The Promenade Barra First targets mainly local and foreign business clients from the oil industry. It features a conference center in an adjacent building and additional meeting rooms located in the main building. However, the hotel is also a family-friendly property. Especially on weekends, it receives local families attracted by the large room size, resort-style swimming pool area, and the safe neighborhood. The hotel has a stylish lobby with elegant furniture, some eye catching black-and-tan artwork, and fresh orchids. A surfboard-shaped wooden coffee table is set in front of a cream-colored sofa. Clocks on the wall behind the front desk display international time zones. 

The hotel is located in Barra da Tijuca, which is a fast growing, mainly residential area often called the Brazilian Miami. The district will host most of the venues of the 2106 Summer Olympics. It's well known for its long white sand beach, some terrific mountain views, and one of the biggest shopping malls in South America. Plan on a 40-minute bus ride to the tourist scene of Copacabana and Ipanema. However, as the new metro line extension opens in 2016, accessibility to South Zone should improve considerably.

Barra da Tijuca has its pros. It is one of the safest and greenest areas in Rio de Janeiro and feels less busy, crowded, and noisy than most neighborhoods. Most of the hotel's neighbors are condominium buildings. Rio Design Barra Shopping Center -- which offers restaurants, shops, and a movie theater -- is about a 10-minute walk away. Bosque da Barra Park provides nice trails and picnic spots, about a 15-minute walk from the hotel. There's a lake between the hotel and the ocean, so the distance to the beach is about a 15- to 20-minute ferry boat ride provided for free by the hotel.

The hotel offers 218 Deluxe Suites that are quite spacious and comfortable with either two twin beds or one king bed. The rooms feature pastel colors and wooden floors. Each comes with a small unfurnished balcony; some have partial ocean views. Furniture includes a small table with two chairs and a plush armchair. A 26-inch flat-screen TV, iPod docking station, minibar, safe, air conditioner, and free, but spotty, Wi-Fi, are standard. Small bathrooms feature a tiny shower area, white and beige ceramic tiles, and granite countertops. Obvious wear and tear is evident in the showers. Toiletries are presented on a white tray on the vanity. Look for the hairdryer in a plastic bag on top of the safe in the bedroom. 

Zum Cafe, on the first floor of the hotel, serves a free hot breakfast buffet and a la carte meals for lunch and dinner. An occasional lunch buffet is served on weekends. There's a small lobby bar and 24-hour room service is available.

Perhaps the most attractive part of the hotel is the swimming pool area, which is large and has a nice tropical feel with palms and blooming flowers and trees in the landscaping. Adjacent is a huge and exceptionally well equipped (but often crowded) fitness center, that serves hotel guests and the local community. The gym has a steam room and sauna, and features a heated indoor pool. Note that both the pool and gym are next door to the hotel and not on the property itself.

The hotel offers a frequent and free shuttle ferry service to the beach. Beach towels are also available free of charge. Parking is available on hotel grounds without a fee. The hotel has a good size conference center in an adjacent building and it offers four meeting rooms in the main building as well. There are two notebook computers in the lobby, which can be freely used. Spotty Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.