Rio de Janeiro has always known how to host the world. Carnival, New Year’s Eve on Copacabana, Rock in Rio, football finals, beach culture, samba, architecture, food, nightlife and mountain-meets-ocean drama have made the city one of the most emotionally powerful destinations on earth.

Rio de Janeiro this week welcomes the global aviation industry as host city for the 82nd International Air Transport Association (IATA) Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit, bringing together airline chief executives, government ministers, regulators and industry leaders from around the world. Hosted by LATAM Airlines Group, the event comes at a pivotal moment for aviation. The industry is navigating geopolitical uncertainty, rising fuel costs, supply chain constraints, sustainability challenges and the accelerating impact of artificial intelligence, while continuing to respond to record levels of passenger demand.

Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel, Rio de Janeiro will celebrate its 100 years with the launch of an annual arts, gastronomy, and cultural programme, running throughout 2023.

Just in time for the holidays and the upcoming carnival season, Delta Air Lines resumed its popular seasonal route between its Atlanta hub and Rio de Janeiro’s Galeão International Airport (GIG) this week.

Rio de Janeiro’s hotel industry saw a substantially larger impact as host of the 2016 Olympics than London in 2012 and Beijing in 2008, according to data from STR. During the month of August, Rio de Janeiro hotels posted a 199.2 per cent surge in average daily rate to BRL1,250.

The first train for Rio’s new Light Rail system has just arrived in Rio for testing, as part of Brazil’s investment in public infrastructure ahead of the 2016 Olympics. With over 480,000 tourists predicted to descend on Rio de Janeiro for the Olympic & Paralympic Games next summer, the Light Rail will carry approximately 285,000 tourists every day, easing the pressure on the city’s other transport systems.