Everyone who is not already there wants to be in Brazil ahead of the 2014 World Cup ( and the 2016 Olympics , in Rio de Janeiro ). Local players are also strengthening . São Paulo-based construction giants Carlos Alberto Filgueiras and his son Gustavo are building their second Emiliano hotel , a conversion of the Austrian Consulate on Rio ’ s Copacabana Beach . Now they

MARY GOSTELOW

Pezula Resort & Spa . Stewart says he is often asked to do “ another Pezula .” Much of the fascination comes from the Conrad ’ s detached Pezula Castle , a three-bedroom castellated folly literally on the edge of the ocean whose many buyout clients have included , a few years ago , Nelson Mandela .

Zinc Hospitality is owned by Nepal ’ s Chaudhary Group , known

would like another hotel in their home city , to complement the successful 57-room newbuild Emiliano that opened in São Paulo ’ s Jardim area in 2001 .

Christopher Cowdray , CEO of The Dorchester Collection , needs a return to New York and seeks expansion in other key U . S . cities . He is also interested in top-of-therange destinations in Europe — where he is already covered in London , Paris , Milan and Geneva — and Asia . But , he promises , this will never be a large hotel organization .

The Pezula brand is owned by Zimbabweborn Keith Stewart . In 2005 he opened the 78-room Pezula Resort & Spa near George , on the Cape ; the property is now Conrad

for Wai Wai noodles . Chairman Binod Chaudhary works with partners such as Taj Hotels , Resorts & Palaces and wants 4- or 5-star hotels in Abu Dhabi , Dubai and Oman .

Kempinski Hotels has ambitions for more presence in Asia . Vice Chairman , President and CEO Reto Wittwer lists Japan as a top priority , especially Kyoto , Osaka and Tokyo .

Tokyo is also on the want list of Peter French , president of Raffles Hotels & Resorts . Immediate openings are Jakarta , Indonesia ; Sanya , Hainan Island ; and Warsaw , Poland . Now he hopes to find projects not only in Tokyo but also in London and New York City , not to mention the Maldives , Myanmar and Qatar .