The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) named Quito, Ecuador one of the top 10 cities in South America for hosting the highest number of international meetings and conventions in 2015. As the city continues to grow in the meetings and conventions market, meeting planners can expect more hotels and cultural offerings that attract groups. Here are five reasons to book a meeting in Quito in the next couple years.
New Hotels
The 150-room Wyndham Quito Airport, located in the Aeropuerto Internacional Mariscal Sucre in Tabalela, opened its doors last March, offering four meeting rooms—a convenient option for groups that need to stay close to the airport. The 150-room San Patricio Hilton Hotel, located between the airport and Cumbaya, is scheduled to open between late 2017 and early 2018. AccorHotels, the Paris-headquartered franchise, is also in the process of constructing the Ibis Hotel on Diego de Almagro and Bello Horizonte streets, and will offer 133 rooms.
Convention-Center Upgrades
The Metropolitan Convention Center is currently under construction and will help Quito attract international meetings and conventions to the region. Located in Bicentennial Park, a green space that used to serve as Quito’s airport, the convention center will span more than 26 miles and not only include event venues, but hotels, restaurants, shops and entertainment spots.
Quiteña Cuisine
Quito’s culinary scene is strongly influenced by Andean and Spanish cuisines, with traditional dishes such as El Locro (a thick stew), El Seco de Chivo (braised goat stew) and La Fritada (a dish made with fried pork). The city continues to open new restaurants—some of which even offer traditional cooking classes for groups—that highlight local flavors.
Craft Beer
Several microbreweries in the city invite attendees to learn more about the brewing process and about the local ingredients that make Quito’s beer standout. Groups can visit Bandido Brewing in the city’s historic old town. Situated inside a Spanish colonial building, the brewpub is famous for housing a chapel inside—just in case attendees want to bring some spirituality into the mix.
Arts & Culture
Quito’s cultural offerings also continue to grow with the debut of “Les Miserables” this month at the Sucre National Theater as well as a performance by Spanish flamenco dancer Maria Pages from Dec. 1-3. Between Sept. 15 and Nov. 13, Quito’s Center for Contemporary Art (CAC) will host the Residencia LARA (Latin American Roaming Art) project, which recruits eight local artists to live in a Latin American city and create an art exhibition based on their experience.
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