Rio de Janeiro: A business destination and a vacationer’s dream

Brazil. As a ‘BRIC’ country, it has placed new economies on the global business radar. Although Brazil’s economy logged a bit of a downturn at the end of 2013, Brazil nevertheless remains the world’s seventh wealthiest economy, according to World Bank.

While São Paulo is recognized as the heart of Brazilian business, Brazil’s second largest city, Rio de Janeiro, now holds its own in this booming country. Rio has attracted oil, energy, consumer goods, finance, and other industries, making this ‘marvelous’ city almost as much of a business destination as it is a vacationer’s dream.

Both the FIFA World Cup™ and Olympics committees have taken note of the opportunities that abound in Rio as the city prepares to be on the global stage this June and again in 2016.

Cultivating business relationships

Conduct just one meeting in Rio, and you’ll know immediately that relationship building is the foundation of good, productive business, both in Rio and Brazil at large. From long welcomes, which are marked by drawn-out handshakes and cheek kisses for both men and women, to business dealings flecked by talk of football and family, you’ll appreciate the personalized side of work travel.

But be patient. Even though the Brazilian culture in general is an immediately welcoming and congenial one, successful business relationships do not emerge overnight. Take the time to build and nurture them. An interpreter is worth the extra effort, and Brazilians will appreciate your attempts to speak Portuguese.

Fortunately, Rio makes it easy to combine work and recreation. Lunch, happy hours, and dinners are all good occasions to cultivate the relationship, even if pure shop talk politely happens outside—not during—mealtime.

Lunch Downtown

Slightly downplayed elsewhere in favor of large, late dinners, lunch in the business district of Centro (Rio’s Center Zone) is easy to come by. Your business host might recommend a Brazilian barbeque at a traditional churrascaria. Prepare for indulgence. Start with a salad, which itself is generous and robust, and the irresistible all-you-can-eat meat will be carved for you at your table.

You can walk from one side of downtown to the other in 45 minutes. Consider lunching in the Santa Teresa neighborhood, accessible via a historic tram (pictured). This enclave atop a hill with great city views boasts many restaurants, cobblestone streets, and charm all around. Ask your host to show you the Selaron stairway, which has hundreds of unique steps in varying colors and designs.

Happy hour everywhere

The plethora of coffee, offered regularly throughout the day, will keep you going after your work day. If you’re an early bird, stick to a meandering happy hour as you enjoy the early-evening outdoors in comfortable weather year-round. Centro’s main street, the Travessa do Comércio, essentially becomes a walkable outdoor pub after business hours.

If you accepted that third or fourth cup of coffee, late-night Lapa, on the edge of the business district, awaits. Music—samba, choro, etc.—converges while locals and visitors alike enjoy Brazil’s signature drink caipirinha. If an early meeting is on the horizon, leave this vibrant neighborhood while you can. It’s famous—or infamous as the case may be—for its thriving nightlife, which runs into the wee hours.

Downtime? Head South.

Zona Sul (South Zone) is the beckoning, upscale beach area that includes Copacabana and Ipanema beaches. The famous Sugar Loaf (pictured) and Corcovado Mountains are here, too. Your agenda might necessitate placing Zona Sul on the backburner until you have true downtime to unwind and absorb Rio’s famous beaches.

While there, save time to grab a well-known Gilson Martins handbag, backpack, suitcase, or wallet, all of which artistically capture the spirit of Brazil or Rio in some way.

Staying awhile?

If you’ve bookended your business trip with leisure time, consider the following attractions:

Botanical Gardens: a visit to the carnivorous greenhouse alone is worth it. There’s something compellingly creepy about the Venus flytraps and pitcher plants there.

Sao Bento Monastery:  a baroque monastery that features traditional, meditative Gregorian chanting on Sundays.

Hang gliding: see Rio from the best views—from the air! Tandem hang gliding offers an adventurous way to see the beaches and iconic Christ the Redeemer statue (pictured) atop Corcovado Mountain in the Tijuca Forest National Park.

Paqueta Island: a low-key island accessible by ferry (one hour), Paqueta is a quieter way to enjoy the beaches of the south Atlantic.

Prainha: Another lesser-known beach, Prainha is on the West Zone of the city, with 700 meters of white sand.

Minas Gerais: just one state north of Rio, Minas Gerais is a beautiful countryside with waterfalls worth exploring.

Petropolis: only an hour north of Rio, this high-end mountain resort area has it all, including museums and architecture worth seeing.

Where to land?

This fun guide will help you figure out which airport might be best for you to fly in to if you are headed to some of the 2014 World Cup games. It also tells you where each game will be played, and just how far each airport is from the stadium.

Additional Tips for Business Travel to Rio:

Audio guide “Doing business in São Paulo” (with general tips related to doing business in Brazil at large), from The Economist

The business travellers’ guide to Rio (infographic)

Frommer’s ‘Rio Neighborhoods Worth a Visit’

Rio hotels for business travelers

Header photo of Copacabana beach.