SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL—Rosewood Hotels & Resorts has been appointed by Groupe Allard to manage Rosewood São Paulo in Brazil. Scheduled to open in 2018, this will be Rosewood’s first property in South America. Situated in the center of São Paulo, the hotel will be housed in a historic, landmark building, formerly a maternity hospital.
Rosewood São Paulo will be situated in Cidade Matarazzo, a complex of buildings dating back to the early 20th century, which will be transformed into a development with private residences, high-end stores and entertainment venues. The site is being developed by entrepreneur Alexandre Allard. Allard and Rosewood are collaborating on this project with international figures such as the Pritzker Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel, designer Philippe Starck and Brazilian artists Beatriz Milhazes and Saint-Clare Cemin.
Rosewood São Paulo will feature 151 guestrooms and 114 owners’ suites, which will be situated within a vertical park created by Nouvel. Two restaurants, including one located on a veranda overlooking the hotel gardens, will be complemented by a bar and a caviar lounge. Recreational facilities will include two swimming pools with one rooftop pool and the other set amongst the landscaped grounds and a spa with six treatment rooms and a fitness area. Hotel guests will also be able to access an adjoining music studio, screening room and luxury retail stores within the development.
The property will offer event and meeting spaces totaling 100,000 sq. ft. For special occasions, a listed wedding chapel stands in the grounds of Rosewood São Paulo. The chapel will retain the original architecture with a new stained glass window, which has been specially commissioned.
“Rosewood has been waiting for the right opportunity to enter South America and I firmly believe this is it,” said Sonia Cheng, CEO of Rosewood Hotel Group. “As São Paulo is becoming one of the most dynamic cities of the 21st century, so Rosewood will transform this historic property with a contemporary Brazilian energy. We are excited to give this landmark building a new lease of life and that it will continue to be a place of joy and celebration.”
Rosewood’s move into South America follows on from the opening of Rosewood Beijing, the company’s first hotel in China. It forms part of a global expansion for the company, which has announced 13 new hotels under development including Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel in Paris.