WHERE TO MEE T
Andes, in a sun-drenched vineyard or overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Valparaiso, business travellers are sure to be dazzled by the views. Chile is also in the midst of a tourism boom, with
W
visitor numbers growing 8.5 per cent in 2018, following improved flight connectivity, such as the direct British Airways London Heathrow to Santiago flight, which launched in 2017. An ambitious expansion of Santiago’s Arturo Merino Benitez airport is also set to be finished in 2021, with the capacity to welcome 38 million passengers annually. Business travel is also growing, thanks in part to a
dedicated Business Tourism Ambassador programme for international associations, featuring 60 industry leaders whose job it is to promote and facilitate business events for their sectors. As the most competitive economy in South America, with a strong infrastructure, Chile is set to host the UN Climate Change Conference in December and has been the 2019 host of more than 200 meetings for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. Chile’s leafy capital, Santiago, is set in the foothills of the Andes and impresses with its landscaped city centre
SANTIAGO IS SET IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE ANDES AND IMPRESSES WITH ITS CUTTING-EDGE ARCHITECTURE
and cutting-edge architecture. International companies thrive here, and there is a vibrant entrepreneurial scene, supported by the government programme Start-Up Chile (
startupchile.org) – one of the leading start-up accelerators in Latin America. Te city is perfectly located for a host of incentive
activities, from winter skiing in the Andes, to vineyard visits in the Casablanca Valley (an hour outside Santiago), and trips to the Pacific coast (90 minutes away). Santiago’s hotel offering is constantly developing
as well, with a variety of big name brands and new boutique offerings amounting to more than 15,000 rooms across the capital. Other destinations of note include Valparaiso, Chile’s
famous port city – a 90-minute drive from Santiago. Known as the Jewel of the Pacific, it is a riot of colour. With its series of steep hills, funiculars and vibrant street art, it is oſten described as a cross between Lisbon and Barcelona. Beyond its bohemian charm, Valparaiso and its
neighbouring beach town Vina del Mar are ideal for events, offering more than 3,000 hotel rooms between them. In Valparaiso, events can be hosted at universities and historic buildings set on the hills, such as the
NOVEMBER 2019 | 45
hen it comes to dramatic scenery, Chile delivers. Whether you’re hosting a conference or event in the capital Santiago, set against the staggering backdrop of the
quirky Palacio Baburizza (
museobaburizza.cl) fine art museum. Vina del Mar has its own event spaces, with modern
hotels and the grand Quinta Vergara Amphitheatre, which hosts Latin America’s oldest music festival, the Vina del Mar International Song Festival, which takes place each February. One of the country’s most appealing assets is its
wines. Two hours south of Santiago, the Colchagua Valley is home to some of Chile’s most prestigious vineyards, producing rich red wines and providing a truly beautiful backdrop for events. Hotel meeting rooms, museums and larger event spaces set within vineyards can host events for up to 500 people, with accommodation both in vineyards and in the town of Santa Cruz. Vina La Posada (
posadacolchagua.com) is a
traditional hacienda property in Santa Cruz with an event space known as the Boulevard de la Vina, while 100 per cent solar-powered Vina Santa Cruz (
vinasantacruz.cl) also offers a variety of event spaces and activities such as star-gazing and vineyard bike rides for corporate groups. Chile’s spectacular Lake District is a one hour 40
minute flight south from the capital. A short drive from Puerto Montt’s airport, Puerto Varas is a town of pretty wooden buildings set on Lake Llanquihue, overlooked by the perfectly conical Osorno Volcano and surrounded by pine forests. Despite its quaint feel, Puerto Varas has space to
welcome up to 1,000 delegates across its hotels, and the town recently hosted a series of meetings for the Asia- Pacific Economic Cooperation. Te gateway to Chile’s great outdoors, with raſting, hiking, biking among the many activities available, it offers a rich and varied experience for business travellers.
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Opposite page from top: Santiago Metropolitan Cathedral; vineyards in Colchagua Below: Vina del Mar; Valparaiso
NONIMATGE/MURA/ONFOKUS/DIEGOGRANDI/ISTOCK
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