Rio swears in 13 Tourism Ambassadors at downtown ceremony

Welcomed with sparkling wine, Rio de Janeiro State’s first 13 Tourism Ambassadors took office at the National Agriculture Society in downtown Rio.

The ceremony started exactly at 3:30 pm and kept a brisk, to-the-point format, with a casual-chic dress code typical of non-governmental awards. Professor Bayard do Coutto Boiteux, the program’s general coordinator, served as master of ceremonies, with Matheus Oliveira overseeing coordination.

In his opening remarks, Boiteux revisited the idea behind the initiative: honoring professionals who promote the state through their own careers. He also stressed that this kind of grassroots advocacy can, at times, have more impact than a traditional promotional campaign. According to him, the program has been coordinated by his team for 40 years.

How the Ambassadors were selected

The new Rio tourism ambassadors were chosen by a jury chaired by Baroness Diana Macedo. The panel also included Eric Herrero, Célia Domingues, Zizi Magalhães, Aloysio Teixeira, Matheus Oliveira and Bayard Boiteux.

Music with a Carioca spirit

Music curation came from Nosso Som Produção, which put together a 25-track selection described as carrying a distinctly “Carioca” vibe for the afternoon of tributes. Event production was handled by Ascom Divulga Rio, a Rio-based firm with over 15 years of experience in events and press relations.

Reception after the ceremony

After the swearing-in, guests attended a vin d’honneur featuring French sparkling wines, Chilean and Italian wines, plus salmon and foie gras canapés, codfish bites, truffled olives, lamb savory snacks and Belgian-chocolate brigadeiros.

Notable attendees mentioned

Names cited in the event notes included Constança Carvalho and Clara Paulino, president of the Theatro Municipal Foundation.

Bayard Boiteux was mentioned alongside Rosie Silva, creator of the Ginga group, who was also honored.

Antonio Alvarenga, president of the National Agriculture Society, and Célia Domingues were also listed.

Other mentions included Matheus Oliveira, Baroness Diana Macedo, Orlanda Freire, Bayard Boiteux and Sérgio Chamone.

Among the new Tourism Ambassadors, Cesar Ribeiro, president of the Museum of Image and Sound, and Steve Solot were cited.

Dorys Daher appeared with columnist Cesar Gabriel.

Prince Dom João de Orleans e Bragança was honored by Diana Macedo Soares.

Orlanda Freire was mentioned with Márcia Wu, described as a new Ambassador.

Chico Vartulli appeared with farmer Edgar Ramos.

Eric Herrero was cited with Priscila Bentes from Circuito Elegante.

Val Guimarães and Matheus Oliveira were also listed.

Bayard Boiteux was mentioned with Ambassadors Carla Pimentel and Priscila Bentes.

Zizi Magalhães and Jerome Poignard were included among the names.

Maria Luiza Nobre and Rosaria Filgueiras were mentioned.

Márcia Melchior and Orlanda Freire were also cited.

Chico Vartulli and Bernadete Simonelli were listed.

Baroness Diana Macedo, Orlanda Freire and Kate Lyra were among the mentions.

Constança Carvalho appeared with Julio Cesar de Souza, Secretary of Culture and Creative Economy of Miguel Pereira.

Antonio Alvarenga, Maria Luiza Nobre, Constança Carvalho (president of the Ambassadors Association) and Bayard Boiteux were also cited.

Eric Herrero and Cesar Ribeiro rounded out the list of names referenced.

Photo: Messias Martins