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It was the week of the much anticipated 2016 Olympics announcement. Obama, Oprah, President Lula da Silva of Brazil, Pele and all of the other greats gathered in Copenhagen to make their final pitch, and await the decision. Given the stakes, it was no surprise that Cophenhagen – even if just for 48 hours – was the celebrity capital of the world .

It was also no surprise that the odds makers had Rio (the first South American country to come close to hosting the Olympics) and Chicago (ironically the Second City) as favorites.

And again it was no surprise that the front page of every major newspaper in the world had images of Obama on his way to Copenhagen, Oprah in full media-mogul sell mode and the beautiful beaches of Brazil as the primary backdrop for the country.

But for all the lack of surprises, there was one thing that shocked us all … when in the first round Chicago was eliminated. Gasps filled the crowds watching in Chicago (yes, I actually believe there was an audible city-wide gasp). Due South from Chicago some 5,000 miles cheers filled the crowds in Rio with their impending victory. Copacabana Beach was decked out in the colors of Brazil with crowds comparable to their famous Carnival, or their legendary New Year’s Eve celebrations.

What’s followed since is endless analysis of what went wrong. That’s not the point of this post. As fans, we are excited to watch along with the rest of world in 2016. As believers in the Olympic spirit we recognize the importance of grace in the face of defeat. And as Chicagoans, we are so proud of the efforts and commitment so many people in this great city have made over the last several years – to even get this far is truly remarkable. Our thanks cannot be conveyed in a blog post, but it’s a start.

So folks its caipirinhas, samba dancing, Havianas and thousands of miles of coastline for 2016. We here at Ogilvy PR know Brazil well – we’ve worked with their tourism department for years. If 2016 is your first time visiting, get ready for the lush landscape of green mountains mixed with white sand and blue seas. Get ready to meet people who graciously welcome you to their country, their restaurants and their stores. Most importantly, get ready to drink a real caipirinha on the beach, or induldge in a pão de queijo for breakfast. I have been fortunate enough to experience all of the above and am currently whistling to the tune of “The Girl from Ipanema.”

Congratulations Cariocas!

International travel, according to the June 2009 edition of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, has declined by 8 percent in the first quarter of 2009. This is not good news, especially compared to the first quarter of 2008 when there was a 5 percent increase in international travel. While the pace of decline is expected to ease throughout the rest of 2009, the combination between the recent rise in gas prices and the decline in the number of business class fares purchased is bumping up the cost of leisure travel in a time when many people are already wary about taking a vacation.

Looking at a few of the key highlights, this years trend is apparent; cheaper, developing and newly developing countries are faring much better than their more expensive industrialized counterparts. Africa (+3) and South America (+.2) are the only continents to see an increase in travel so far this year. Travel to North America is down 5 percent from last year, due mostly to the slowdown in the USA as both a source of international travelers and a popular 2008 travel destination. The economic downturn and the rising dollar has made traveling to the States more expensive than it has been in previous years which is not an easy sell in the middle of a recession.

Not surprising, one of the largest declines was seen in Europe (-10%), where most countries have been in or on the verge of a recession since 2008. It appears that Europeans are traveling less within the continent and when they do they are trading more expensive places like the Amalfi Coast in Italy, Ibiza in Spain or the Greek Islands for more affordable beaches along the Mediterranean’s African Coast, as are many other travelers.

The most surprising statistics from this years report was the decline in travel to the Middle East and Asia Pacific. Areas of the world which saw the highest level of growth in 2008 are now experiencing the largest decline this year (-18 percent for the Middle East and -6 percent for Asia Pacific). While Dubai’s economic woes have been well documented this year an 18 percent decline in tourism is huge.

Attracting tourism dollars (or pesos, pesetas, euros, francs, yen, rupees, etc.) is a great way to create and sustain local jobs and many countries economies rely heavily on travel and tourism dollars. While the UNWTO predicts that the decrease in international travel will increase slightly by the end of the year, boosting your country’s visibility through an integrated public relations campaign could be a great way to make your destination top of mind for those willing and able to travel this year and for attracting foreign investment in these precarious economic times.

“The Brazilian Film Festival is an important tool to promote the Brazilian tourism destinations abroad, as it brings about a different view of the complexity of our country, increasing the enthusiasm for getting to know and explore the diversity of Brazil.”- Luiz Barretto, Minster of Tourism in Brazil

I recently had the opportunity to attend the 13^th Annual Brazilian Film Festival in Miami (Disclosure Ogilvy client). While I have been lucky enough to visit Brazil once before, taking a cinematic journey back to Brazil last week at the Festival was a welcomed activity. Just as the Minister mentions in his quote above watching foreign films gives viewers a glimpse not only into the natural landscape of the country, but the culture and customs. While the beauty of the foreign language is often lost in subtitles, the expression and emotion is still very evident to all watching.

Two of my favorite films while attending the Festival were the documentary, “Smoking I Wait” and the feature film “The Little Cowboy.” “Smoking I Wait” was written and directed by one of the founders of Inffinito, the creators of the Brazilian Film Festival. Adriana Dutra takes the audience through her struggle to quit smoking. Throughout this journey she exposes the perils of addiction through personal interviews as well as the complex history of the tobacco industry both in Brazil and the U.S. “The Little Cowboy” is set in the 1950’s countryside of Sao Paulo. This particular film reminded me of a farm we visited outside Curitiba on my trip to Brazil. The film depicts the lifestyle of “gauchos” (traditional Brazilian cowboys) their hard work, determination and simple nature is evident throughout the film.

Both of these films left me with the same conclusions I had while after visiting Brazil. This country possesses one of the most beautiful and diverse natural landscapes I have ever seen and the people exude a warmth and passion you just don’t find everywhere.

It seems what the Minister said is true, watching a foreign film does allow you to experience the gems of another country whether you are in Miami or Minnesota. Although, I have to admit I would take visiting Brazil over watching the movie any day.