Tourism Sector in Rio Grande do Norte: Aquaria Natal Hotel
Karlo Schneider discusses tourism in Rio Grande do Norte and gives an overview of its capital, Natal. He also presents Aquaria Natal Hotel. Located in Ponta Negra, the hotel faces the beach and is next to one of the main sightseeing spots in the city: Morro de Careca.
Interview with Karlo Schneider, General Manager at Aquaria Natal Hotel
I would like to start this interview by introducing Rio Grande do Norte and Natal. What are the main attractions and potentials of the state and the city in terms of tourism?
The location of Aquaria Natal Hotel is very unusual because when you cross the street from the hotel, you are on the beach and you are near all the main restaurants and night clubs in Natal. It’s just beside the Morro de Careca which is the Bald Hill, a main sightseeing spot and an icon for the city.
Rio Grande do Norte is a very rich state because many people think we have only sun and beaches but we also have a very beautiful countryside. I think our potential can be increased and explored a little bit more. In the capital of Natal, we have beautiful dunes and the purest air in South America.
One of our popular tourist attractions is Genipabu which is where the buggy rides take place. Many tourists go to this location. We also have very beautiful diving in Maracajaú which is not far from Natal and Pipa Beach where many surfers and night-lovers go to enjoy the activities.
What do you think are the main challenges for tourism development in the state and in Natal?
The main challenge is to invest. We don’t have a chartered flight to Natal so many foreigners who used to come to Natal don’t come here anymore or not very often. The problem of infrastructure is also very serious – the roads and cleanliness are things that tourists complain about.
Could you give us a brief introduction on Aquaria Natal Hotel?
In the beginning, Aquaria Natal Hotel was built to be a flat. We now have around 80 employees. We work with different tourist families because our rooms are very big and people who travel in family groups stay here. We’ve been working for about two years and have increased our occupancy. We are very well-known in Natal.
What makes you different from other hotels?
The location is very unusual because when you cross the street from the hotel, you are on the beach and you are near all the main restaurants and night clubs in Natal. It’s just beside the Morro de Careca which is the Bald Hill, a main sightseeing spot and an icon for Natal. So we are very close to all those places and the tourists can choose wherever they want to go.
Regarding business tourism, I think you have meeting rooms for events. What’s the importance of business tourism for the hotel?
We have two meeting rooms – a small one and one for around 80 people. It’s very important because especially in the low season when the city has a lot of events, business people will stay here. We noticed that sometimes people change their hotel to one that has a meeting room which is why we built this meeting room to accommodate those people.
How many events a year do you do?
We are just starting and have around three or four but these business travelers want a very comfortable room and Wi-Fi. Internet access is very important.
I would like to discuss the impacts of the World Cup 2014 on the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal which is going to host the event and your hotel.
About seven or eight years ago when they announced that Natal would be a host, everyone thought everything would be changed. Unfortunately in Brazil things happen more slowly than expected so we are almost in the World Cup year and we are still building structures. But this will be very important for the city, not only with the stadium and the hotel occupancy, but what it may bring after the World Cup. Many people have learned English because of this event so they will carry this knowledge forever. But we still need to speed up because many things still need to be done.
Regarding expansion plans, do you plan on expanding or building?
There is a plan to increase the size of the hotel and if this happens we will have about 70 additional rooms. We noticed in the high season that all the hotels in Natal are fully booked and there is demand for more rooms. I am concerned that during the World Cup, we won’t be able to take care of all the tourists who will come to Natal.
What is your dream for the future of Aquaria Natal Hotel in the next few years?
We are very happy with our current situation but the plan is to become a 5-star hotel in the future. We are not there yet but our rooms are as comfortable as a 5-star hotel room. So my dream would be the growth of the hotel to be in the top 3 in Natal and to be 5-star.
What is your message for tourists? Why should they choose your hotel over another one?
This is right place for rest and relaxation. If you want to go to night clubs, you can walk to one in 5 minutes. There are many different types of food in the area. You also have the beach and our rooms are comfortable. We are a family hotel so you can be comfortable joining us. We have live music on Fridays and you can enjoy our facilities. Aquaria Natal Hotel will be very welcoming whenever you come.
Natal is the perfect destination for honeymoons, families with children and single people. You cannot look at Natal as just a place; it has so much to offer including the diving, buggy tours, historical places, food and night life. Natal has a lot of options for you to enjoy!