Proposal: Brazil Forum
 

In early November I proposed this forum, but dropped the idea due to lack of response. Now I have reconsidered and think it should absolutely be done.

There are few active FTers in Brazil so the Forum will be used much more to exchange and provide information people who travel to Brazil rather than domestic activity, as is the case with the Argentina forum.

To that end, the very strong domestic economy is generating huge increases in domestic air travel, 18.8% up in the most recent quarter. The recent accession of TAM to ST raises many issues of interest to FTers as does the recent formation of LATAM by LAN and TAM, thus raising the interest in a forum for LAN or LATAM. Just this month an Open Skies agreement with the US will spawn large increases on frequencies and destinations between the US and Brazil between now and 2014.

Major hotel, airport and other infrastructure projects are underway for the 2014 World Cup including government investment alone of $18 billion in new infrastructure. New hotels from Accor, Hyatt and numerous others are being built. Hilton alone plans new hotels in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia, Belo Horizonte, Porto Alegre, Manaus, Recife, and Goiania. All of this is to be done for the World Cu014, not mentioning the further development to be accomplished for the Olympics in 2016. It is a certainty that all this activity will involve many FTers, more so since ers are part of the travel and entertainment industry themselves.

Although there were only about 7mm tourists who came to Brazil in 2010, that number is expected to rise to 9.2mm in 2014 according to Business Monitor International. Domestic forecasts are much higher. A fair number of those will be FTers also, so as the interest rises so will the demand for such a forum.

Assuming my count is correct there were only 33 new posts in the South America forum on the subject of Brazil since September, roughly equivalent to that of Argentina, but 24,904 views and 477 posts. These are not high numbers. They certainly reflect the lack of a specific forum, and also the paucity of knowledgeable responses regarding Brazil. Just as Gaucho100k has made the Argentina forum a vibrant place because of his dedication, not to mention his expertise about wine, some fo the regular posters who reside in or travel often to Brazil can be counted on to offer opinions.

Please tell us what we must do to get this Forum approved. I cannot locate the oft-discussed questionnaire but I'll do my best to complete it when I find it.

Your original thread actually proposed both Brazil and LAN/TAM forums somewhat muddying the waters since there was a previous thread lobbying for a LAN/TAM in this thread.

Regardless of the semantics however I agree it's time for a Brazil forum with two huge global events on the horizon and a subsequent flood of interest expected from FTers. An idea whose time has come and one I could support. ^

I could not agree more... Brazil deserves its own Forum, I think its long overdue.... :D ^

I am also in support of a Brazil forum.

Sounds like a good idea to me as well. I would fully support this.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

That's a great idea, jbcarioca! I fully support your initiative!

Brazil forum makes a lot of sense.

I'd be pleased to consider a Brazil forum.

To do so, I'd like to see evidence of an unmet need demonstrated on FlyerTalk.

Thank you.

Here you go:

TalkBoard Statement on Criteria for Forum Changes

I can lend my support behind a Brazil forum.

It is worth noting that this could easily increase FT's Google results. Currently a search for "Brazil forum" does not bring up the FT South America forum on the first page, but with FT's significant net presence, it is possible a dedicated Brazil forum would.

Gee, lots of threads on first page on S. America forum are about Brazil, visas, city recommendations or other general topics. I won't put a metric to the number as that might influence the numbers ;) but surely they speak for themselves.

I'm 100% willing to support a Brazil forum and I don't even need any additional convincing.

Brazil is and has been a growing world power for some years now. And that's likely to increase dramatically in the near future.

If we can rightfully justify an Argentina forum than a Brazil forum is a no-brainer IMO.

Brazil forum Yes
 

Yes, I'd like to see a Brazil forum. In fact we should all be in Brazil this time of the year.

Considering three of the 4 BRIC nations, that is Russia, India & China have their own forum's, think it's time that Brazil gets a dedicated forum.

Agreed, though finding a Brazilian poster with the knowledge & resources of
Gaucho100K won't be easy. ;)