South America offers modern convention centers with cultural experiences
International travel is trending for incentives, executive retreats and corporate meetings. South America is making a name for itself with modern convention centers, high end luxury hotels and vibrant cultural experiences for attendees to expand their horizons and create memories. Of the rapidly progressing cities of South American countries, Smart Meetings has compiled a list of meeting venues and convention centers that offer the perfect combination of business and paradise.
“American readers would be surprised that we prioritize sustainability in our meetings practices. With every event, we prioritize consistency in measuring and reporting the carbon impact of each event.”
– Barbara Bulos, groups and events director at The Westin Lima Hotel & Convention Center
The Westin Lima Hotel and Convention Center, Peru
In the heart of San Isidro, the financial district of Lima City, the connected hotel and convention center is a central and accessible location for meetings and events. The largest convention center in Lima with a capacity of 2,000 people, 19 spaces of various sizes and modern AV technology, it is also one of the most sustainable venues in South America and is LEED-EBOM Gold certified.
The central location provides visitors access to the surrounding cultural and culinary gems of Lima. “San Isidro is an artistic district full of museums and art galleries that host exhibitions and pop events on the daily,” says Barbara Bulos, groups and events director at The Westin Lima Hotel & Convention Center. A few of Bulos’s recommendations include Catedral de San Isidro, Lima’s most iconic building and home to the best museum of religious art, and the region’s various restaurants and enjoying the local cuisine. Visit Alphonse Bar, a modern-day speakeasy named after the famous Alphonse (Al) Capone in The Westin Lima Hotel or explore culinary fusion at restaurants like Osaka that are inspired by the Asian influence on traditional Peruvian fare.
Santiago Hotel and Convention Center, Chile
Recognized as the biggest Marriott Convention Center in Santiago, the Sheraton is frequented by celebrities and society figures. With 19 event rooms and 3132 sq. m. of event space, the flexibility of the center allows for meeting professionals to customize any event. As the only urban resort in the city, the center allows for attendees to easily transition from meetings to the streets of downtown Santiago.
For foodies, visiting Mercado Central de Santiago (The Central Market of Santiago) is a must. Both a historical landmark and Chile’s premier gastronomic center, visitors can expect authentic Chilean fare with a focus on fresh seafood. In 2012, National Geographic chose this urban culinary treasure as the 5th best food market in the world.
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Centro de Convenciones Buenos Aires, Argentina
Rubbing elbows with French-style mansions in the Recoleta neighborhood that travel writers have nicknamed “Paris of the South,” the convention center sits among one of the most alluring regions of Buenos Aires. As one of the most modern and exciting structures in the city, the original architecture and its flexible versatility makes the 4,600-person capacity center a business center in the middle of an upscale old world boutique neighborhood.
For a classic aristocratic inspired stay, the Palacio Duhau – Park Hyatt Buenos Aires combines European opulence with Argentinian flare. The hotel brings the two cultures together with features like the cheese cave at La Vinoteca offering Argentinean cheeses prepared with European technique and an old-world style art gallery featuring contemporary Argentinian artworks.
São Paulo Expo Exhibition & Convention Center, Brazil
Voted by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) as ranking in the top eight best event destinations in the Americas and the 47th city that hosts the most events in the world, São Paulo is also recognized by the ICCA as the region most frequented by international events in the country of Brazil. With pride in their global recognition in the events industry, the massive convention center offers 34 conference spaces and meeting rooms in the heart of the city.
Brazilian culture is all around in São Paulo and it is celebrated throughout the streets of the city. Educational tours for groups are available to visit the numerous art museums and cultural spaces. Both authentic Brazilian cuisine and modern Latin fusion fare cater to all tastes with the variety of restaurants. Prefer to stay outside? São Paulo has artwork and cultural displays in its parks and open spaces.
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