From Latin Business Chronicle

During the past two years, the top 10 hotel chains have added some 50,000 hotel rooms in Latin America. That means more choices for travelers. Whether you simply prefer staying with a brand that you know, are invested in a particular loyalty rewards program or are looking for business-class amenities in smaller, less-popular locations, there are more choices than ever.

Our sister publication, Latin Business Chronicle, tracked the chains' expansions for its annual Latin American Hotel Index. At the top of the index is IHG - the world's

largest hotel chain, which includes such brands as the Intercontinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn. It led the index for another year, with a total of 58,503 hotel rooms in the region at the end of 2012. More than 27,000 of those rooms came online during the past two years, and IHG brands account for more than one quarter of all hotel rooms in the region. Alvaro Diago, IHG's chief operating officer for Latin America and the Caribbean, says growth will continue, with eight hotel openings planned during 2013, and an additional eight on the docket for 2014. "We continue to be excited about Latin America as a growth region, especially in countries like Colombia, Peru, and Brazil," Diago says. 

Accor's Hotel Pullman Sao Paulo Ibirapuera.

Spain's Sol Meliá has the third-highest number of rooms in the region (it's No. 8 globally). Its 25,000 rooms, 3,000 of which it added during the past two years, are under brands including Gran Meliá, ME by Meliá, Meliá Hotels & Resorts and Tryp.

Marriott International was the largest United States-based chain to make the top 10. While that hotel group - which counts Marriott, Renaissance, Courtyard and Fairfield Inn among its brands - is the world's second-largest, it is only fourth in Latin America. The company's new Latin America president, Craig Smith, says the company expects to double its hotels in the region over the next four years.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts, also a U.S.-based group, was the only one to move up in the Latin Hotel Index, rising from eighth to sixth in the region after adding 3,000 hotel rooms. Starwood includes brands such as Sheraton, Westin, Four Points, St. Regis, Le Meridien, and W.

Improved Infrastructure, More Inter-Regional Travel

Expect more growth in hotel chains in Latin America going forward. Improved

Chains are also targeting growth in Lima, where Sol Meliá's hotels include the Meliá Lima.

airport infrastructure in the region has led to rapidly increasing inter-regional travel, IHG's Diago says. Between 30% and 40% of the company's bookings in the region are now made by Latin American travelers. He adds that infrastructure development in Latin America's capital cities - including better public transport and new convention centers - makes them more attractive destinations for the international business traveler. Bogota and Lima are particularly poised for growth, he says, noting that the there may be some market saturation in Panama.

Marriott's Craig Smith agrees that improvements in infrastructure have led to increased inter-regional travel. His company is particularly emphasizing growth in Mexico, with the expectation that the nation's industrial rebirth will increase demand for hotel services. Both executives also said their company's are focused on Brazil, but said the influence on the hotel industry of the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics has been overplayed.

View the full Latin American Hotel Index at LatinBusinessChronicle.com (subscription required)

Delta Air Lines launches new service to San Jose and Liberia, Costa Rica - marks 15 years of uninterrupted service to that nation: Daily Los Angeles, California-San Jose, Costa Rica flights began July 1. 

U.S. Department of Transportation tentatively awards Delta Air Lines additional daily non-stop Atlanta - São Paulo flight; flight awaits final government approval and could start as early as Oct. 1. Second Detroit - São Paulo flight also awarded.

University of Miami's Executive MBA program listed among world's best in new ranking from The Economist: Executive MBA program, offered on main campus in Coral Gables and in Puerto Rico, is No. 21 among U.S. business schools and No. 38 worldwide.

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By Mark Chesnut

With its strategic location on Colombia's Caribbean coast, Cartagena benefits from a confluence of culinary traditions that come from both the land and the sea. In recent years, a number of new and noteworthy restaurants have built on that, many offering an ambiance conducive to conducting business or entertaining clients and co-workers. Here are a few of the best. 

Blue (Holiday Inn Cartagena Morros, Anillo Vial, La Boquilla): Located at the

Blue

Holiday Inn Cartagena Morros, this restaurant is an example of the fresh dining options at some of the city's newest hotels. Bogota-born Chef Miguel Angel Ospina has created a sophisticated array of dishes including an indulgent Sirloin Temptation and delicious grouper marinated in lemon, chili, orange, lemongrass, onion and soy sauce. Like the rest of the hotel, the restaurant is bright and airy, with contemporary décor and lots of natural light.

Café del Mar (Baluarte de Santo Domingo): Breezy lounge music flows as smoothly as the Caribbean breezes at this memorable, open-air venue, which sits atop part of the wall that once protected the colonial-era city from attacks. Today, it's an especially popular place to watch the sunset and sip cocktails before dinner.

Club de Pesca (Manga, Fuerte de San Sebastián del Pastelillo): Cartagena's

Club de Pesca

connection to the sea is fully appreciated at Club de Pesca, part of a nautical club that offers indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the bay. Seafood lovers should consider ordering the Seafood Festival, which includes lobster, king prawn and fish fillet, accompanied by calamari, mussels and crabmeat au gratin. The venue caters to corporate groups and events, and can arrange for private bay cruises with cocktails and meal service.

Donjuán (Calle del Colegio no. 34-60): This smartly decorated restaurant in Cartagena's historic center attracts a well-heeled crowd of patrons conducting business. Start the evening with one of the venue's signature cocktails - such as the Vodkiri de fresa, a sweetly satisfying concoction made with Absolut raspberry, lemon and strawberry. Main courses include an array of seafood and pasta.

La Vitrola (Calle Baloco no. 33-201): High-ranking politicians, businesspeople and even Nobel Prize-winning author Gabriel García Marquez are among the patrons who favor this elegant, traditional restaurant. Live Cuban music often accompanies the equally Cuban cuisine. 

El Santisimo (Calle del Torno no. 39-62): For about 15 years, this quirky-cool establishment - set in a high-ceilinged building that has housed both a convent and

El Santisimo

a nightclub - has served international cuisine from an menu that cleverly incorporates religious themes (including multiple references to heaven and hell) into its dishes. Consider the Santísima Trinidad (Holy Trinity of white fish, coconut rice and ripe plantains), for example, or The Miracle Plan, priced at 85,500 pesos, which includes an appetizer, main course, dessert and two hours of open bar. The frothy coconut lemonade and carimañolas (yucca and ground-beef fritters) are especially tasty.

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