Prevue January-February 2014 - (Page 64)

The New Colombia One of Latin America's fastest emerging MICE destinations [ON LOCATION] IAN LIVINGSTON S uddenly everyone's talking about Colombia as the newest emerging MICE destination in Latin America. The Colombian government has worked diligently over the last 10 years to rebrand the country's image through educational events across North America, while pouring signiﬁcant funding into both leisure and meetings infrastructure. Tourism numbers have grown around 10% each year since 2000, and the people are incredibly hospitable and service-oriented to show visitors their country in its true essence, full of color, energy and beauty. Outside of Colombia, MICE industry players have taken note. "Major foreign companies like Hilton, Holiday Inn and Intercontinental Hotels have chosen Colombia to open new hotels, where they have invested up to 75 million dollars," says Andrea Lopez, Proexport Colombia's marketing/ communications director. Starwood's W Hotels Worldwide is expected to add 168-rooms to Colombia in 2014 along with Hotusa's 364-room BD Bacata Hotel, following suit in 2015. But it's not only the big chains that are piling in. There's also a range of sustainable hotels such as the 44,000-sf bio-hotel under construction in Bogota. The new 270,000-sf Bogota International Convention Center, a.k.a. Agora Bogota, will be located on Corferias fairgrounds-a noteworthy indoor/outdoor 830,000-sf venue in its own right-in close proximity to the Eldorado International Airport, which is currently undergoing the greatest remodeling in its history. The center, set to open its doors in 2015, includes a main hall seating 4,000, a 200-room/5-star hotel, food courts for 2,000 attendees, and plenty of state-of-the-art exhibition and meeting spaces. The Agora Bogota convention center will be the ﬁrst in the nation focusing on environmental sustainability, and project leaders are eyeing LEED-GOLD certiﬁcation. "The new convention center is planning to be a world-class mega-project that will give Bogota an icon that will change the entire region's dynamic surrounding events and conventions," Lopez says. BOGOTA: CAPITAL CHARM High on an Andean plateau, Colombia's capital is the fourth largest city in the Americas. The city encircles majestic Monserrate mountain, blanketed in fertile green slopes that tower over the city. A funicular, glass-enveloped cable car shuttles groups up to the blunted peak, where a church with a shrine to the "Fallen Lord"-as well as two restaurants-accompany the best views in Bogota. The sunset is not to be missed here. Afterward, descend back into the city's bohemian Usaquen neighborhood for dinner. Intriguing culinary options including the 55-seat Casa Vieja restaurant abound. Our group sat around a low-lit, hand-carved wooden table ﬁlled with traditional dishes, including what's said to be the best ajiaco (chicken soup) in town. Nearby La Bodega de Abasto lets you throw your own chef hats on and hit the Colombian kitchen. Chef Luz Beatriz Velez and her team delighted in sharing their lcooking wisdom as our group buzzed between the plantain, shrimp and torta 64 | prevue magazine 64-66_Colombia.indd 64 1/8/14 8:53 AM

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Prevue January-February 2014

Planner's Pick: Boston
Fresh Meets: Hyatt All-Inclusive
Bureau Buzz: Branson
Good Business: Baha Mar, Bahamas
Sea Shores: Celebrity Cruises
The Art of Roi
Corporate Retreats
Scotland
Florida Special Section
On Location: La Cantera, San Antonio
Convention Centers
On Location: Edgewater, Seatle
On Location: RIU Rivera Maya
On Location: Secrets Vallarta Bay, Mexico
Colombia
Check Out: Hilton Bomonti, Istanbul

Prevue January-February 2014