August 21, 2014 
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The LBT Short Guide to Doing Business in ... Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil 

This manufacturing, petroleum and export center also offers great beaches and excellent food, and fewer personal security concerns than the nation's larger cities

 

By Mark Holston

 

Praia da Curva da Jurema
The Brazilian state of Espírito Santo may be the country's fourth smallest, but it stands tall when it comes to business opportunities. The Estonia-sized coastal state ranks high in a host of economic and social indices and is home to the one of the country's largest port complexes, Porto de Vitória (Port of Vitória), which includes the Porto do Tubarão and the Porto de Vitória (used mainly for cruise ships and ship and oil platform repairs). The city's vibrant export, manufacturing and petroleum-based economy makes the one hour flight from Rio de Janeiro increasingly attractive for those wanting to expand their business options in Brazil.

 

Almost everything about Espírito Santo and its lovely capital city, Vitória, speaks of opportunity. About half of the state's 3.6 million inhabitants live in the greater Vitória metro area. Capixabas, as locals are known, enjoy a high quality of life accented by an abundance of pristine beaches, a moderate tropical climate and a relaxed pace of life. Residents rank in the top five among citizens of Brazil's 26 state capitals in terms of per-capita income, adult literacy, life expectancy, rate of school attendance and other important factors.

 

Around the clock, trains arrive from the neighboring state of Minas Gerais loaded with iron ore. Much is exported, but local steel production has long been an important part of the manufacturing sector. Espírito Santo is also the country's second most important center of petroleum production and Latin America's biggest exporter of marble and granite. Wood pulp and traditional agricultural products, including coffee and fruit, complement the state's diversified economy. The tourism sector has recently experienced meteoric growth.

 

An Insider's Perspective

Mariana Sandri is diretora (her family is majority owner) of Sheraton Vitória, one of the city's elite hotels and convention centers. The five-star property is located just a block inland from the Do Canto Beach. On most days, businesspeople from elsewhere in Brazil and abroad constitute the hotel's core clientele.

 

"Vitória is a very beautiful city," Sandri says proudly. "After Rio, it is the favorite of many Brazilians due to our great beaches and excellent food." When it comes to business protocol, the executive notes that in most cases a handshake, rather than the exchange of kisses on the cheek, is the safest way for foreigners to meet their Brazilian counterparts. Wearing a suit and tie is probably not necessary in many circumstances, she notes, explaining that casual attire is becoming more accepted in Brazilian business circles.

 

In a city as small and tranquil as Vitória, personal security concerns are less pronounced than in Brazil's larger cities. The common taxi is trustworthy and will suffice for most personal transportation needs.

 

Tips for Business Lunches, Downtime Getaways

"There is a Capixaba way of doing things," Sandri explains, and when it comes to business meetings, a famous local dish is a good way to break the ice. "We will invite clients to lunch and treat them to Moqueca," she adds. "It's a traditional meal - a stew that can be made with combinations of fish, lobster, crab and shrimp. We use olive oil, cilantro and banana, and it's always cooked in a clay pot."

 

Terceira Pont

Other than her own hotel's popular restaurant, Sandri recommends three other local places to dine. "Across the street from the Sheraton is one of the best in the city, Lareira Portuguesa. It has been run by a Portuguese family almost 30 years and is noted for its ambiance and excellent food. For Italian dishes, Vero Ristorante, about a mile from the hotel, is very cozy with great service. Aleixo, located on a street of the same name, is where to go for contemporary cuisine."

 

If visitors have some free time on their hands and want to explore the region, Sandri strongly recommends a visit to Pedra Azul, a state park less than two hours from the city. It features a massive rock outcropping that reflects hues of blue and green, hiking trails and some great restaurants. Closer to Vitória is the small mountain city of Domingos Martins, which still reflects the heritage of its German colonizers through Bavarian-style architecture and eateries that feature sauerkraut, bratwurst and other hearty dishes.

 

Praia da Curva da Jurema by Mark Holston; Mariana Sandri, Diretora of Sheraton Vitória by Mark Holston; Terceira Ponte by Mark Holston

                                                                                                       
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Travel News

Security and Safety Updates

The Guayllabamba road in north Quito, Ecuador is closed due to landslide risks after the August 12 earthquake. Aftershocks and another quake on August 16 have the area remaining in emergency mode.

 

New Airline Routes and Route Change

International Connections

American Airlines' American Eagle subsidiary will begin daily flights between American's U.S. hub in Dallas/Fort Worth (Texas) and Jacksonville, Florida; Dallas/Fort Worth and New Orleans (Louisiana); and Dallas/Fort Worth and Meridian and Laurel, Mississippi.

Southwest Airlines

 

American Airlines will suspend service this winter on the following routes: Chicago O'Hare-Dusseldorf, Germany; Chicago O'Hare-Manchester, England and New York JFK-Dublin, Ireland. All routes will resume next summer.

 

Southwest Airlines will add nonstop long-distance service to 15 new destinations from Dallas Love Field in Texas (U.S.) between October 13 and November 2.

 

Airline Alliance News

Delta Airlines will display codeshare partner Air France's codes on Delta Connection flights operated by Delta partner GoJet. Included routes are New York-Toronto (Canada); Detroit-Washington, D.C.; New York-Montreal (Canada); and Cincinnati, Ohio-New York.

 

Air Seychelles and Italy's Alitalia began a codeshare partnership between Seychelles and Italy and for domestic service within Italy.

 

Ethiopian Airlines and United Airlines have entered a codeshare agreement covering routes from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to the U.S. capital of Washington, D.C. as well to cities in Africa and the U.S.

 

Other Airline News

Air Canada launched an enhanced Preferred Seats program, which allows passengers to book a Preferred Seat with extra legroom in Economy Class via the web, airport kiosks and mobile devices.

 

Airport News

American Express opened The Centurion Lounge in New York's LaGuardia Airport, in Terminal B. The lounge is complimentary for Platinum Card and Centurion Members; regular AmEx card members can purchase a one-day pass for $50. Amenities include seasonal cuisine by famed chef Cedric Vongerichten, private workspaces with high-speed Wi-Fi and outlets, specialty cocktails and wine selections and member services professionals to assist with travel-related services.

 

Loyalty Program News

Frontier Airlines will move from a two-tier elite program (Ascent and Summit statuses) to a single "Frontier Elite" status in February of 2015. It will apply to travelers who fly at least 20,000 miles or 25 segments during 2014.

 

Travelers who sign up for several of Delta's SkyMiles cards will receive 50,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 within three months of account activation. Eligible cards include Delta Gold SkyMiles, Gold SkyMiles Business or Platinum SkyMiles.

 

Orbitz Rewards program members can now earn Orbucks rewards when dining at more than 11,000 participating restaurants.

Holiday Inn Express Culiacan 

 

Hotel News

Intercontinental Hotels Group opened the 108-room Holiday Inn Express in Tegucigalpa, Honduras' financial and commercial district of Plaza San Rafael. The hotel offers an outdoor pool, 24-hour fitness center, complimentary high-speed Internet access, a business center with free local phone service and toll-free phones with private voicemail.

 

InterContinental Hotels Group opened the 174-room Holiday Inn Express Culiacan in Sinaloa, Mexico. The hotel is the first Holiday Inn Express in the city and offers complimentary high-speed Internet and Desayuno Express breakfast bar as well as HD TVs and a 24-hour business center.

 

Hoteles City Express opened the 115-room City Express Monterrey Norte in Nuevo Leon, Mexico.

 

Marriott International expanded its mobile check-in and checkout service to include The Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Renaissance Hotels, Autograph Collection, AC Hotels, Courtyard, SpringHill Suites, Fairfield Inn & Suites, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites and Marriott Executive Apartments. Marriott Hotels were already using the service.

 

Hotel Pipeline

LaQuinta Inn signed franchise agreements for hotels in Managua, Nicaragua; Guatemala City; and Quetzaltenango, Guatemala and will begin construction on properties in those cities next year.

 

Travel Services

U.S. Customs and Border Protection launched a "mobile passport control" app enabling passengers to fill out customs forms and scan their passports to their iPad or iPhone, thus speeding their trip through security and customs. The pilot program has launched at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and will roll out to other airports later this year.

 
Southwest Airlines by Aero_Icarus; Holiday Inn Express Culiacan, courtesy of Holiday Inn Express Culiacan
 
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