Living in Peru : your everyday companion

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

The Commission of Peru for Exports and Tourism (Prom-Peru) will promote Peru as a touristic destination at the Traditional Fair of Integration - Arica, to be held next November 27 to 29 in Arica, Chile.

The main goal is to promote south zone of our countryas a cultural and gastronomic destination.

The organism that stimulates tourism in Peru will promote especially the south zone of our country, as a cultural, urban and gastronomic product.

This event will also have a space for Peruvian artistic expressions like music and dance, to be performed by different groups of the Municipality of Tacna and the Regional Directorate of the National Institute of Culture (INC).

In 2008 the Traditional Fair of Tacna was held, and it had the participation of more than 70 little Peruvian bussinessmen, as well as 30 Chilean craftsmen.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

The French hotel chain Accor is currently planning the construction of 10 to 15 hotels under the Novotel brand in several Peruvian locations (which would have presence especially in Chiclayo and Arequipa), as well as a new brand, Pullman, who would come to Lima, according to Semana Economica.

Also, by the end of 2010, Accor Ibis hotel will open in Miraflores, a brand that will be developed nationwide later in stores in Lima, Arequipa, Chiclayo and Piura.

After a meeting held with Peru’s President Alan Garcia at the Government Palace, Accor Chairman and CEO Gilles Pelisson said that the investment made by the group in Peru in Ibis and Novotel hotels, brands of Accor Group, represents US$32 million up to now.

They will also build another hotel in Cusco, with US$10 million more.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Another two international airlines are interested in using Peru as a hub for transit of passengers and cargo, because their executives think that the country's location is unique in Latin America, said Peru's Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MTC).

"Two major airlines have asked the MTC to asses the possibility of having a hub at Jorge Chavez International Airport," said Minister Enrique Cornejo.

Currently, Taca and Lan Chile have actually turned Lima into their center of interconnection of passengers with their  destinations.

"Jorge Chavez Airport and is already a hub, that is, that a significant amount of passengers arrive here in transit to other parts of the continent," Cornejo said.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Canatur (Chamber of Tourism) President, Fernando Puga, said that, in his opinion, a Tourism Ministry should be created before a Culture Ministry, due to its importance as an economic activities generator.

He said that this is the best time to discuss the establishment of a ministry dedicated exclusively to tourism, and said objections about allegedly creating more bureaucracy or increasing government spending do not have a real background.

"I do not understand why the president of Peru uses this as an argument for not creating a Tourism Ministry, and at the same time creates an Environment Ministry and a Culture Ministry. Those are sectors that are way behind tourism regarding generator of business and economic activities,” he remarked.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

With the aim of making domestic tourism more popular, Peru's Foreign Trade and Tourism Minister, Martin Perez Monteverde, said that his sector will allocate S/. 7 million soles (US $2.3 million dollars) this quarter, to be used in the promotion of tourism within our country.

"We have a limited budget for this issue, but will we get the necessary funds from Mincetur," he pointed out.

On the other hand, he also reported that he is with Cecilia Bakula, Director of Peru's National Institute of Culture, to set up electric light systems for around 6 or 8 “huacas” (archeological complexes), and also to launch sound and light shows "that will benefit both local and foreign tourists.”

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

Hotelsmag.com
Jeff Weinstein

Libertador Hotels, Resorts & Spas, Lima, is Peru’s largest hotel group led by CEO Jorge Melero, and is in the midst of a US$260 million expansion—the biggest investment in Peru and, perhaps all of South America.

Libertador will open the 120-room Hotel Paracas, a Luxury Collection Resort, and the 128-room Tambo del Inka Luxury Collection Resort & Spa this year, followed by a 301-room Lima Westin scheduled to open as the tallest building in Peru by the middle of 2010.

Also on the books is a US$20 million renovation of Libertador’s historic Palacio del Inka Hotel Cusco, which also will be re-branded as a Luxury Collection hotel upon its completion in 2011.

The group’s collection of five hotels, owned by The Brescia Group, one of Peru’s primary business conglomerates, are in Arequipa, Cusco, Puno, Lima and Trujillo.

“After we finish the Westin, we want to go overseas—probably in the Andean region around Colombia, as well as Chile and, perhaps, Argentina, where it is tougher to invest,” Melero says. “Our strategic plan for 2010 to 2015 goes beyond Peru’s border, and we want two more hotels with Westin or The Luxury Collection.”

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

After a surprising presentation last night, Peruvian Lady Balarezo convinced not only the panel of judges, but also the audience, that she deserved to continue in the Latin American Idol contest.

Balarezo got support from thousand of Peruvians and Latin Americans through text messages, going on to the next step of the show staged at Buenos Aires.

Next November 4th, Lady Balarezo will compete at concert number four in Latin American Idol's fourth season.

After receiving the positive answer from Venezuelan show host Erika de la Vega, Lady burst into tears and hugged all her fellow competitors.

In recent weeks, Lady was severely criticized by the judges, and to top it off, Jon Secada kneeled down and asked her to truly sing.

Balarezo sang Gianluca Grignani's "My Story Among Your Fingers" (Mi historia entre tus dedos), and got good comments from the panel of judges.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

The prestigious travel magazine Conde Nast Traveler has ranked Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel as Peru's second best hotel, and the 8th best in South America, according to the Readers' Choice Awards 2009.

Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel is a unique world-class eco-tourism hotel, considered as a "Garden of Eden", which provides the opportunity to stay in the place where the Incas enjoyed their vacations.

In this hotel it is possible to arrange a visit to Machu Picchu, to enjoy massages at UNU Spa, and to take part in ecological tours such as bird watching or the Road of the Orchids, in the large garden.

All this in an atmosphere of refinement and hospitality, and the feeling of being in a rustic Andean town in the middle of a great biodiversity.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Machu Picchu, one of the new seven wonders of the world, is in the third position in British tourists' preferencial ranking (after Iguazu Falls, on the Argentina/Brazil border) and Angkor temple complex in Cambodia, according to the British newspaper “The Guardian.”

The 2009 Guardian and Observer Travel Awards highlighted British travelers' interest in exotic destinations; Peru's Machu Picchu is one of their favorite choices.

The Grand Canyon in the US and the Great Barrier Reef in Australia complete the list, in fourth and fifth place, respectively.

New Zealand took top place for the second consecutive year in the category covering Britons' favorite long-haul countries, and Sydney won the award for the most popular overseas city.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Peruvian hotel chain Casa Andina plans to open its fourth hotel in Miraflores toward the last quarter of 2010, reported the General Manager, Juan Stoessel.

The new building, which will reportedly have 11 stories, will include 160 rooms, a full-range spa and a gym, among other services.

This hotel is directed specifically to the corporative segment, thus it will have a business center, boardroom and meeting rooms with capacity for 40 people and a parking area for 36 vehicles.

Regarding the remodeling of Casa Hacienda San José, in Chincha (Ica), Stoessel explained that it has experienced some delay due to municipal paperwork issues, but that it will ready for opening in the year 2010.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.