Le Paris motel in Rio to become a five-star hotel

Brazil is getting ready to host the Olympic Games in 2016 and the FIFA world Cup in 2014. As part of the preparations, the city council of Rio de Janeiro has renovated the Tiradentes square, a place formerly frequented by over 300 prostitutes.

As part of the transformation, the mayor of Rio has approved a project by François-Xavier and Jacques Dussol, two French brothers to transform Le Paris, a former love hotel located in the center of Rio, into a five star hotel.

The $5-million project includes the renovation of the neoclassic hotel built in 1902. The new luxury hotel will offer 21 rooms, a pool and a restaurant.

The only thing the hotel will keep is its façade and its name Le Paris. According to the daily El Globo, the rates at the hotel will go from $7.50 an hour to $350 a night.

The two brothers already owned 2 properties in the south of the city, La Maison near the popular quarter of Ipanema and La Suite on the edge of Joatinga’s cliffs.

Currently Rio has a capacity of 28,000 rooms and aims to increase it in the next 12 months to 37,000.