The Novo Mundo Hotel in Flamengo, that was inaugurated in time for the 1950 World Cup, closed its doors for business on 20 March 2019. Located next to what was then the Brazilian president’s residence, the Catete Palace, it accommodated many famous people over the years, including Pelé. The glory days, however, ended in the 1970s with the opening of new, more modern hotels in Copacabana which appealed more to international visitors.