Mônica Bergamo: F1 GP sells out spaces in hotels in São Paulo, and the sector should register the highest occupancy in years

Hotels in the city of São Paulo should register this weekend their best occupancy rate since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. According to a survey carried out by São Paulo Turismo (SPTuris), linked to the city hall of the capital, the average number of occupied rooms for the period between Friday (11) and Tuesday (15) is 92.6%.

The index surpasses even the best hotel brand in São Paulo in 2019, before the arrival of the new coronavirus, when an occupancy rate of 74.91% was recorded in November of that year.

The president of SPTuris, Gustavo Pires, attributes the index to the realization of the São Paulo Formula 1 GP. “Last year, the result of the Brazilian stage of Formula 1 had already surprised, with an economic impact of R$ 960 million and 9,600 jobs direct and indirect [criados]🇧🇷 For 2022, with the expansion of the circuit’s capacity and an extra day of holiday, it will certainly be better”, he says.

The peak of occupancy in hotels should occur between Friday and Sunday (13), surpassing the mark of 96% of reservations made. The rate remains high even on the day of the Proclamation of the Republic holiday, with an average occupancy rate of 80%.

The survey was carried out by the Tourism and Events Observatory, linked to SPTuris, and took into account projects in the Itaim Bibi, Vila Olímpia, Brooklin, Moema, Vila Mariana, Pinheiros, Santo Amaro, Jardim Paulista, Jardins and Higienópolis neighborhoods, in addition to the region from Paulista Avenue.

In some units, all rooms are occupied.

In addition to the volume of tourists and visitors, the investment made during the stay is also eagerly awaited by the City of São Paulo. In 2021, during the São Paulo GP, the average expense of non-residents of the city was BRL 4,500.

“This result shows how much São Paulo pleases visitors, encouraging and democratizing the impact of this consumption”, says Gustavo Pires.

“For this year, our expectation is to close with a positive balance of 40 thousand formal jobs in the tourism sector, with an emphasis on bars and restaurants, a segment that is a reference for quality in the city”, he also says, when commenting on the resumption after two pandemic years.

_{with BIANKA VIEIRA, KARINA MATIAS and MANOELLA SMITH}