Talk 2 Brazil Business Podcast

Brazil Business Travel to Hit $37B in 2014

Despite two quarters of weaker economic growth in 2013, business travel spending in Brazil is expected to expand 12.5% to $37 billion in 2014 and another 5.9% in 2015, according to the latest semi-annual “GBTA BTI Outlook — Brazil” report by the Global Business Travelers Association (GBTA) Foundation.

Sponsored by Visa Inc., the report includes the GBTA BTI — an index of business travel spending that distills market performance over a period of time.

“This forecast tells a story of continuing positive growth in Brazil despite recent volatility,” said Wellington Costa, president of GBTA Brazil. “The encouraging turnaround for international outbound business travel spending, paired with expected domestic growth as well, shows suppliers and travel managers that Brazil is a key market to be in for businesses expanding globally.”

According to the GBTA, key highlights of the report include:

Since 2000, annual spending on business travel in Brazil has tripled.
Last year, Brazil’s business travel industry moved up one spot in the rankings to become the eighth largest business travel market in the world. If Brazil can get economic growth back on track, GBTA expects it to continue to climb the ranks of the top business travel markets in the world, likely surpassing South Korea and France during the next 10 years.
Domestic business travel spending growth in Brazil has slowed significantly off its aggressive pace earlier in the decade, mostly due to the slowdown in the domestic economy. But GBTA expects domestic business travel spending will strengthen a bit in 2014, as firms and policymakers continue to take strides to boost productivity and competitiveness.
Growth in international outbound (IOB) business travel was hit hard in recent years mostly due to the external environment, but the worst appears to be in the past — as a recovery in the Euro Area, Brazil’s largest trading partner, is underway. GBTA expects IOB spending will advance 13.1 percent in 2014 followed by another 8.1 percent in 2015 hitting $7.2 billion USD.

“With the forecast for increased business travel to and from Brazil, travel will continue to be an important sector of the Brazilian economy,” said Percival Jatoba, vice president of products of Visa Brazil

Joao Conrado, CEO Ghetz Footware, London

Listen to the Talk 2 Brazil interview by Tom Reaoch with Joao Conrado, Monday May 5, 2014

Ghetz Footware was set up by Moema Pimentel, Managing Director, and Joao Conrado, CEO, both from Brazil. They identified a gap in the market for high quality yet sustainably made shoes at competitive prices.

Joao and Moema met in 1998 and formed a business partnership close to their roots as well as their hearts. Born in Franca, one of the shoe capitals of Brazil, they both have shoemaking in their blood. As natural entrepreneurs, they both have a very organic style of management and are open, friendly and flexible in business.

They established an office in London with a Ghetz team that is hands on and truly international, with people from South America, Europe, Asia and the UK. Such a multicultural melting pot brings diversity and a depth of experience resulting in a vibrant office culture.

Moema and her partner Joao started Ghetz Footwear in 2004. After just three years, their Anatomic & Co brand had become one of the top 10 brands selling men’s shoes to independent stores in the UK. It was shortlisted as ‘Brand of the year’ for the Drapers Footwear Awards in 2009 and 2010.

Moema is also a member of Vistage, UK .

ACIC Campinas Regional Retail Forum

On Tuesday April,19 2014 I was one of over 500 participants in the second annual Regional Retail Forum in Campinas, organized by ACIC Associação Comercial e Industrial de Campinas and CDL Campinas the Camara de Dirigentes Lojistas de Campinas.

Adriana Flosi, President of ACIC and CDL opened the ceremony, welcomed the participants, guest speakers and authorities including the Mayor of Campinas Jonas Donizette and Brazilian Congress Member Guilherme Campos.

The guest speakers covered a wide variety of topics relating to retail industry, entrepreneurs and business owners with focus on challenges and opportunities for growth in the retail sector of Brazil.

In the morning session Mauricio Morgado, professor FGV and Gustavo Carrer of SEBRAE, SP showed tendencies and exaples from their visits to the United States and participation in the NRF Retail Show in New York.

Claudio Bobrow, founder of Puket offered a very colorful and invigorating presentation on the growth of his company.

Luiza Helena Trajano of Magazine Luiza talked of the great potential for growth in the consumer market in Brazil, the need for unity among members of the retail sector mentioning the gains made through the IDV Instituto para Desenvolvimento do Varejo.

At the lunch break I had the pleasure of sharing a table with two of the afternoon speakers, Dorival Dourado CEO of Boa Vista Servicos and Dr. Marcelo Schulman, President of Vita Derm Cosmetics

Other presentations in the afternoon session regarding challenges in family business and opportunities for growth were conducted by Mauricio Morlan, Santander Global Banking, Romeu Zema, Grupo Zema, Roberto Longo, Grupo Sonda and Isabel Medeiros Grupo Trigo / Spoleto.

Easy to see the Forum was both a great learning and networking experience.