A premiere for Kempinski Hotels: For the first time in the 125-year history of the international luxury hotel group, a resort with residences and a hotel in South American Brazil will complement its portfolio. Built in 1978 according to plans by Oscar Niemeyer´s disciple Edgar Graeff, two masters of modernism, the hotel is known far beyond the borders of the Serra Gaúcha region, as it was here, among other outstanding events, that the signing of the Mercosur Treaty took place in 1992. Situated on a cliff in Canela with a breathtaking view over the Vale do Quilombo Eco Reserve, the developers, together with Kempinski Hotels, plan to open the most outstanding luxurious inland resort in Brazil. By carrying the spirit of this well-known hotel icon into the present and after an extensive renovation and modernisation, it is foreseen that it will welcome the first guests by 2024.
The Serra Gaúcha Region is a perfect fit for the Kempinski brand, as it carries a strong German and European culture which, combined with its unparalleled natural environment, attracts over six million visitors per year. Canela is at the epicenter of the most attractive inland region in Brazil, with easy access to excellent exclusive wineries, to the breathtaking gaucho canyons and to Campos de Cima da Serra (Rio Grande Highlands) with its magnificent uninhabited pampa fields cut by endless waterfalls. Its dramactic natural beauty in one of the least dense region of the planet (population density equals Iceland), attracts wealthy tourists in search for adventure and nature oriented sports.
"After being the absolute place to be in the first decades after its opening, the Laje de Pedra has fallen into a slumber, so to speak, in recent times," says Bernold Schroeder, Chief Executive Officer ad interim and Chairman of the Management Board of Kempinski Hotels. "The aim is to bring this historic and architectural icon back to life with our commitment to first-class quality combined with timeless European elegance and to position it as a top destination at the highest level. It is an excellent opportunity for us to tackle the South American market with such an exceptional project."
360 elegant and state-of-the-art residential suites ranging in size from 54 to 290 square metres will be partially sold, with future owners able to use all of the hotel's services or rent out their apartment temporarily when they are not on site themselves. International restaurants and bars with spacious terraces and spectacular views, such as a steakhouse in a modern Gaucho style or an Italian enoteca, as well as the Roof Top Lounge or the Bar with open fireplace, leave no culinary wishes unfulfilled. Guests will find relaxation and entertainment in the 1,000-square-metre fitness centre, the sophisticated spa, the Kids Club or the heated pool on the roof of the resort. Meeting and conference rooms as well as the resort's own theatre round off the attractive offer.
«We are very proud to bring the very first Kempinski Hotel in the Southern Hemisphere of the American continent to Hotel Laje de Pedra in Canela. This move will definitely position Canela and the region within the luxury destination circuit in South America», say José Paim de Andrade Jr. and José Ernesto Marino Neto, the Laje de Pedra developers.
The future Kempinski Laje de Pedra is best reached via Porto Alegre International Airport Salgado Filho approximately 100 km away, which serves the urban region of Porto Alegre, capital of the Rio Grande do Sul region.
