And Talbert says real progress is being made toward a visa waiver program for Brazil that would eliminate the need for visas for trips to the United States.
Bacchi, meanwhile, said Brazilian customers who are furnishing their South Florida vacation homes with Artefacto furniture are still his stellar customers.
While he acknowledged the drooping real might be having some impact on travel decisions, he posited a caveat why it’s not affecting the clientele of Artefacto, where a leather sectional might run $10,000 to $20,000 or $4,000 in the more affordable “Basic” collectionc: “The rich are rich.’’
At one swanky Brazilian-oriented event last week more than 200 people turned out for a white party in Sunny Isles Beach to mark the Miami issue of Vogue Brasil and the launch of a Brazilian marketing effort for the Mansions at Acqualina, a luxury condominium project scheduled to break ground in August.
The project is already more than 60 percent sold, said Michael Goldstein, president of the venture. But while the Brazilians are in town, he wanted to give the tower an extra marketing push.
To woo buyers, the sales center includes a 4,600-square-foot model of a three-bedroom unit complete with a $100,000 closet, Fendi Casa furnishings, private elevator entrance, three terraces right on the beach, and a family room with gas fireplace. Party-goers spread out through every room of the model, even the large steam shower.
Vogue Brasil has printed 110,000 copies of its Portuguese-language Miami issue. “Miami is such a hot place, we plan at least two Miami issues a year,’’ said Alessandro Cremona, U.S. representative for the magazine.
But even less affluent Brazilians are big shoppers. The average shopping tab per Brazilian on a Pegasus Tour, Menezes said, is about $1,500. Even the teenagers for whom Disney World and Florida tours are a rite of passage come with long shopping lists from their families, she said.
“It’s power shopping,’’ said Jose Alberto Arguelles, a Pegasus employee who greeted the teenagers at Sawgrass Mills and handed out discount booklets.
Giovanna Barata, 15, was on her first trip to the United States but she knew exactly where she wanted to go when she got to the mall. “Calvin Klein and Victoria’s Secret,’’ she said. “I’m buying clothes, presents for my family and souvenirs for my friends.’’
She had budgeted about $400 to spend at Sawgrass but planned more shopping when the group reached Miami Beach.
