Corumbá Municipality Opens R$3.8 Million Tender for Historic Hotel Internacional Restoration

The Bottom Line

• Corumbá municipality initiated a R$3.83 million tender for the restoration of the historic Hotel Internacional, aiming for public use.
• The project is part of the federal Novo PAC program, focusing on cultural heritage preservation and urban revitalization.
• The semi-integrated contract model requires the winning firm to handle both executive project design and construction, with proposals due by June 22.

Corumbá, Brazil – The municipality of Corumbá has initiated a public tender for the restoration of the historic Hotel Internacional, with an estimated value of R$3,834,292.75. The electronic bidding notice was published in the Official Gazette of the Union (DOU) on Wednesday, June 3, marking a significant step in the preservation of the city's architectural heritage.

The restoration project, previously announced in December 2025, received approval from the National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage (Iphan) after a suspensive clause, which had conditioned the project's execution, was removed. This clearance allowed the property to proceed to the bidding phase, underscoring the commitment to advancing the initiative.

The tender adopts a semi-integrated contracting model, meaning the winning company will be responsible for both the development of the executive project and the execution of the restoration works. The selection criterion is the lowest global price. Proposals and qualification documents can be submitted from June 8 to June 22, with the bidding session also scheduled for June 22. The Urban Development and Historic Heritage Foundation (Fuphan) will serve as the contract's managing unit. The full tender document is accessible through the transparency portals of the city hall, BLL (Bolsa de Licitações e Leilões), and PNCP (Portal Nacional de Contratações Públicas).

The project's scope includes the comprehensive recovery of the historic building, incorporating adaptations for public use while meticulously preserving its original architectural characteristics. This initiative is funded under the federal government's Novo PAC (Growth Acceleration Program), as part of a broader investment package dedicated to safeguarding Corumbá's historical heritage.

According to municipal authorities, beyond structural recovery, the project specifically aims to conserve and enhance historical mural paintings identified within the building's walls. These murals were discovered through stratigraphic studies and exploration conducted by Fuphan, further emphasizing the property's profound historical, artistic, and patrimonial significance. Following its restoration, the Hotel Internacional is slated to house municipal public administration offices, thereby expanding public service access in a more centralized urban area. This strategy seeks to reinforce the occupation of the historic center, broaden the institutional use of heritage properties, and promote the valorization of Corumbá's architectural memory.

Corumbá's commitment to heritage preservation extends beyond the former Hotel Internacional. Several other historic properties within the municipality are also included in federally funded projects. These include the Casa do Artesão, with an investment of R$4.72 million; the Mercadão Municipal, allocated R$6.13 million; and the Antiga Prefeitura, receiving R$5.16 million. In 2024, Corumbá faced the risk of losing federal funds due to non-compliance with technical program requirements. However, following necessary reformulations, these projects were unblocked, allowing the comprehensive package to move forward, encompassing various historical buildings across the city.

The construction of the Hotel Internacional building is attributed to the Italian Fernando Mármore in the early 20th century. This period marked a phase of intense economic and urban expansion for Corumbá, driven by river navigation and robust commercial activity. At the time, the municipality solidified its position as one of the region's primary economic hubs, serving as a crucial strategic point for travelers, merchants, explorers, and expeditions circulating and connecting within the region.