Marriott International and MARAEY announced on January 19, 2023, the signing of an agreement to bring the first Ritz-Carlton Reserve to South America.

MARAEY, the main tourist-residential sustainable project in Brazil, is located in Costa do Sol in the municipality of Maricá, Rio de Janeiro.

The Ritz-Carlton Reserve in MARAEY will join a collection of only five Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties globally, in destinations including Thailand, Japan, Indonesia, Puerto Rico, and Mexico. Construction is expected to start in the second half of this year (2023).

“We are thrilled to bring the exclusivity of Ritz-Carlton Reserve to Brazil, creating a new luxury destination for our discerning guests in South America. The property is an important addition as we build out our luxury presence in the region,” said Laurent de Kousemaeker, chief development officer for Marriott International in the Caribbean and Latin America.

The Ritz-Carlton Reserve in MARAEY will feature 58 unique villas, designed to offer complete privacy along with impressive views of the ocean and surround Atlantic Forest ecosystem. The villas will be fully sustainable, built from natural certified wood, and elevated from the ground, allowing native vegetation and wildlife to thrive. The 90- to 155-square-meter accommodations will all feature private pools measuring up to 60 square meters.

Resort amenities are expected to include a wellness spa, pools, and culinary venues, in addition to a leisure and sports area. An Environmental Reference Center and native-regeneration nursery will private further opportunities for guests to connect with the diverse natural environment.

The Reserve will also feature eighty 250- to 520-square-meter residences, offering two to five bedroom accommodations with balconies, private pools, and gardens with a bioclimatic design.

The homes will also include quarters for staff and two to four garage spaces. The residential complex will house various leisure and sports areas, including a gym, event and grilling spaces, pools, sports fields, meeting and home-office rooms, and a spa and beach club.

“Welcoming Ritz-Carlton Reserve to South America is a milestone for tourism in Brazil, establishing a new paradigm for the market,” siad Emilio Izquierdo, CEO, MARAEY. “For us at MARAEY, the partnership brings the perfect balance between ultraluxury travel and the rare natural heritage of one of the most biodiverse countries on the planet. We willcombine the forest, ocean, and lagoon, elements of a unique scenic assemble, with the most exclusive and sophisticated guest experience imaginable.”

The MARAEY development will also be home to a JW Marriott All-Inclusive resort and the first Rock In Rio branded Autograph Collection in the world.