to Rio," he said. To this end, Invest.Rio has invested in incentives and in promoting an environment favorable to technological development.
Simões also mentioned Rio's candidacy as the honorary capital of Brazil, reinforcing the city's position as a hub of knowledge and innovation. "We have one of the largest academic ecosystems in the country, with excellent universities concentrated within a 30 km radius. This is a differential that needs to be explored further," he concluded.
Report and photo: Mary de Aquino.