The newest emerging world market to welcome Chili’s, in turn introduced the brand’s culinary team to Picahna, a prime cut of top sirloin popular in the churrascarias of Southern Brazil, and Caipirinhas, the country’s national cocktail made with a blend of fresh limes, sugar and cachaca – a Brazilian spirit made from sugarcane.

According to Chili’s, guests who visit the new restaurant in Sao Paulo will find both local favorites incorporated in a variety of new dishes and flavors on the menu; additions which are exclusive to Brazil only.

In comparison to Chili’s U.S. menu, the Brazil menu will feature Chili’s signature favorites as well as eight new items – Picahna Burger, Picahna Fajitas complete with a step-by-step guide showing guests how to build a fajita and Picahna steak, as well as five different flavors of refreshing Caipirinhas.

Speaking over the acquisition, Carin Stutz, president of global business development for Brinker International said, “Understanding cultures and consumer needs in each new market is an important factor when Chili’s introduces its restaurant brands to new countries.”

“Chili’s chefs captured the essence of Brazil’s unique flavors to craft relevant, fresh spins on the restaurant’s signature items with a touch of familiar fare for its guests in Sao Paulo,” said Stutz.

The popular urban center, Moema, was an attractive location to open Chili’s first restaurant in Brazil because it is a proven trade area, densely populated with residential towers with both small and large businesses. Moema draws people from many places to its active day and night life, seven days a week as well.

The Moema Chili’s also features a new contemporary design with bold colors and a mix of elements that creates warm and inviting spaces. New, large flat screen televisions also adorn the walls of the dining room, creating the perfect environment for enjoying great food and drinks with friends and family.

In addition to the bar and main dining area on the ground floor, the restaurant offers a variety of seating options for both small and large parties, including a covered terrace and a roof-top patio, open to the rich sounds and textures of the thriving Moema urban center.

Hotel Transamerica is a 396-room resort hotel, which is part of the Grupo Alfa conglomerate. Its acquisition brings Worldhotels’ global collection to 450 affiliate properties in 250 destinations and 65 countries worldwide.

Currently in South America, Worldhotels has nine affiliates in Brazil (6) and Argentina (3), and is in various stages of negotiation for new properties in Peru, Chile and Colombia. The other hotels in Brazil are the result of a 2010 agreement with Othon Hotels of Brazil for five hotels in the key business and leisure travel cities of Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Belo Horizonte.

Tom Griffiths, The Americas Vice President for Worldhotels commented, “The Hotel Transamerica Sao Paulo is not only a spectacular property, it is ideally located near important business and entertainment centers. The company believes this high-visibility hotel will generate regional interest and growth opportunities for the hotel group, and delight its customers from around the world.”

Considered the only urban resort in the city, the property’s 396 guestrooms include executive suites that offer wireless connectivity, in-room work stations, cable television, 24-hour room service, concierge and breathtaking panoramic views. The hotel’s Golden Class level is an option for those seeking privacy during their stay.

This secure VIP floor offers special services such as private check in, exclusive butler and room service, private meeting rooms, as well as complimentary Internet access, newspaper delivery and breakfast service in the social areas.

Gregory Habeeb, Vice President of Development for Worldhotels-The Americas, noted that like the Hotel Transamerica Sao Paulo, all new hotels requesting an affiliation with the company must first undergo a discriminating selection process.

According to Habeeb, “The Company’s rigorous evaluation enables it to find the right fit for its portfolio, as properties offering a high level of product and service excellence are the type its guests have come to expect from its brand.”

Worldhotels is targeting other new South American affiliate hotels in key business and leisure travel cities by year-end. Worldhotels is an exclusive collection of the world’s most unique independent hotels. Under the banner “Unique Hotels for Unique People”, it now has almost 450 affiliate properties in more than 250 destinations and 65 countries worldwide.

The approval was by unanimous decision of the Registered Instrument of Promise of Purchase and Sale established on August 26, 2010, and amended on September 2, 2010, between BHG and Veplan Hoteis e Turismo S.A. (Veplan), a company in bankruptcy reorganization (Chapter 11) for the acquisition of the Hotel Rio Palace (currently operated with the “Sofitel” brand). The decision was announced yesterday.

The acquisition received the approval of the Creditors Committee, duly authorized in the bankruptcy reorganization proceedings of Veplan, at a meeting held on September 3, 2010.

Considered one of the city’s most relevant hotels, the Rio Palace has a total built area of 57,811 m?, 388 suites with balcony, 10 event rooms for up to 2,000 persons, 13 meeting rooms in the Business Center, two restaurants, a bar, a gym and underground parking.

Pieter Jacobus F. van Voorst Vader, President of BHG S.A – Brazil Hospitality Group, said the investment is one of BHG’s most significant achievements, and it will guarantee to the Company an excellent return.

The Rio Palace, in addition of having easy access to the Santos Dumont Airport, is located between the two most famous beaches in Rio de Janeiro: Copacabana and Ipanema. With this, the company will have excellent opportunities for business tourism and receptive tourism, said Vader.

With the acquisition of this property, BHG reaches 1,530 rooms in the State of Rio de Janeiro, under 3, 4 and 5 stars hotels, and 40 event rooms.

Brazil Hospitality Group is one of Brazil’s main hotel companies, with hotels of its own and those it manages divided into 3, 4 and 5-star categories. The company is responsible for the Golden Tulip brand in South America.

Brazil Hospitality Group engages in the planning, investment, development, and exploration of real estate properties in the leisure and business sectors in Brazil. The company engages in the acquisition, sale, exploration, or lease of properties, land, buildings, and real estate in rural and/or urban areas for tourism purposes.

It has 16 projects, consisting of approximately 86 million square meters, including long-term land bank, and hotel and real estate projects, as well as manages 33 hotels. The company was formerly known as INVEST TUR Brasil – Desenvolvimento Imobiliario Turistico S.A. and changed its name to BHG S.A. – Brazil Hospitality Group in January 2010. BHG S.A. – Brazil Hospitality Group was founded in 2007 and is based in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Travelers’ investment in newly issued shares will significantly increase JMalucelli’s capital level, positioning it for substantial growth in Brazil. Travelers has made an investment of approximately US$410 million and has an option to increase its interest to up to 49.9 per cent within 18 months.

Jay Fishman, Traveler’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, noted that the joint venture will enable the company leverage its leading U.S. surety franchise to participate in the growing Brazilian market and to do so with the benefit of a local market leader. Travelers’ expect this transaction will be modestly accretive to its earnings in the first full calendar year, said Fishman.

Alan Schnitzer, Vice Chairman and head of Travelers’ Financial, Professional & International Insurance business segment, said he believes the combination of Travelers’ broad insurance expertise with JMalucelli’s established distribution network and extensive customer base provides the company with an exceptional platform for expanding the joint venture beyond the surety business into the growing property and casualty market.

The Travelers Companies, Inc. is a leading provider of property casualty insurance for auto, home and business. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Travelers has more than 30,000 employees and generated revenues of approximately $25 billion in 2010.

Today, more than 150 years after its founding, Travelers is one of the US’ largest property casualty companies, with around 13,000 independent agents and 22 product lines across the personal, business, financial and international insurance segments. Travelers has become a symbol of financial strength and is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and ranks 106 on the Fortune 500.

Minimizing risk, preventing loss and helping its customers prepare for the unknown, Travelers’ boasts comprehensive products, services and support that give individuals and businesses the confidence they need to feel secure.

The Brazilian foray marks an important milestone for the company, giving it a wider access to the Latin America’s largest economy. The investment considerably increases Travelers’ position in the international market, as well bolstering its Latin America offering.

Pieter Jacobus Vader, BHG’s president, said the new investment acquisition comes as part of the group’s strategic plan that seeks investments in large urban areas, with a bias on business travel. With Cuiaba currently one of Brazil’s top agribusiness centers, on top of its proximity to some of Brazil’s major tourist destinations for example the Pantanal and Chapada dos Guimaraes, and its host status for the 2014 world cup to be held in the country, BHG hopes to increase its presence in the region considerably.
The acquired property is made up of 6,630m², 104 rooms, two conference rooms, two meeting rooms, a business center restaurant amongst other amenities, and the investment deal includes a 640m² parking lot the hotel might likely use for expansion. The property will fly the Golden Tulip flag, which has a 4-star standard. With the acquisition of this new hotel, BHG further strengthens its position as the country’s third-largest hotel company.

The Brazil Hospitality Group is amongst the country’s biggest group hotels and manages 32 hotels, out of which 16 are the groups and the rest are managed for other investors. BHG begun from the merger of Invest Tur Brasil and Latin America Hotels (LAHotels) last year in February and had consolidated by end of year. BHG has another exclusive deal with Golden Tulip Hospitality Group in South America through its brand names, Royal Tulip and Tulip Inn.  In just 18 months of operations, LAHotels has become the third largest hotel company in Brazil.
BHG has for long been keen on investment opportunities in management, acquisition or the construction of hotels, particularly in Brazil’s major capital cities. The group’s acquisitions in 2009, December fomented its position as an equal amongst Brazil’s largest hotel chains.

The group made two investment acquisitions in December last year, taking up Hoteis Albert International, in Porto Alegre (Rio Grande do Sul) and the purchase of shares in the four-star Condominio do Edificio Beira Mar, in Salvador (Bahia). LAHotels aims at acquiring and managing hotels or companies that own hotel assets in Brazil and in other countries in Latin America. BHG (BHGR3) shares are traded on the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange (Bovespa).