According to the O Globo newspaper, there are 79 new hotels waiting to open in Rio de Janeiro in time for the Olympic and Paralympic games. 43 of these will be four star properties and 15 are expected to be five star.

The new hotels are expected to include a branch of So, the boutique range of Sofitel; and Yoo (photo), which has been designed by Phillipe Starck’s studio. Another major project is Prodigy, a hotel that will be part of the Bossa Nova Mall that is to be located in a building neighbouring the Santos Dumont airfield that used to be the administrative headquarters of the Brazilian airlines VARIG and VASP. The building has sweeping views across the bay to Sugar Loaf.

Blue Tree are developing a new resort property in Recreio, while Barra, where the Olympic Village is located, should receive new hotels from both Hilton and Hyatt in time for the games.