Hotel Ibis is in Sobral, the fifth most populous city in Ceará, on the banks of the Acaraú river, in the interior of the state. Sobral became world-famous in 1919, when a scientific expedition observed a total solar eclipse here that helped confirm Einstein's theory of general relativity.
The city is also known for its education indicators, ranking as a national reference in basic education assessments, and preserves a well-kept colonial historic centre, with churches and mansions from the imperial period.