Hotels criticize delay in platform after pressure to move COP30 from Belém

By Fabyo Cruz – From Cenarium

BELÉM (PA) – The Brazilian Hotel Industry Association of Pará (Abih-PA) responded to criticism regarding accommodation prices in Belém (Pará) during the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), scheduled for November this year in the capital of Pará. Speaking to CENARIUM, the association stated in a note on Friday morning, August 1, that the hotel sector has been responding to the organizers’ requests and blamed the absence of the official accommodation platform as the main failure in the event’s organization.

“The current difficulty in organizing accommodations is not the fault of the hotels, but rather of the absence of the official accommodation platform, which was promised by the COP30 Secretariat since the beginning of the year and has yet to be implemented,” declared Abih-PA, presided over by Antônio Santiago. According to the association, the sector already made 500 rooms available in June for delegations from economically disadvantaged countries — 250 of them priced at US$100 and the rest ranging between US$200 and US$300, depending on the hotel category.

Abih’s criticism comes at a time of growing international pressure on Brazil due to rising accommodation prices in the Pará capital. The launch of the official platform, which had been promised for the end of June, occurred on Friday afternoon, but the booking site is currently unstable. The Brazilian government had publicly reaffirmed its commitment to the tool during the June Climate Meetings, a kind of pre-COP held in Bonn, Germany.

The platform will be operated by Bnetwork, a company contracted by the federal government in May to centralize accommodation offerings. The system is expected to launch with an initial batch of about 6,000 beds, with weekly updates. In total, Brazil has pledged to provide over 29,000 rooms and 55,000 beds, most through short-term rentals. By the end of June, two cruise ships adapted for accommodation were also expected to be ready, with 3,882 cabins and around 6,000 beds, but these are still unavailable for booking.

At the time, the COP30 Extraordinary Secretariat told the press that the work to structure the platform was underway but did not provide a new publication date for the website.

External pressure

Despite international pressure for Brazil to reconsider choosing Belém as the host city of COP30 due to challenges in hotel infrastructure, the federal government is not currently considering relocating the event. This stance has been reaffirmed behind the scenes in diplomatic circles, following public statements by Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago, the conference president, who revealed that countries, especially developing nations, had officially requested a venue change, citing what he called “extortionate prices” being charged in Belém.

“There is a sense of outrage,” said Corrêa do Lago during an event hosted by the Foreign Press Correspondents Association (AIE) and the Brazilian Institute of Oil and Gas (IBP) on Thursday, July 31.

Pará’s mobilization

The Pará state government also commented on the situation. Contacted by CENARIUM, the state government stated, in a note, that it has been taking steps to expand the lodging capacity in Belém and the surrounding metropolitan area. Among the actions are the construction of new facilities such as Vila COP (with 405 beds), the hiring of hotel ships by the federal government, the adaptation of state schools to hotel standards, the promotion of short-term rentals, and partnerships with digital platforms.

In July of this year, the government also signed a Technical Cooperation Agreement with Abih-PA to ensure affordable accommodation for delegations. However, the State Attorney General’s Office noted that prices are governed by private law, based on free negotiation between parties, which limits any direct government interference.

“Despite these limits, the Pará government maintains constant dialogue with property owners, real estate agencies, and lodging establishments to reinforce the importance of responsible practices during the conference,” the note said.

COP30 is expected to bring together around 50,000 participants from 196 countries, including heads of state, diplomats, scientists, and civil society representatives. The success of the conference increasingly depends on Brazil’s ability to provide swift and coordinated responses to criticism about local infrastructure, especially regarding accommodations.

Edited by Jadson Lima
Translated from Portuguese by Gustô Alves