In a recent survey of 3,500 agent members of API Travel
Consultants, an association of independent travel agencies, South
America topped the list of the most underrated travel destination;
in that same survey, the continent also placed among the top five
in best travel value options.
This is good news for a continent which seems particularly well
positioned to satisfy the North American travelers' newfound
appetites for unusual and involving experiences in adventure,
natural history and cultural travel.
"Full of new journeys and new destinations, South American
countries are tailormade for the new millennium traveler," says
president Bill Coleman of William H. Coleman Inc. The Jacksonville,
Fla.-based company is the organizer of the annual TravelMart Latin
America meeting, a gathering of buyers and sellers that provides
the primary shopping forum for Latin American travel products and
services.
This 23-year-old event was held this year in Uruguay's
fashionable seaside resort of Punta del Este. Trade show
headquarters was the new and grand 302-room Conrad Resort &
Casino, the city's only five-star property.
Among the 300 buyers were dozens of U.S. tour operators who go
yearly to update their own information and discover new attractions
and travel products. And while among these wholesalers there is no
shortage of enthusiasm about selling travel to South America, most
indicate they will expand products in the countries they now offer,
rather than increase the number of destinations.
Some of the travel trends noted by both buyers and sellers
include:
Peru is the continent's boom destination, lead by the appeal of
Cusco and Machu Picchu, but attracting travelers to more primitive
Amazonia areas such as the Manu and Tambopata biosphere reserves
and the archaeological zones of the north.Travel sales to Brazil are way up and should continue to rise,
and other countries where U.S. visitor counts continue to increase
are Argentina, Chile and Ecuador.The dramatic increase in deluxe hotel properties during the
1990s in major cities, as well as the introduction of more
comfortable country inns and jungle lodges, have made the continent
an easier upscale travel sale.There seems to be no end to the growth in international air
services between North and South American gateways, all combining
to make the continent more accessible. Increased competition on
major routes has also produced more affordable air fares.Tour operators report the biggest and most profitable increase
in bookings is coming from FIT travelers, who are more
knowledgeable than ever before and whose arrangements require a lot
of destination savvy to satisfy the demand for customized
itineraries.Cruises along both Atlantic and Pacific coasts, as well as
around the tip of South America between Argentina and Chile and all
the way south to Antarctica, show a marked increase for the coming
season.Web sites are the new sales tool of greatest importance in
getting destination and product information for agents selling
South America. A substantial number of U.S. tour operators are
relying on their Web sites to promote their travel products, rather
than printing brochures, and the continent's local operators,
hotels and attractions have also taken to the Web.The following is a sampling of some of the newest services and
programs in the marketplace.
Argentina
The 340-room Buenos Aires Hilton is scheduled to open in early
2000 in the Puerto Madero district, a restoration district built
around the dock area, already famous for its chic new restaurants.
The hotel faces the Presidential Palace and is within walking
distance of the city's financial and business district. Facilities
include a restaurant, two ballrooms, executive floors and a health
club. Adjacent will be the new South Convention Center, partly
managed by Hilton International.
Contact (800) 445-8667.The Yacutinga Lodge in the province of Misiones is a jungle inn
opening up a new corner for South America's nature-oriented
traveler. The lodge, located behind the Iguazu National Park, has
40 comfortable suites, and common areas include restaurants, a bar
and pool. Activities include floating on the San Francisco River,
bird watching or jungle hiking with an experienced naturalist
guide.
Contact in Argentina (011) 54-3751-424259; fax (011)
54-3751-423345; e-mail [email protected]; www.yacutinga.com.The deluxe Llao Llao Hotel & Resort with spa and golf
course outside San Carlos de Bariloche will now be managed by the
Alvear Palace hotel in Buenos Aires; the deluxe property
overlooking Lake Nahuel Huapi is shortly to become a member of the
Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
Contact in Argentina (011) 54-944-48530; fax (011) 54-944-45781;
e-mail [email protected]; www.llaollao.com.Aerolineas Argentinas is now flying daily nonstop service
between New York and Buenos Aires aboard its new A340 aircraft,
with sleeper seating in first class; all tickets pay 10% commission
with no caps.
Contact (800) 333-0276.Continental Airlines will expand its South American routes with
the addition of Buenos Aires service in September 2000.
Contact (800) 231-0856.Bolivia
Passengers traveling aboard Crillon Tours' hydrofoils and day
excursions on Lake Titicaca stop at both Moon Island and Sun
Island, where longer stops offer both a look at the sacred site and
lunch at a newly opened Uma Kollo panoramic restaurant. Atop the
island, the company also built Posada del Inca, a rustic
eco-friendly lodge with 20 rooms. Guests can go llama trekking on
Inca trails to Pilcocaina sun temple and visit the Chincana
ruins.
Contact in Bolivia (001) 591-2-361-990; fax (001) 2-391-039; e-mail
[email protected]; www.titicaca.com.American Airlines will start operating a second daily nonstop
frequency between Miami and La Paz in December; one flight will
depart in the morning and another in late afternoon.
Contact (800) 433-7300.Brazil
Fortaleza, capital of the state of Ceara, will be the site for
the next TravelMart Latin America, scheduled for Sept. 20 to 22 at
a venue to be determined. The seaside resort city is a
four-and-one-half-hour flight from Rio, just under three hours from
Salvador de Bahia, three hours from Manaus. Known for its miles of
white-sand beaches, nightly seaside handicraft fair, and art
nouveau Jose de Alencar Theater, the most important resort hotels
and lively nightlife are found along Avenida Presidente
Kennedy.Ecuador
The newest ship (launched this November) in the Galapagos
Islands is the Eclipse, a custom-built deluxe cruise vessel
carrying 48 passengers in suites and staterooms, all with picture
windows and outside positions on the boat or main deck.Public facilities include a main lounge, dining room, sundeck,
pool and library, and passengers are served by a crew of 23, plus
four naturalist guides in charge of lectures and shore excursions
aboard Zodiac craft.
The Eclipse will cruise from San Cristobal through December, and
will be rebased in Baltra thereafter.
Contact (800) 247-2925 or (305) 599-9008; www.quasarnauticatumbaco.com.
Metropolitan Touring, represented in the U.S. by Adventure
Associates, will put its deluxe 40-passenger yacht Isabela into dry
dock Feb. 15 to March 21 for an extensive renovation by two Swedish
firms specializing in designing and refitting luxury vessels. The
reception area and library will be enlarged; bathrooms will be
refurbished; the redesigned sun deck will feature a bar,
observation area for whale- and dolphin-watching, a solarium and an
updated Jacuzzi. New equipment will include modern Zodiacs and a
glass-bottom boat, and standards of food service and activities
will also be upgraded.
Contact (800) 527-2500 or (972) 907-0414; www.ecuadorable.com.The best kept secret in Quito is the new Museum of the City of
Quito, where exhibits range from documentation of the first
inhabitants of Quito (10,000 BC) and the Indian communities until
the arrival of the Incas to the 19th century and struggle for
independence from Spain. The museum itself is housed in a 16th
century hospital.Peru
New to the international flight scene is daily nonstop service
between Lima and Miami, introduced by LanPeru and AeroContinente,
which previously offered flights only within Peru.Amazon Tours & Cruises has launched a new ship, the
148-foot Marcelita that will make monthly 10-day river trips from
Iquitos to Leticia, Colombia and Manaus Brazil. The river cruiser
accommodates 52 passengers in 24 cabins and two suites, with air
conditioning, en suite bathrooms and large picture windows.
Passenger facilities include an air-conditioned dining room, large
lounge, bar and observation decks.Departure dates coming up from Iquitos are Nov. 23, Dec. 21 and
Jan. 4; passengers may also board in Leticia or Manaus.
Other ships in the Amazon Tours & Cruises fleet include the
21-passenger Rio Amazonas offering weekly river runs between
Iquitos and Leticia, as well as the smaller Arca, Delfin and Amazon
Explorer, which are used on special Amazon itineraries and for
charter; the company also owns the Amazon Jungle Camp on the Momon
River near Iquitos.
Contact (800) 423-2791 or (305) 227-2266; www.amazontours.com.
Explorama Lodges is celebrating its 35th anniversary on the
Amazon by opening Ceiba Tops Resort, built right next door to
Explorama Inn to provide more luxury accommodations right on the
banks of the river. Located 25 miles downriver from Iquitos, the
Amazon resort has opened the first 16 new units of its 72-room
property, with en suite bathrooms, hot water showers, air
conditioning and ceiling fans. Garden walkways lead from each
cottage to the El Toucan Bar, the Hammock House, and the Mariposa
dining room at the center of the village complex. By late next
year, the resort will have two pools.Other properties under the Explorama umbrella include the
Explorama Lodge (50 miles downriver from Iquitos), Explornapo (100
miles downriver and adjoining the reserve that features the Amazon
Canopy Walkway -- the longest treetop walkway in the world). For
pure rain forest adventure, the company has established a primitive
camp, Explortambos, a two-hour walk from Explornapo and featuring
sleeping in netted beds on elevated platforms and meals cooked in
an open-hearth fireplace.
Contact U.S. representative SACA Inc. at (800) 707-5275 or (781)
581-0844; www.explorama.com.
The Lima Marriott Hotel, located in the Miraflores district
overlooking the Pacific, will open next March. The 300-room
property will have 40 rooms on its executive level, and offer
guests two restaurants, two lounges, a 7,500-square-foot casino, as
well as a fitness center and indoor pool.
Contact (800) 241-3333.Two new airlines have launched domestic air services. Taca-Peru
now flies daily between Lima and Iquitos and Lima and Cusco. The
carrier, an associate airline of Grupo Taca, plans also to begin
international flights this year between Lima and Buenos Aires, Sao
Paulo and Miami.
Contact (800) 535-8780.Taca-Peru joins LanPeru, the LanChile airline affiliate, which
last summer started domestic flights in Peru three times daily
between Lima and Cusco and Lima and Arequipa, with ongoing service
to Tacna.
Contact (800) 735-5526.
Uruguay
Travel industry members attending TravelMart Latin America were
introduced to an exciting handful of five-star hotels, recently
added in the capital city of Montevideo.
Just opened is the 12th Radisson property in Latin America,
Radisson Plaza Hotel Montevideo has taken over the former Victoria
Plaza Hotel and fully refurbished its 253 rooms, adding 66 suites
on the Plaza Club floors. Other features are a conference center
accommodating gatherings up to 2,500 participants, a casino and a
spa. Guest recreation facilities also include a gym with exercise
equipment, indoor jogging track, pool and Jacuzzi.
Contact (800) 333-3333.The 207-room Sheraton Montevideo Hotel is also brand new in the
capital, nicely located close to the waterfront. Part of a
mixed-use commercial center, rooms start on the 10th floor and have
water views. Meeting rooms are on the 25th floor, with the 26th
floor reserved for a health club and the 27th for a solarium.
Contact (800) 325-3535.The Belmont House is the capital's deluxe boutique property, a
member of the Relais & Chateaux hotel group. Set in the heart
of the Carrasco residential quarter near the beach, this
English-style residence features 24 rooms and four suites,
furnished with antiques and French and Italian paintings; guest
facilities include the gourmet Restaurant Allegro, gym/sauna and a
pool surrounded by gardens.
Contact (800) 44-UTELL; www.belmonthouse.com.uy.