Belmond today announced the internal appointment of Ulisses Marreiros as the General Manager of Copacabana Palace, the luxury travel brand’s landmark hotel on the world’s most iconic beach. Marreiros, who has served as General Manager of La Residencia, A Belmond Hotel, Mallorca since 2013, having re-joined the group in 2008, will begin in his role starting January 2021.
Mareiros brings over 20 years of international hospitality experience to his new role, having previously worked at a number of high-profile hotels & resorts in the Maldives and Portugal before taking up his role as General Manager at Reid’s Palace in Madeira, a hotel that has been welcoming guests for more than 125 years.
Laurent Carrasset, Divisional Vice President, South America said of Marreiros’ appointment: ‘Ulisses has built a reputation at La Residencia and Reid’s Palace for his enthusiasm, tireless dedication, and positive spirit, whilst managing projects that have significantly enhanced guest experience.”
“We are delighted that Ulisses will now lead Belmond’s timeless Copacabana Palace. His innate understanding of Belmond’s strategic vision combined with the team’s passion and local expertise will further elevate the hotel’s offerings, ensuring the Copacabana Palace continues its legacy as Rio’s iconic hotel for years to come.’
A Portuguese national, Marreiros is multilingual and speaks Spanish, Italian and German. Marreiros held a degree in hotel management from University of Algarve and also completed numerous leadership and management courses from renowned institutions such as Harvard Business School, Cornell University and Bocconi University in Milan.
He is passionate about gastronomy and enjoys running as well as other action sports.
Marreiros said: ‘It is my great pleasure to lead the team at Copacabana Palace, especially through this extraordinary time in the hotel’s history. I am also proud to continue my work with Belmond, the world’s leading travel brand renowned for its passion for heritage preservation and genuine service.
Together with the team, we hope to continue to take Copacabana Palace to new heights whilst keeping alive its storied legacy.’
Marreiros will take the reins at Copacabana Palace starting in January 2021. With a steeped history dating back nearly a century ago, the hotel has welcomed numerous high-profile visitors such as Nelson
Mandela, Orson Welles, Rolling Stones, Rita Hayworth and more. Following the hotel opening in 1923, in 1924, the hotel initiated the first Carnival ball which has since become one of the city’s most celebrated parties.
As well as its 239 guestrooms and suites, the property is also home to Rio’s illustrious event space and showstopping cuisines including Michelin-starred Mee restaurant and Ristorante Hotel Cipriani.
