Providing a jaw-dropping venue for balls, weddings and parties, the ‘Casino’ rooms comprise three separate areas; The Palm and The Crystal Ballrooms, ideal for large and sophisticated events and the Gallery, which connects the two.  The ballrooms together have a capacity for 800 people banquet style and 1,200 for a reception.  The interior of the rooms reflects the individuality and heritage of the property, with each featuring Peroba and Ipe Tobacco wood floor and three impressive chandeliers, dating back from 1923.  

The project was overseen by the French decorator Michel Jouanet, who ensured that the original characteristics were restored during the refurbishment.  The Copacabana ‘Casino’ had its heyday from the mid -1930s until a law was passed outlawing gambling in 1946.  Millions were won and lost while a cast of Rio’s most exuberant and glamorous characters such as Errol Flynn and Bing Crosby played the tables.

Philip Carruthers, General Manager of the Copacabana Palace said, “We are delighted to open the historical Casino rooms after so many years, and are proud to be able to offer such a beautiful and breathtaking area for meetings and events.  The renovation took months of planning and involved hundreds of workers, including a group of 12 architects and 20 restorers.”

The project, which has taken seven months to complete, has now added over 11,000 sq ft of function space, increasing the hotel’s conference facilities by over 60%.  The Casino rooms bring the total number of meeting rooms in the hotel to 13. 

The Copacabana Hotel is one of the most elegant places for social events and corporate functions of any kind.  With the many sights and sounds of Rio at your doorstep, it is easy to organise group activities, from taking a cable car to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain to snorkelling around the off-shore islands.  There are also a number of sport facilities, including a roof top tennis court, beach volleyball and golf at the nearby Gavea course.

Ends/…..

Notes to editors:
Orient-Express Hotels, Trains and Cruises (www.orient-express.com) is a hotel and leisure company providing luxury travel experiences for discerning travellers in areas of outstanding cultural, historic or recreational interest.  Founded in 1976 when the company acquired Hotel Cipriani in Venice, Orient-Express owns or has investments in 49 businesses: 39 highly individual hotels, two restaurants, six tourist trains and two river cruise operations, located in 22 countries worldwide.  The company believes that discerning travellers will choose a famous individual property in preference to a chain brand, so none of its businesses is called Orient-Express except the fabled Venice Simplon-Orient-Express luxury train which operates through Europe, linking London, Paris and Venice.  Orient-Express chooses to own or part-own its businesses, believing equity returns are greater than management fee income alone and continues to seek out unique properties with expansion potential and introduce new experiences, restoring romance, glamour and style to international travel.

Downloadable high resolution photography of the Copacabana Palace is available at www.orient-expressimages.com.

For a copy of the new Conferences, Meetings & Incentives directory, please call Orient-Express Hotels, Trains & Cruises sales team on 020 7805 5028 or email oesales.uk@orient-express.com

For further press information please contact:
Vicky Legg      Louise Toye     
Director of Public Relations   PR Executive
Orient-Express Hotels   Orient-Express Hotels
Tel: 020 7921 4067   Tel: 020 7921 4069
Fax: 020 7805 5938   Fax: 020 7805 5938
Email: vicky.legg@orient-express.com   
Email: louise.toye@orient-express.com
Web: www.orient-express.com