What If Kindness Is the New Luxury? Brazil’s DMC Blumar Leads by Example [ABO]


Fondée il y a plus de 40 ans, Blumar s’est progressivement imposée comme l’un des acteurs majeurs du tourisme haut de gamme au Brésil - Photo : Alexandre Macieira

CroisiEurope


Contemporary luxury is no longer defined solely by visible signs of prestige. It unfolds in the quality of the lived experience, in the precision of support, and in the ability to forge a fair relationship with a destination.

In Rio de Janeiro, this evolution takes on a particular dimension. The city does not simply host visitors: it engages, it connects, it transmits a culture of hospitality deeply rooted in its identity.

In this context, certain players play a decisive role, often behind the scenes. Their mission is to transform the richness of a destination into coherent, seamless, and memorable experiences.

Blumar sits among these benchmark operators, capable of blending international standards with a nuanced understanding of the local terrain.

The encounter with Bruno Teixeira, Business Manager of the receptive agency in Rio de Janeiro, immediately illuminates this reality.

From the first exchanges, a quality stands out with evident clarity: genuine availability, constant attention, and a way of relating that goes beyond the professional frame. Kindness is not presented here as a pose, but as a natural disposition.

The advisory becomes a conversation, the expertise a transmission, and the welcome an experience in itself.

Also read: Brazil: generous hospitality as a lever for transforming luxury tourism



Forty Years of Expertise at the Service of a Destination

Founded more than forty years ago, Blumar has gradually established itself as one of the leading players in Brazil’s luxury tourism.

The company has built itself on an in-depth knowledge of the country, developing an approach that goes beyond mere logistical organization to give travel real meaning.

Initially focused on the destination of Búzios, a seaside resort north of Rio, Blumar expanded its scope to cover the entire Brazilian territory.

Today, the operator covers more than thirty destinations, from the Amazon to the Pantanal, from Fernando de Noronha to Ouro Preto. This national reach is a significant advantage in a country where distances, regional cultures, and operational realities require fine expertise.

This ability to grasp Brazil in its diversity rests on a strong belief: the quality of a stay depends first on the women and men who make it possible. The company relies on experienced local teams, capable of translating the expectations of international travelers while respecting the cultural specificities of each region.


An Integrated Approach to Luxury Travel

In Rio de Janeiro, Blumar collaborates with the market’s most renowned hotels.

The Belmond Copacabana Palace, a true institution inaugurated in 1923, embodies heritage and service excellence. The Fairmont Rio presents a contemporary interpretation of international hospitality, integrated into the Carioca context. The Janeiro Hotel, located in Leblon, offers an immersion in a neighborhood that has become one of the nerve centers of the city’s cultural and gastronomic life.

Also read: Rio de Janeiro: a collection of hotels that embody different cultures of luxury

lodging is, however, only one component of the experience.

Blumar has structured a global offering covering all segments of luxury tourism: individual trips, groups, incentive programs, congress and event management, and onshore services for international cruise lines, including Crystal Cruises.

This organization rests on proprietary digital infrastructure, allowing partner agencies to access availability, itineraries, and visual content directly. In a market where responsiveness and precision are essential, this tool represents a decisive operational lever.


Experience as the Heart of the Value Proposition


Une réalité du luxe contemporain : la valeur ne réside pas uniquement dans l’accès, mais dans la qualité de l’interprétation - Photo : Felipe Amaral

The private experiences segment occupies a central place in the expectations of high-end travelers. Blumar has developed an offering that meets this shift by prioritizing access, personalization, and cultural depth.

In Rio de Janeiro, this approach translates into experiences such as private tours of UNESCO World Heritage sites, privileged access to Christ the Redeemer via trails through Tijuca Forest, helicopter flights over Guanabara Bay, and behind-the-scenes immersions in Carnival.

These proposals fit into a narrative of exploring the territory, where each experience contributes to a deeper understanding of Brazilian culture.

As Bruno Teixeira notes, “our clients benefit from guidance by experienced local guides who know the city inside out, its neighborhoods, rhythms, and codes. It is this knowledge that transforms a good stay into a memorable experience.”

This approach highlights a fundamental truth of contemporary luxury: value lies not only in access, but in the quality of interpretation.


Responsibility and International Recognition


Kindness as the Foundation of Sustainable Hospitality

Rio de Janeiro provides a valuable lens on the evolution of contemporary luxury. The city shows that excellence rests not only on mastering standards, but on the quality of the relationships built between people.

Through players like Blumar, this reality takes a concrete form. Technical expertise, structured offerings, and knowledge of the territory lay solid foundations. But the difference is found elsewhere.

It lies in this willingness to welcome without calculation, to listen without filters, to advise with discernment. Kindness then becomes a standalone competence. It is not decreed; it is embodied.

In a sector seeking meaning and authenticity, this approach opens a clear perspective: hospitality of tomorrow will not be limited to organizing experiences. It will need to be able to create connections, transmit a culture, and leave a lasting imprint.

In Rio, this reality is evident. Blumar offers a structured reading of it. Bruno Teixeira provides a deeply human embodiment.


Laurent Delporte


Laurent Delporte - Delporte Hospitality

Laurent Delporte is the president and founder of DELPORTE Hospitality.

After 25 years of experience in luxury hospitality, notably within the Accor group, he combines visionary thinking, an international hospitality culture, managerial and operational skills, and a network of independent experts to support decision-makers in hospitality for the benefit of their clients, staff, and partners.

As a recognized consultant in the hospitality industry, an executive coach for leaders, and a speaker in the world of hospitality, he also directs the magazine DH-Mag dedicated to trends in hospitality and speaks at major schools and trade shows (HEC, Sup de Luxe, EquipHotel, Maison & Objets…).

Moreover, Laurent Delporte ranked 8th in the international ranking of hospitality influencers in 2024 by the American magazine Global Hospitality and the International Hospitality Institute (IHI) based in the United States. He was also named among the 25 luxury-sector speakers worldwide.

São Paulo: Brazil’s Other Face You Might Not Suspect


© Getty Images by Canva

CroisiEurope


1. Discover São Paulo through its neighborhoods

One of the best ways to understand São Paulo is to explore its neighborhoods and their distinct identities.

The Jardins allure with its shops, galleries, restaurants and upscale addresses. Pinheiros and Vila Madalena offer a more creative atmosphere, between design, independent cafés, galleries and street art. In Liberdade, the Japanese influence is omnipresent: lanterns, shops, markets and restaurants bear witness to the history of Japanese immigration to São Paulo and to how this culture has become part of the paulistano identity.

The Bixiga district, historically marked by Italian immigration, constitutes another fascinating stop. Its cantinas, pizzerias and eateries keep a culinary tradition that has gradually blended with Brazilian habits and ingredients.

A private guided tour can connect these different realms and help understand how the waves of immigration contributed to shaping São Paulo’s identity.


2. Art, architecture, design and street art

São Paulo hosts a thriving art scene where museums, architecture, design and urban art intersect.

The MASP, designed by Lina Bo Bardi, stands as one of the city’s great architectural symbols. Yet the artistic experience extends beyond museums. Graffiti and street art play a central role in São Paulo’s visual identity, especially in Vila Madalena, where walls and façades become true canvases for expression.

A guided stroll lets you discover the works while understanding their context and place in paulistana culture. The itinerary can also include private galleries, design studios or a foray into modernist architecture.


© Beto Mendes - Pexels


3. A culinary scene that tells Brazil’s story

In São Paulo, gastronomy narrates the history of a city shaped by migrations. A true cultural mosaic, the metropolis gathers influences from Italian, Japanese, Lebanese, Portuguese, Arab communities and many other origins, which have contributed to forging the paulistana identity. This diversity is reflected in both traditional restaurants and contemporary haute cuisine.

The Liberdade neighborhood stands as one of the most emblematic examples of this cultural richness. Marked by a strong Japanese influence since the arrival of the first immigrants in the early 20th century, the district is now known for its lanterns, shops, markets and Japanese restaurants. There you can discover classic Japanese dishes, as well as how this culture has adapted to Brazilian life.

Italian influence is equally present in the city. In historic areas like Bixiga, Italian culinary traditions have deeply shaped paulistana culture. Pizzerias, cantinas, fresh pasta and recipes handed down through generations are part of São Paulo’s gastronomic landscape.

The presence of the Syro-Lebanese community adds another facet to this migration story. São Paulo hosts a sizeable Lebanese- and Syrian-origin community, whose heritage appears in restaurants, pastries and specialty groceries. A gastronomic experience can thus be an opportunity to discover specialties such as hummus, tabbouleh, kibbeh, esfihas or pistachio-filled and filo-based desserts, while exploring the history of this immigration.

The Mercado Municipal de São Paulo, known as Mercadão, provides another privileged gateway to the city’s culinary culture. Its stalls bring together tropical fruits, spices, regional products, cheeses, cured meats and specialties from across Brazil. Accompanied by a local guide, the visit helps to understand the products and eating habits that form the paulistana identity.


© Rogério CassimiroMTur


This cultural diversity also fuels a globally acclaimed haute cuisine scene. At D.O.M., Brazilian chef Alex Atala explores the country’s biodiversity through a chef’s cuisine that highlights Amazonian and Brazilian ingredients such as jambu, tucupi, bacuri, and açai. His work has helped bring Brazilian products and culinary traditions to the international gastronomic stage.

At Banzeiro, Brazilian chef Felipe Schaedler offers an immersion into Amazonian cuisine. His dishes emphasize fish, fruits, spices and regional ingredients, with a contemporary approach that reveals the Amazon in a new light.

In São Paulo, it is therefore possible to travel across Brazil and the world without leaving the city: Italian, Japanese, Syro-Lebanese, French, Brazilian or Amazonian cuisines mingle and reinvent themselves in a single metropolis. It is precisely this diversity that makes Paulistano gastronomy a true cultural experience.


© Rubens Kato-Banzeiro


4. A luxury-oriented hotel offering

São Paulo hosts a richly varied hotel scene, spanning from historic Brazilian institutions to new luxury properties that blend architecture, art, design and gastronomy.

Our favorite: Fasano São Paulo. More than a hotel, Fasano is a true Brazilian brand of upscale hospitality. The Fasano family’s history in Brazil goes back to 1902, when Vittorio Fasano, originally from Milan, opened Brasserie Paulista in São Paulo. More than a century later, this family tradition remains at the heart of the group’s identity.

Located in Jardins, one of São Paulo’s most elegant neighborhoods, Fasano São Paulo combines contemporary architecture with classic references and the house’s Italian legacy. Designed by architects Isay Weinfeld and Márcio Kogan, the hotel has 60 rooms and suites, in a restrained atmosphere where wood, leather, natural stone, Persian carpets and Murano glass pieces echo the family’s history. The Fasano Restaurant, the Baretto and the Spa complete the experience.

Another iconic address, Hotel Unique stands out for its inverted-arch architecture, conceived by Brazilian architect of Japanese origin, Ruy Ohtake. Opened in 2002, the hotel has become a true architectural landmark of São Paulo. Located in Jardins, near Ibirapuera Park, it offers an experience where architecture, design, gastronomy and contemporary art intersect. Its Skye rooftop, with its iconic pool, provides panoramic views of the city.

Rosewood São Paulo offers a different take on luxury, deeply linked to the city’s history and heritage. Situated near Avenida Paulista, in the Cidade Matarazzo complex, the fusion blends early 20th‑century historic buildings (including the old Matarazzo Maternity) with a new vegetated tower designed by architect Jean Nouvel.

The project thus transforms a heritage ensemble into a contemporary destination that gathers hotel, restaurants, culture, art and wellness. Rosewood São Paulo also embraces an art- and culture-forward approach, with a substantial art collection and a verdant environment that creates a true urban oasis in the heart of the metropolis.

For a more contemporary touch in the Itaim Bibi district, Fasano São Paulo Itaim complements this offering with a more urban atmosphere, close to the main business, leisure and entertainment hubs.

These various addresses allow guests to tailor their stay to their travel profile: classic elegance and Brazilian heritage at Fasano, architecture and design at Unique, or a cultural and contemporary experience at Rosewood.


© Hotel Fasano São Paulo


6. A MICE destination naturally connected


Pair São Paulo with…

São Paulo works particularly well in combination with Rio de Janeiro to pair two complementary faces of Brazil, but also with Paraty, Iguassu, or the Amazon, depending on the traveler’s profile and the length of stay.

For travelers looking to extend the cultural and gastronomic experience, São Paulo can also serve as the starting point for a broader itinerary across different regions of Brazil.


Tips from Brazil Sensations

• A private itinerary focusing on architecture, art and street art with a local specialist.

• Exploration of São Paulo’s multicultural neighborhoods, notably Liberdade and Bixiga, through their history and cuisine.

• A gastronomic experience around the diverse culinary influences of São Paulo, from Italian and Japanese cuisine to Syro-Lebanese traditions and Amazonian flavors.

• Private visit to Mercadão accompanied by a local guide.

• Dinner at a gastronomic venue highlighting Brazilian products and biodiversity.

• An stay at an iconic address such as Fasano São Paulo, our favorite, or at landmark hotels like Hotel Unique and Rosewood São Paulo.

• A program around the São Paulo Grand Prix, with hospitality experiences available depending on availability.

• A tailor-made program combining São Paulo with Rio, Paraty, Iguassu or the Amazon.

São Paulo is therefore not just a transit stop. For travelers who want to discover a more urban, cultural, creative, multicultural and gastronomic Brazil, the city can become a true highlight of the journey.



São Paulo, l’autre visage du Brésil qu’on ne soupçonne pas

Chloé Hathaway

General manager

55 21 32 64 19 02 / 55 21 9 84 94 20 30

[email protected]

https://brazilsensations.com

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Minas Gerais: Brazil’s New Authentic Signature | Passion Brazil


Tiradentes © Passion Brazil - Lorenna Teodoro

Hurtigruten


A Destination Shaped by Its Artisans

Along the journey, one clear observation emerges: Minas Gerais reveals itself primarily through the women and men who uphold its traditions.

Behind every stop, artisans, producers, and families pass down their know-how and preserve the region’s cultural identity, a strong guarantee of authenticity to craft differentiating itineraries.


Tiradentes and Bichinho: Terroir and Craftsmanship

Starting from Rio and along the road to Tiradentes, a tasting at the heart of a winery offers a full immersion into the local terroir. Arriving in the bucolic colonial town of Tiradentes, the rolling landscapes readily lend themselves to horseback riding. The encounter with a prize-winning cheese producer helps illuminate why Minas cheese is today regarded as one of Brazil’s great culinary icons.


Dégustation dans un vignoble à Tiradentes © Passion Brazil - Lorena Teodoro


A few kilometers away, the village of Bichinho illustrates the richness of local craftsmanship: workshops, galleries and shops bear witness to a living know-how, where wood, metal and stone work are an integral part of daily life.

Our suggested partner hotels:

• Solar da Ponte

• Villa Allegra

• Tiradentes Boutique Hotel

• Bowi Hotel Conceito


Ouro Preto: Beyond Baroque Heritage

Famed for its UNESCO-listed heritage, Ouro Preto reveals another facet through visits to former gold mines, encounters with local artists, and the discovery of soapstone sculpture—a tradition that continues to shape the region’s identity and enriches the cultural experience offered to your clients.

Our suggested partner hotels:

• Solar do Rosário

• Solar da Opera

• Pousada do Mondego


Ouro Preto © Shutterstock


Serra Do Cipó: Minas’ Wild Face

Farther north, Serra do Cipó unveils a wilder Minas Gerais. Kayaking or cycling outings, hiking, waterfalls, and archaeological sites adorned with prehistoric rock art captivate nature and adventure enthusiasts. Several local initiatives focused on agroforestry, organic farming, and sustainable tourism offer meaningful experiences that foster authentic exchanges with local communities.

Our lodging pick: Capim do Mato Pousada & SPA, whose contemporary architecture gracefully integrates with its natural surroundings. Refined rooms, an excellent dining, and a breakfast that is particularly well-crafted make it one of the region’s finest addresses.


Structure Your Programs with Passion Brazil


Contacts


Minas Gerais : la nouvelle signature authentique du Brésil, par Passion Brazil

Laure Drouvot

SALES EXECUTIVE

+ 55 21 3959.4346 / 2549.8457

[email protected]

Passion Brazil


Pour les demandes d’individuels sur mesure : [email protected]

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