The world embraces the carioca and the carioca embraces the world! And to symbolize “this hug!” from cariocas to dear “gringos” hoteliers, HotéisRIO has just created the title “Hoteleiro Carioca da Gema”, in honor of expatriate executives who, after spending periods in town, appropriate the carioca lifestyle, bearing the flag of Rio beyond borders.

The first foreign hotelier to receive the affectionate title was Frenchman Laurent Ebzant, who served for three years as general manager of the Grand Hyatt Rio de Janeiro, after a long experience that includes hotels in Europe and Africa. The executive, who leaves Rio this year to take over the Park Hyatt New York, received a diploma prepared by HotéisRIO to bring the title of Hotelier Carioca da Gema to the world. The delivery took place yesterday evening (27/09), at the Grand Hyatt, during a meeting which marked the farewell of Laurent Ebzant and the welcome of the new general manager, Alexandra Bueno.

“The carioca has this unifying spirit, which befriends the waiter, interferes in the conversation of others to give information, becomes the childhood friend of a new acquaintance and is more concerned about s fun than to compete. This undoubtedly influences our way of receiving. It enchants visitors and converts our foreign hoteliers into real jewel Cariocas, who have become multipliers of Carioca tourism throughout the world. We are sure that our friend Laurent, our marathon runner from Rio, will come back with an accent drawing the “x” and, in addition to the Havaianas, he brings in his luggage a bit of bohemianism and the joy of being carioca”, comments the president of Hotéis Rio and creator of the tribute, Alfredo Lopes.

Caipirinha and feijoada to gather friends, slippers and coats to face the cold days, globo biscuits and maté to enjoy the beach, carioca and hospitality to make Rio the biggest gateway for foreign tourists in the country. These doubles, which form a “perfect match”, symbolize the true way of life carioca, recognized throughout Brazil for being a hospitable and happy people.