Conrad Hotels & Resorts has announced the opening of Conrad Cartagena, the brand’s first hotel in Colombia and third in Latin America.

Well-known as one of the main industrial centres in Brazil, ABCD region has a strong presence of large companies in the automotive and petrochemical sectors. As a result, the cities of Santo André, São Bernardo do Campo, São Caetano and Diadema attract investments and currently have the fourth highest GDP in the country, according to IBGE.

Hilton is opening the Hilton Rio de Janeiro Copacabana, marking a significant milestone as the company’s 100th hotel in Latin America. The 545-room beachfront Hilton Rio de Janeiro Copacabana is one of the largest hotels in the famous Copacabana neighbourhood, one of Brazil’s most visited destinations, and represents the company’s second property in the city.

The Ascott has stepped up its global expansion as it breaks into South America with franchise agreements for two serviced residences in São Paulo, Brazil. Vitacon, a leading real estate company in São Paulo, will franchise and operate the 92-unit Citadines VN Jardins São Paulo and 122-unit Citadines VN Faria Lima São Paulo.

Peruvian eco-tourism pioneer Inkaterra will open an Amazonian Inkaterra Guides Field Station to guests in June. Located in the Tambopata National Reserve, the property will offer travellers the opportunity to explore the rainforest and participate in various conservation projects, overseen by Inkaterra’s NGO, the Inkaterra Asociación.

Meliá Hotels International has launched its first luxury hotel from the Gran Meliá brand in Brazil with the official opening of Gran Meliá Nacional Rio in March 2017. Originally built in 1972 by the world renowned architect, Oscar Niemeyer, the famous ‘Hotel Nacional’ has reopened after more than a decade of being left abandoned, as the Gran Meliá brand’s flagship property.