Following an unforgettable couple of weeks in London, this Sunday all eyes will turn to Brazil as the torch is handed over to the next host nation.

A hive of activity, Rio de Janeiro is already gearing up not only to host the next major games in 2016 but also the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and Copacabana Palace is no exception.

The iconic Orient-Express hotel, superbly positioned overlooking Copacabana Beach, has embarked on a stellar facelift which will see its position strengthened as one of the city’s most glamorous and sought after hotels.

Since its Art Deco doors swung open in 1923, Copacabana Palace has been welcoming the rich and famous: from Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers to the Rolling Stones and Nelson Mandela.

Guests can soak up the sun in the hotel’s magnificent pool, dance the night away with Brazil’s style setters in Bar Do Copa or dine on fabulous local and Italian dishes at the Hotel Cipriani Restaurant.

The refurbishment will complete in November 2012, following six months of careful and dedicated renovation work during which 90 rooms, including Ocean View Suites, Deluxe Suites, Junior Suites, City View Suites and Deluxe Beach View Room’s, on the lower floors of the main building are being upgraded. Each will feature larger bathrooms, with a new structural design and layout.

Beautifully designed porcelain enamel bathtubs will perfectly complement separate showers and marble counter tops with dual basins, alongside changes in the lighting design and furniture.

The Sixth Floor Penthouses will also feature a stylish new design with new fabrics and furniture through-out.

Guests arriving at Copacabana Palace will step into a new, much larger and lighter lobby area. The total size of the lobby is increasing by 60 per cent which will help guests breeze through a seamless check-in.

Regularly lauded as one of the most sophisticated restaurants in Rio de Janeiro, Copacabana Palace’s Hotel Cipriani Restaurant was renovated at the end of 2011.

Offering ample daylight, the new environment reflects the laidback nature of the city without compromising on the venues elegance and exclusivity.

Fortuny fabrics and handmade Murano lamps combine to create a Venetian inspired setting. The restaurants vibrant menu, created by Chef Nicola Finamore, merges Italian and Brazilian ingredients to offer innovative dishes alongside traditional classics.

An outstanding feature of the new design is the “table du chef”, located in the heart of Cipriani Restaurant’s kitchen it is an intimate dining experience for up to six guests.

During this memorable gastronomic experience gourmands follow Chef Finamore as he prepares an array of dishes inspired by the day’s freshest ingredients.

The special menu is then paired with carefully selected wines.