October 17, 2013 
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Ask the Industry: Barranquilla, Colombia

 

The nation's main port is a fast-growing manufacturing center and growing medical destination. A few tips from our experts on where to eat, meet and sleep.

  

By Mark Holston

 

Although it's only the fourth-largest metropolitan area in Colombia, with a population of about 2 million, the Caribbean port city of Barranquilla is one of the region's most important industrial and trade centers and a major logistics hub.

 

The nation's major port, Barranquilla is also noted for constant growth in its manufacturing sector - which includes building materials, pharmaceuticals and chemicals - and an ongoing ability to attract foreign investment. And, it is gaining a reputation as a destination for "medical tourism," with a growing number of specialized clinics and private hospitals that provide a wide range of services to those in search of affordably-priced medical procedures.

 

The city is well served by a constantly increasing inventory of five- and four-star hotels. Most, whether locally owned or bearing the name of national or international brands, are well prepared to serve the needs of visiting business executives. 

 

Latin Business Traveler spoke with members of the staff of two Barranquilla hotels to gain a better understanding of how to make a business trip to this important city successful in every regard.

 

The Best Business Meal

Erika Gutierrez, a sales executive at the city's Hotel Atrium Plaza, shared her recommendations for the perfect business lunch or dinner, with an emphasis on exceptional cuisine, service and setting. In addition to her hotel's restaurant, Gutierrez recommends Varadero (Carrera 51B, No. 79-97, 575), a seafood eatery that is consistently ranked as one of Barranquilla's best.

La Cueva Restaurant

 

Another top option is the historic, one-of-a-kind La Cueva (Calle 59). Featuring a menu of traditional regional Creole (Caribbean, French and African influences) fare, it was once the favored watering hole of famed Colombian novelist Gabriel Garcia M�rquez and a group of friends who were counted among the country's leading intellectuals of the 1940s and 1950s. La Cueva is so important that it has its own foundation, which publishes books on local culture.

 

Gutierrez's final recommendation is Cachao (Carrera 52, No. 80-10), a popular new Cuban-style restaurant with live music.


A Don't-Miss Museum and Historical District

Travelers who have a couple of hours without any meetings scheduled should not miss the city's recently constructed Museo del Caribe (Calle 36, No. 46-66), Gutierrez notes. This six-story museum chronicles the history and contributions of the region's diverse ethnic communities, including indigenous, African, European and Middle Eastern. It makes creative use of interactive audio and video features, immersing the visitor in a swirl of images, music and native linguistic traditions. The museum's state-of-the-art layout and lighting, plus its inventory of singular artifacts, make it one of the very best of its kind in the Caribbean.

 

Magdalena Triana, events executive at the city's Hotel El Prado, also recommends a worthwhile diversion from business. "La Aduana is a large, preserved historic sector, which includes the old customs house," she says. The area also includes the Museo Romantico, a small museum in an old mansion dedicated to the city's history (Carrera 54 No. 59-199), and the Casa del Carnaval (Carrera 54 No. 49B-39), a museum that documents the city's colorful annual carnival, which is second only to Rio de Janeiro in size and importance.


Hotels, New and Historic

Of course, for hotel and meeting needs, Gutierrez recommends her own property, the futuristic, three-year-old Hotel Atrium Plaza. The 77-room property offers as many as nine reconfigurable meeting rooms, which have a total capacity of 450. If a larger space is required for an event, she recommends the Salon Jumbo at the nearby Barranquilla Country Club. A full-service facility, the club offers a theater-style room large enough to accommodate more than 1,000, with banquet and bar services as well.

El Prado Hotel

 

On the other end of the hotel age spectrum is the iconic Hotel

El Prado, a well-preserved relic of 1930- era luxury - a place where one can easily imagine the likes of Humphrey Bogart, Rita Hayworth or the King of Spain sauntering through one of its black and white-tiled salons. Triana says rumors that the 200-room facility has fallen on hard times since it was taken over by the government (it is considered a national cultural monument) are largely overblown. On our visit there, the level of service remained high. Although in some ways - out-of-date bathrooms in some rooms, for instance - the hotel's five star rating seems a bit of a stretch, for the most part the hotel still reflects a relaxed and elegant tropical hospitality. "We have it all here - a great restaurant, 20 meeting rooms that can accommodate up to 600, an Olympic size pool, and a spa," brags Triana.

 

Security and Transportation

Triana and Gutierrez both note that personal security isn't a big problem in Barranquilla. There, crime is much less of a concern than in some other Colombian cities. And getting from one place to another securely is as easy as hailing any one of the 12,000 or so yellow taxis that are everywhere and at all hours of the day and night.


La Cueva Restaurant by Mark Holston; El Prado Hotel by Mark Holston
  
News from our Partners
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  Delta

Delta Air Lines to Begin Second Daily S�o Paulo - Atlanta Flight: March expansion of flights between Delta's U.S. hub in Atlanta, Georgia and the Brazilian business capital underscores growth in Latin America 

 

Delta Continues Expansion in Mexico With Two New Flights to Leon: New daily non-stop flights will begin in December, and connect Leon's El Bajio International Airport with Delta's U.S. hub in Atlanta, Georgia, and with Los Angeles, California, which offers connections to Asia 

 

Latin Trade Group  

Latin Trade Group Proud to Present Annual Latin Trade Symposium On October 25: More than 400 guests from Latin America's top businesses, the public sector and key non-profits will discuss key topics in the hemisphere 

 

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The Latin Trade Symposium - October 25, Four Seasons Hotel, Miami. The Leading Forum for Discussion & Debate About the Americas
Travel News

New Airline Routes and Route Changes

American Airlines will begin daily service between Bogot�, Colombia and its hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in Texas (U.S.) on November 21. The airline is expected to use its new Airbus A319 aircraft on the route, which will run overnight from Dallas/Fort Worth.

 

Mexican airline AeroMexico has restarted service between Mexico City and Cancun, running on

certain dates through November.

Air Canada Rouge

 

Air Canada Rouge has begun operating flights between Toronto, Canada and Cancun, Mexico, six days a week. Beginning December 19, it will increase to two flights daily on the route.

 

U.S.-based American Airlines will begin round-trip service between its Latin America hub at Miami International Airport and Cozumel on November 21, running five days a week.

 

Roatan, Honduras will get new flights beginning
November 23, when American Airlines adds weekly service between Roatan and its hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in the U.S. state of Texas.
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Roatan, Honduras

 

U.S.-based JetBlue Airways will begin round-trip flights between New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and Bridgetown, Barbados, on December 19.

 

American Airlines is adding two flights between Miami International Airport (Florida, U.S.) and St. Kitts, expanding its offerings to to 11 weekly flights on the route, beginning November 21. Service will be twice daily Thursday through Sunday. On the same day, American will also change the schedule of its twice-weekly round-trip flights between St. Kitt's and New York's JFK Airport: Flights will depart New York in the afternoon on Wednesdays and Saturdays and return from St. Kitts in the morning on Thursdays

and Sundays.

 

On November 21, American Airlines will also increase its service between Antigua and New York's

Milan, Italy

JFK Airport to a daily flight.

 

American Airlines will begin daily non-stop service between its Latin American hub at Miami International Airport (in Florida, U.S.) and Milan, Italy's Malpensa Airport on November 21. The service operates as part of U.S.-based American's joint business agreement with British Airways and Iberia. 

 

Hotel News

The 156-room Holiday Inn Express Belem-Ananindeua hotel opened in the Brazilian city's industrial district, near the Hangar Convention and Fair Centre. The hotel has free high-speed Internet in all guest rooms, as well as three on-site meeting rooms and a business center. InterContinental Hotels Group also plans to open the 174-room Holiday Inn Express Porto Velho and the Holiday Inn Express Marilia later this year.

 

The 240-room Viceroy New York opened in Midtown Manhattan, offering free Wi-Fi in all guest rooms and public spaces, a rooftop lounge and a 24-hour fitness center.

 

After an $8 million renovation, Hotel Victor South Beach in Miami Beach, Florida, has re-opened. The renovation includes upgraded guest rooms and lobby, a refurbished outdoor pool and cabana area and two new boardrooms that can seat up to 20 people.

 

Hilton Worldwide's first Home2 Suites by Hilton will open in Latin America on December 7, when the new 97-suite Home2 Suites by Hilton Queretaro opens in Queretaro, Mexico. The business travel-focused extended-stay hotel is located at the main entrance to Juriquilla and includes free Wi-Fi and kitchens in all rooms, a 24-hour business center with mobile printing and a 24-hour fitness center. 

 

Hotel Pipeline

Hyatt's Andaz Peninsula Papagayo will open on December 20 in Costa Rica. The hotel will have 153 guest rooms, three restaurants and a private beach.

 

The Ritz-Carlton will open an 80-room resort on Pearl Island, a private island 45 miles south of Panama City, in 2016. It will include executive retreat spaces, such as an 1,800-square-foot pavilion and meeting room. 

 

Loyalty Program Updates

JetBlue Airways now allows families and small groups to share TrueBlue points with no fees, by allocating their points into a group account. 

 

U.S. Government Shutdown Update

Several national parks in the United States have re-opened after closing due to that nation's partial government shutdown. States are paying for the staffing and upkeep at the parks. 

 
Air Canada Rouge by BriYYZ; Roatan, Honduras by William Willamor; Milan, Italy photo by Silvio Frank Pupo Casco 
  

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