It’s an economic powerhouse, one of Latin America’s most stable nations and a partner in a U.S. free trade agreement that dates to 2004. So it’s no surprise that Chile is an important destination to meet in and do business. Stunning geographical diversity and an array of attractions and activities—ranging from cruises among icebergs in Patagonia to treks through the otherworldly Atacama Desert—only strengthen the nation’s allure as a destination for meetings as well as incentive groups.
“The meetings segment in Chile has shown a sustained growth during the last five years, generating revenue of more than $70 million,” says Andrea Wolleter, general manager of Turismo Chile, the nation’s official tourism organization. “The reasons for this growth are varied, [including] the nation’s good economic situation, which has stayed stable in spite of the global economic crisis, generating confidence among decision-makers.”
Among the destination’s main strengths and comparative advantages, according to Wolleter, is the fact that it is a safe destination with easy access, a first-class infrastructure, state-of-the-art technology and political and economic stability.
One of Turismo Chile’s goals, according to Wolleter, is to diversify the range of destinations that meeting planners might choose in Chile. Currently, she says, some 80 percent of international meetings take place in the capital city of Santiago, which has more than 9,500 hotel rooms in the four- and five-star categories.
“Nevertheless, there are diverse cities with very good venues, facilities and infrastructure for staging local, regional and international conventions, so we are working to promote these destinations and have them meet international requirements,” she says.
In 2011, a strategic plan called the “Embajadores para el Turismo de Reuniones” [Meetings Tourism Ambassadors] program was introduced by Turismo Chile in partnership with the Servicio Nacional de Turismo Chile (Chile National Tourism Service, a government agency), with the goal of placing Chile among the 15 top meetings and incentive destinations in the world. PageBreak
The private sector is also confident about the destination’s potential.
“Chile has enormous potential for incentives; I’d say up to 300 people, more or less,” says Jorge Moller, president of Darwin’s Trails, a DMC based in the Pacific Coast city Vina del Mar.
Different parts of Chile appeal to different types of groups, according to Jesus Parrilla, CEO of Explora, which runs upscale lodges and tour operations in Patagonia, the Atacama Desert and Easter Island.
“We would separate Chile in two—first Santiago and then the rest of the country,” he says. “Santiago has increasingly become an appealing place for conferences, as more hotels with infrastructure to cater to the needs of these types of groups have sprung up in recent years. However, the same cannot be said about the rest of the country.”
The other destinations can, however, be ideal for small meetings and incentive groups, Parrilla notes.
“We have, in the past three years, seen a surge in requests from a wide variety of companies from different industries, for small groups of top executives, for team-building, carrying out merger discussions and celebrating board meetings,” he says. “They are looking to get away from the mundane corporate life and into an environment where they can disconnect from the outside world, yet connect with their peers while having access to an incredible menu of outdoor activities that foster creativity, camaraderie and downtime.”
Here are a few ways to get those creative juices flowing around mainland Chile.
Capital Ideas and Coastal Diversity
The point of entry for most international visitors is Santiago, Chile’s capital, which is home to about 7.2 million residents as well as the bulk of international businesses.
Meeting planners will find the largest selection of convention facilities here, including Casa Piedra, which has 10 halls ranging in size from 323 to 15,700 square feet; Centro Cultural Estacion Mapocho, with 14 different spaces for meetings and events; and Espacio Riesco Convention Center, which can host up to 6,500 people and features the 129,200-square-foot Fair Pavilion.
Santiago also offers the advantage of easy land access to two noteworthy regions, each within a one- or two-hour drive: Chile’s wine country (see sidebar) and the central Pacific Coast.
Only about an hour by land from Santiago, the Pacific Coast is best known for its two largest cities: Valparaíso, a historic metropolis that was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003 and is home to an increasing number of boutique hotels, and Vina del Mar, a glamorous beachfront destination where properties like the 244-room Hotel O’Higgins, 142-room Sheraton Miramar Hotel and Convention Center and 60-room Enjoy Vina del Mar Casino & Resort cater to groups.
In addition to sandy beaches and meetings-oriented hotels, the city of Vina del Mar draws groups with designer shopping, good surfing and the Festival Internacional de la Cancion, which attracts performers from around the world in February. PageBreak
Atacama
Just two hours north by plane from Santiago lies the dramatic Atacama Desert, where group activity centers around the small town of San Pedro de Atacama.
In recent years, this region has welcomed a number of decidedly upscale, style-conscious small hotels that work well with groups, with small meeting spaces and custom itineraries to help explore the region’s dramatic terrain and natural beauty. Most of the hotels have their own on-site staff of experienced guides and a menu of excursions and activities.
Top choices include the 32-room Alto Atacama Desert Lodge and Spa, an attractive oasis set between two mountains, where gourmet cuisine, six swimming pools and a spa provide rejuvenation after guests partake in their many group itineraries. The stylish Tierra Atacama is another noteworthy choice, with contemporary architecture and decor as well as a spa, library and bar. Awasi, a member of Relais & Chateaux, offers especially personalized service, with only eight rooms, while Explora Atacama uses the 50-room Hotel de Larache as its base, complete with its own stables and observatory for viewing the night sky.
This year, Explora launched new photographic expeditions at its properties in both Atacama and Patagonia in southern Chile. Sponsored by Nikon and led by Explora guides, the expeditions run four nights and five days, with New York-based photographer Katsuyoshi Tanaka helping groups to capture the natural beauty of both regions. In the Atacama, the itinerary includes biking along desert trails to Atacama Salt Lake, a nature reserve where hundreds of flamingos graze in shallow waters for brine shrimp. Also featured is a daylong exploration of the volcanic Altiplano Lakes, which sit more than 13,000 feet above sea level.
Patagonia
Beginning near the southern tip of South America, Patagonia spans parts of both Chile and Argentina. It’s a natural wonderland for groups, with settings that range from dense forests and pristine waterways to massive glaciers.
Visitors normally fly from Santiago to gateway cities such as Puerto Montt or Balmaceda, and then either join a cruise or stay at a luxurious, nature-oriented hotel. Among the choices are Tierra Patagonia, which looks out over Lake Sarmiento and the mountain peaks of Torres del Paine National Park; Explora Patagonia, which owns the modernist Hotel Salto Chico; and Puyuhuapi, a lodge and spa that sits scenically onto the rim of a tree-lined Pacific Ocean inlet. Puyuhuapi’s offerings for incentive groups include custom programs and corporate merchandising.
During Explora’s new photographic expeditions, groups can visit Grey Glacier, one of the world’s largest freshwater reserves, and explore the French Valley, which is home to 9,462-foot Paine Grande Mountain.
From Puyuhuapi, up to 70 guests may board the Patagonia Express, a 90-foot catamaran. A favorite destination for this ship is the San Rafael glacier, one of the fastest-moving glaciers in the world, where groups board zodiac craft to get an up-close look.
Freelancer Mark Chesnut has visited Chile several times—including a top-to-bottom excursion with the board members of the U.S. Tour Operators Association.
