Beyond business tourism in São Paulo

Tourism is usually associated with leisure and pleasure. However there are a lot of people who travel on business constantly as part of their job. People who are invited for trade shows, conferences or conventions, who need to close agreements, who are prospecting new customers and business opportunities, who must meet their peers in other international affiliates, who are supposed to follow some local projects up, etc.

These business travelers demand a well-organized agenda and outstanding services to help them to get a smooth trip with successful results. Understanding their priorities, their style and thinking are crucial aspects that can interfere positively in their busy routines and stressed journeys.

The new trend of customization of services that are incorporated by all of us nowadays has also hit the operational activities of business tourism. It is not enough to offer bilingual communication and efficient transportation with security.

The high profile international visitor is demanding extreme attention to details, specialized content in their native language and high quality background from their suppliers. Furthermore, the capacity of planning ahead to predict troubles by finding solutions to solve them and the sensitivity of dealing with cultural differences are other points that make huge difference in the evaluation of the corporate traveler.

They are also considering the intangible benefits related to the visit that involve the feeling of being welcome as well as saving time for what is important personally and the perception of eliminating stress. In a complex, vibrant and spread-out city like São Paulo comfort, safety and convenience make difference more and more.



Brooklin neighborhood - southweast of São Paulo, one of the important business centers of the city that comprises high technology international companies  - Photo from Percival Tirapeli

Paulista Ave. neighborhood - central south of São Paulo, a dynamic financial business center that also concentrates commercial, residential and entertainment sectors

Depending on their occupation, position and skills the business professionals travel alone, however sometimes they have the opportunity to bring the spouse or husband, the children, a relative or a friend. As tourists, this profile of visitor is in search of authenticity, comfort and unique experiences. After all who does not want to be surprised?

SPin Brazil Tours can provide tailor-made services that focus on the best of São Paulo attractions approaching several aspects. Certainly there will be one that can be of your interest.

Eliana Souza - SPin Brazil Tours

Ayrton Senna

Every Grand Prix that took place in São Paulo city, the paulistano citizen reminds the good moments and career of the remarkable racer Ayrton Senna. It is quite difficult to talk to a Brazilian who cannot say where he/she was at the moment that heard or even watched by TV the episode that involved him in a fatal accident at Imola circuit in Italy.  Everyone has a detailed story to share about it.

With his personal charisma and authenticy, Senna has incorporated the representation of a hero that Brazil needed during his awarded career. After all at the end of the 80’s and beginning of 90’ of the last century Brazilian citizens were coping with severe economic and social problems. The image of a Brazilian who could face the impossible, challenge luck and surpass limits was the accurate one to work as a decompression valve to people in general by raising their self-esteem and giving them hope.

His impressive life story generated several videos, documentaries, researches and books. It is quite difficult to split the hero from the looser, the saint from the human, the sensitive from the cold calculating man. Like other celebrities who have gone in similar circumstances, the myth has replaced the human being.

I would rather honor Ayrton Senna through his personal features and strenghts like 

Cleverness

Top ranked teams of Formula-1 showed interest in Formula 3 racers in 1983. However Senna would rather close with Toleman, a British scuderia owned by Frank Williams. 

Perseverence

During his kart experience he trained exhaustively in the rain to beat his competitors. 
Later racing in the rain during the Grand Prix was one of his unique skills.

"I felt my ridiculous race by myselft. Everybody passed me easily right and left, and at the braking and cornering. Since that day, I imposed myself to beat my weakness. Once raining, I took my machine outside and continued to practice and practice for many hours in parking space near my house. Unless I was satisfied with my drive how I ran the kart, I could not help running. The rain soaked my body and paralyzed my hands on the steering wheel. But as long as I was not able to overcome its situation I had to run, run, and run." - Ayrton Senna

In 1984 he played one of his memorable races under torrential rain at Monaco Grand Prix.
Senna was pushing the McLaren champion Alain Prost on and believed he won the race with
a confusing end.

Devotion to work

In 1984 Senna started to work with the Brazilian coach Nuno Cobra, who developed a specific program including physical and mind training to provide him muscular strength and personal balance as well. They have worked together for ten years.Cobra has mentioned in interviews that it has been tough to work with him considering his introvert and quiet style. The Brazilian racer was responsible for a turning point in physical traning for motor racers since then.

Brazil as a brand

By driving the black Lotus car the whole season, he scored 55 points and finished the championship in 4th place again in 1986.

It was the year that he raised the Brazilian flag for the first time during his victory at Detroit GP. The day before Brazilian football team failed during the match with Mexico. Senna has compensated the bad day with a sub-liminal message to Brazilians. 

Virtuosity
In 1987 Honda supplied his turbocharged engines to Lotus and became one of his strong partners.

Senna´s perfectionism matched perfectly with the Japanese style. Since his teen-aging time as a kart driver he studied alone how to save time during the race. He divided the circuit  in four sections and experienced new lines in each one. The sum of the little gains made a huge difference at the end. This particular feature helped him to develop with the Japanese engineers of Gran Prix detailed telemetry reports that he studied carefully.

"His brain could simulate his all operations on the track such as RPM of engine, gear position, braking point, steering or so with the error by less than a hundredth second. He could adjust himself perfectly in line with his analysis so that he actually ran in 0.6 second faster if he said that he was able to run faster by 0.6 second. Besides, he could memorize all data for the process and condition of his machine. His memory was perfectly same as the telemetry data!" - Yoshitoshi Sakurai

Senna finished the championship just after the Brazilian tri-champion Nelson Piquet, one of his rivals, and Nigel Mansell. The third position was a tremendous differential that propelled him to his next move: the crucial change to McLaren.   

Faith and spirituality

With Honda engines in 1988, Senna has made an impeccable season, winning 15 of 16 races and confirming his first victory as F-1 driver’s championship. The decisive race took place at Suzuka, Japan, when Senna faced problems at the start, founding himself in 16^th place, made an electrifying recovery, overtook Alain Prost and won in the rain in a memorable performance. At the end he mentioned he experienced another dimension and visualized God in this race. When the journalists asked him if he felt like a world champion, he said “I  just feel peace” – an unusual statement for racing drivers.

The question of religiousness and spirituality has also permeated his personal journey and generated controversy. In a male environment like the Grand Prix one, Senna has never had fear to expose himself as a devoted Catholic. Several times he was seen reading his own bible. 

Feeling for business

Clever and cold for business Senna knew exactly his value in the market and how to negotiate millionaire agreements in the better way and precise time. The episode was described in the book “The revealed hero” (Herói revelado, in Portuguese) from the Brazilian journalist Ernesto Rodrigues, who have researched his personal and professional life deeply for more than two years. 

In 1993 Senna made an agreement with Ron Dennis to simulate a misunderstanding widely promoted in the media to press the sponsor Philip Morris to raise his offer. One of his mantras was “no money, no race.”  The bluff worked and the amount of one million dollars was often credit just one day before the qualifying tests for each award. 

Finitude

In a time when we constantly listen about goals, success and money, Senna is a precious example of motivation, struggle, failure, improvement, recovery, faith, virtuosity, unpredictability and finitude.  

On Tamburello curve Senna hit his car with high impact in 1994. The long scene broadcasted by TV all over the world and extensively shown in Brazil was shocking. We could see he was not moving his body and predicted it was fatal.

His death generated enormous commotion not only in Brazil but had a great impact all over the world as he passed away in the top of glory,  as an idol in several countries where motor racing is practiced and revered.

Ayrton Senna was revered by his people who cried and prayed for him.  

the modest grave of Senna in a cemetery in São Paulo

He is also respected and deeply remembered and admired and  by his friends, technicians and colleagues till nowadays. 

Have a look at this video that focus the tour made by the 2014 bi-world champion 
Lewis Hamilton and  his colleague Jenson Button at McLaren´s garage when they
experienced  the legendary '88 car, the MP4-4, driven by Ayrton Senna.

Unfortunately after a long period of his death, the motor racing has faced challenging questions in Brazil. According to specialized journalists and racers, the organizations responsible for the promotion of the sport have not invested enough and the sponsors have also been reduced.

Eliana Souza - SPin Brazil Tours

Rio de Janeiro and the World Cup in Brazil

Who hasn't heard of the Marvelous City? It is the city that draws up Brazil for its stereotypes and stunning beauty. Rio doesn't disappoint anyone who comes to see the mix of an urban center and a beach town, with it touristic icons like Christ, the Redeemer, Sugar Loaf Mountain and the famous beaches of Copacabana, Ipanema and Barra da Tijuca.

Aerial view from Sugar Loaf, photo by Eliana Souza

Ipanema beach, wikipedia

Tijuca National park and forest

For being the capital of the country for more than a century and a half, the city preserves historic Brazilian landmarks with its monuments and museums, and enormous French influence. Rio was also the precursor of innumerous cultural movements that left behind roots, such as the creation of samba and bossa nova, for example. Its festivals, like carnival and New Year's Eve, are reason enough to highlight the city as an unforgettable destination.

Opera House, photo by Eliana Souza

Selaron stairs, photo by Eliana Souza

Carioca da Gema, traditional bar at Lapa bohemian district

Carnival parade, wikipedia

But, nothing is more impressive than the relationship between people from Rio, or Cariocas, and soccer, which is practically considered a religion. The four big teams in the city, Botafogo, Fluminense, Vasco and Flamengo, are venerated by their followers and cause commotion in their highly disputed games. It is estimated that 30 million fans root for Flamengo, considered the most popular team in the country. Players that have reached international fame, like Jairzinho, Garrincha, Rivellino, Zico, Ronaldo and Romário, all played for one of these teams.

Maracana stadium, before the renovation for 2014 world Cup, photo by Artur Bopré 

The home of the giant Maracanã stadium which has hosted around 155 thousand fans, it is there that games between the four rival teams are played. The stadium was inaugurated shortly before the 1950 World Cup, in order to be recognized as the biggest in the world. Five of the six games that Brazil played in the tournament took place there, including the historic final against Uruguay, when Brazil was beaten 2 to 1, and generated a national state of shock, which is difficult to wipe from the memory of Brazilians.

Maraca, as it is affectionately called by locals, is the stadium that has hosted the most games played by the Brazilian national soccer team. Several final games in the Brazilian championships, and many historic games, were also played there, like the famous soccer player Pelé's game where he made his 1000th goal, and his last game as part of the national team.

Maracana stadium prepared for 2014 World Cup, photo by Erica Ramalho

Totally remodeled with a capacity for 78.800 spectators, the stadium will be the stage for the final game of the World Cup in 2014. It will also host four games in the group stage, one of the round of 16 and another in the quarterfinals. Brazil wants to be there, in the final match, following its tradition and repeating the screenplay of the last Confederations Cup in 2013, when won the tournament with an expressive score of 3-0 against Spain.

This is the most important temple for the most popular and idolized sport in Brazil. Argentina, Spain, Chile and France are other strong contenders to play in the arena.

June 15^th – Sunday - 07:00pm - Argentina x Bosnia (group F)

June 18^th – Wednesday  - 07:00pm - Spain x Chile (group B)

June 22^nd –  Sunday - 07:00pm - Belgium x Russia (group  H)

June 25^th – Wednesday - 05:00pm - Ecuador x France (group E)

June 28^th – Wednesday - 05:00pm – 1^st of Group C x 2^nd of Group D (round of 16)

July 04^th – Friday - 01:00pm – 1^st of Group E or 2^nd group F x 1^st of Group G or 2^nd group H (quarterfinals)

The goals of striker Edin Dzeko from Bosnia National team

The skilss of Romelu Lukaku from Belgium National team

Eliana Souza - SPin Brazil Tours

Salvador and the World Cup in Brazil

Brazil's first capital still preserves its strong African influence that permeates its food, music, dance and religion. With the history alive and well in the streets, alleys and hills that marks the start of Portuguese colonization, the city possesses a rich archive of architectural and religious works, which can be found in its historic center, known as the Pelourinho. 

Historical center in Salvador

Itapuã beach, Salvador

Capoeira, Martial arts and dance

Famous for its street carnival, with the great singers of Axé music, the biggest city in the Brazilian Northeast also has an ocean coast blessed with beautiful beaches surrounded by coconut palms.

The classic Ba-Vi game is the highlight of the dispute between the two favorite rival teams by Salvador residents. Both Bahia and Vitória compete fiercely at the state level.

Bahia is famous for its faithfulness to its fans, who put it as the owner of one of the largest fan bases in Brazil, which won the trophy of Brazilian Champion in 1988, and the Taça Brasil in 1959.

Vitória in turn has won three titles in the Northeastern Cup, and one of vice-champion of the Brazilian Championship in 1993, after being beaten in the final match by Palmeiras. The Leão (lion), as Vitória is also known, already produced such stars and world champs like the forward Bebeto and the goalkeeper Dida.

Fonte Nova Arena

The novelty to Bahian football is the Fonte Nova Arena, a multiuse stadium with capacity for 55.000  fans. Salvador will host at least three of the main teams that sealed a spot to participate in 2014. In the first phase, the city will host four games. In three of them, key players from their groups will be on the field. The Bahian capital will also host an elimination game in the round of 16, and one of the quarter finals. The presence of Spain, Netherlands, France, Portugal and Germany promises some legendary scenes in a remarkable city in Brazil.

June 13^th – Friday - 04:00pm  – Spain x Netherlands  (group B)

June 16th – Monday - 01:00pm - Germany  x Portugal (group G)

June 20^th – Friday – 01:00pm -  Switzerland  x France (group  E)

June 25^th – Wednesday - 01:00pm -  Bosnia x Iran (group F)

July 01st – Tuesday – 05:00pm - 1^st Group H x 2^nd Group G (round of 16)

July 05^th – Saturday – 05:00pm - 1^st  Group B or 2^nd Group A x 1^st Group D or 2^nd Group C (quarterfinals)

Iran squad profile

Switzerland team profile

Eliana Souza - SPin Brazil Tours

Recife and the World Cup in Brazil

Cut up by rivers and full of bridged (close to 60) Recife is known as the Venice of Brazil. The unusual Dutch influence that occurred only in this part of the Brazilian Northeast is one of the interesting factors to explore the city culturally. With museums, churches, and houses from the Portuguese colonial period, the city is famous for its calm lakes created by reefs typical for its beaches. In catamaran trips down the main river that cuts through the city, the Capibaribe, you can admire its mangroves. For art lovers, you can't miss the fabulous workshop of the native artist Francisco Brennand, located in the middle of the Atlantic forest, where thousands of works of ceramics, paintings and installation art are brought together.

Recife historical center, wikipedia

Francisco Brennand studio

Olinda view, wikipedia

In the neighboring city of Olinda, with its hills and magnificent views that combine antique houses with the sea in the background, you will find rich historic heritage. Frevo and maracatu, typical musical rhythms in Pernambuco, are registered trademarks during the city street carnival, which exhibits excited floats of revelers like Galo da Madrugada.

Frevo, typical dance from Pernambuco State in Brazil

With respect to the art on the field, three clubs divide the state's attention: Sport, Santa Cruz and Náutico. Giant rivals in the local tournament, historic duels have collided for almost 100 years. The stadiums of the teams, Ilha do retiro, Arruda and Aflitos, are excellent locations to watch the heat that emanates from the passionate fans in Recife.

Pernambuco arena

As one of the best stages to see the Brazilian soccer team, the capital of Pernambuco state boasts the Pernambuco Arena, host for three games in the Confederations Cup in 2013 and five World Cup games in 2014. With 44.248 seats, the stadium has become a landmark in the city, since it includes the construction of a totally planned neighborhood and a complex that will house a museum, shopping center, restaurants, convention center, and other amenities. Náutico has the right to be the owner of the new Arena after the World Cup. Favorites to win the trophy, such as Germany and Italy, will show up in this field.

June 14^th – Saturday - 07:00pm – Ivory Coast x Japan (group C)

June 20^th – Friday - 01:00pm - Italy x Costa Rica (group  D)

June 23^rd – Monday - 05:00pm - Croatia x Mexico (group A)

June 26^th – Thursday - 01:00pm - United States  x Germany (group G)

June 29^th – Sunday – 05:00pm – 1^st of Group D x 2^nd of Group C

Croatia profile

The skills of Didier Drogba from Ivory Coast National team

Eliana Souza - SPin Brazil Tours

Porto Alegre and the World Cup in Brazil

Full of secular tradition, the Southern capital is part of the southern region of the country. It is there that the creation of Brazilian barbeque was spread, which can be tasted with the special cuts of local beef. Due in part to the influence of German and Italian colonization, the cuisine and viniculture are also attractions that can't be missed. In the area surrounding the city is a region of Brazilian canyons: Aparados da Serra, with its deep valleys lined with araucarias, a species of native pine.

Public market, wikipedia

Museum for Ibere Camargo Foundation, photo by Alvaro Siza Architects

Typical dance of gaucho folklore, photo by Tetraksys, wikipedia

Rio Grande do Sul has a long history in Brazilian soccer. It is home to renowned national-level clubs, like Caxias and Juventude. Nevertheless, it could be said that the state is divided in two colors: blue and red.

The blue club is actually three colors. Grêmio, which also has black and white on its uniform, was the world champion in 1983, with a victory in Tokyo, Japan, over Hamburg, 2 x 1. Years later, Internacional, its greatest rival, beat Barcelona 1 x 0 in 2006, and won the title that had kept it behind Grêmio. The game between the two teams, known as Gre-Nal, is a guaranteed attraction for the state championship, as well as for the Series A Brazilian Championship.

Although Grêmio inaugurated its new stadium in 2012, the stage for five games of the World Cup will be Beira-Rio, Internacional's stadium. With a capacity for 48.849 fans, the red stadium is fully prepared for the tournament, hosting games for the home team.

Beira Rio stadium

France, the winner of 1998 edition, will be one of the stars playing in Porto Alegre, with Argentina and Netherlands as partners. A set of strong matches takes place in Beira-Rio in the group stage and, certainly, in the round of 16.

June 15^th – Sunday - 04:00pm - France x Honduras (group E)

June 18th - Wednesday - 01:00pm - Australia x Netherlands (group B)

June 22^nd – Sunday - 01:00pm – South Korea  x Algeria  (group H)

June 25^th – Wednesday - 01:00pm - Nigeria x Argentina (group  F)

June 30^th – Monday - 05:00pm – 1^st group G x 2^nd group H (round of 16)

France national team profile

Robin Van Persie, the Dutch star

Eliana Souza - SPin Brazil Tours

Natal and the World Cup in Brazil

The sun favors this city, which is sunny almost all year round. Because of that, Natal is known as the city of the sun, and a scene from paradise. The white sand dunes contrasting against the blue sea dazzle thousands of tourists that explore its coastline from North to South. A cashew tree with an immense canopy of more than 7,000 square meters, which produces cashew fruit in addition to the nut that most foreign tourists know, is also worth seeing. At night, forró, traditional popular dance in Natal, is an invitation for a little relaxation.

Ponta Negra beach, photo by Ricardo   

 Genipabu beach, wikipedia

Pipa beach, photo by Helder da Rocha

The great soccer rivalry is the Potiguar Championship, as the state tournament is called. ABC and América are the clubs that divide sports fans in Rio Grande do Norte and have gathered the most recent local titles.

Dunes Arena in Natal, RN

In this year, fans will be even more enthusiastic to receive four games of the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 in the Dunes Arena, a stadium which has capacity for 42.086 people. Stage for local heroes like América de Natal, will show traditional competitive forces to the world, like Uruguay and Italy.

June 13^th –  Friday -  01:00pm - Mexico x Cameroon  (group A)

June 16^th – Monday - 07:00pm - Ghana x United States  (group G)

June 19^th – Thursday - 07:00pm -  Japan x Greece (group C)

June 24^th – Tuesday - 01:00pm -  Italy  x Uruguay (group  D)

The American star Jozy Altidore

Ghana National team profile

Eliana Souza - SPin Brazil Tours

Manaus and the World Cup in Brazil

On the banks of the Amazon River, the city has inherited a rich past, through the rubber cycle, with its gorgeous Opera House and the Municipal Market. Getting into the Amazon rainforest, exploring its biodiversity, fauna and flora is not just a fantasy. From Manaus, by ship or boat, countless forest hotels can be reached which offer tourist experiences with a focus on adventure, contemplation and learning something new. In the month of June, in the neighboring city of Parintins, the spectacular folklore festival of Parintins takes place. It is a mixture of theatre shows, music and dance inspired by legends and the customs of indigenous tribes and Amazonian communities.

Opera House, wikipedia

Meeting of the waters between Solimões and Negro rivers, wikipedia

Feeding the pink dolphins close to a lodge in the Amazon rainforest

The Amazon championship has gained competitiveness over the last few years with the arrival of new clubs, which has divided local passions. Among the teams that have come out on top at the State level are Nacional, which owns the greatest number of titles, Fast Clube, São Raimundo and Rio Negro.

Arena Amazonia, photo by Bruno

For the World Cup, the expectations are high. The Amazônia Arena, constructed especially for the competition, substitutes the traditional stadium Vivaldão. The space, ready and prepared for various sports, has capacity for 42.3 thousand people, who will be able to watch four World Cup games in 2014 in the group stage, featuring an amazing one: England versus Italy, opening the works for group D. Portugal, United States and Switzerland are also relevant teams willing to challenge the heat in Manaus.

June 14^th –Saturday - 10:00pm - England x Italy (group  D)

June 18^th – Wednesday - 04:00pm - Cameroon  x Croatia (group A)

June 22^nd - Sunday - 04:00pm - United States x Portugal (group G)

June 25^th - Wednesday - 05:00pm - Honduras x Switzerland (group E)

The star Andrea Pirlo, one of the respected players of the Italian squad 

The famous and Ballon D'Or 2013-2014 awarded Cristiano Ronaldo

Eliana Souza - SPin Brazil Tours