Buenos Aires in Argentina continues to attract groups because of its growing infrastructure and culinary offerings.
Between new hotels, convention centers and restaurants, here are five of the latest reasons for groups to meet in Buenos Aires—now.
Alvear Icon
Opened on June 9 in front of the Faena Arts Center, the $100 million Alvear Icon features 159 rooms as well as 50 residences spread across the 34-story building. The hotel can host groups of up to 1,200 attendees in its convention center, complete with a spacious foyer made up of Italian marble and decorated with designer carpets and mirrors. The hotel’s top two floors include a bar and restaurant that tout a 360-degree panoramic view of Buenos Aires. Meeting planners should stay tuned for Glitter restaurant, South America’s first Glatt Kosher deluxe restaurant with its own terrace and capacity for up to 150 attendees (opening September 2017).
Buenos Aires Convention Center
Opening later this year, the about 500,000-sf Buenos Aires Convention Center is located in the city’s Recoleta neighborhood, close to the city’s major museums, and comprises three underground levels that help preserve the landscaped parks above. Integrated solar panels mean the site will comply with the city’s highest sustainability standards, while numerous bus lines, parking spaces and a future underground rail station will ensure connections with the rest of Buenos Aires. The center is currently looking to be licensed to a private operator on a 15-year agreement.
Art Basel
A city with a thriving cultural life and rich artistic heritage, Buenos Aires is the first partner to take on the Art Basel Cities initiative. Art Basel and the city of Buenos Aires will work together to develop and host a series of vibrant cultural events—the first of which will take place in late 2017. Over the coming months, Art Basel will work closely with the government of Buenos Aires, its tourism board and select local arts institutions to create meaningful programming that will complement and amplify the city’s artistic offerings.
Tanta Buenos Aires
Peruvian Chef Gastón Acurio, who helped popularize such dishes as ceviche, opened Tanta Buenos Aires in April. Built into the new Tower Bellini, the restaurant is ideal for groups with more than 8,800 sf amid what looks like an interior jungle complete with skylights. The Peruvian creole cuisine will go beyond ceviche to include everything from salted beef to empanadas and cured lamb.
Free Guided Walking Tours
The city tourism board offers a wide range of free guided walking tours in addition to rowing, running, and tours by bicycle, electric cars and electric scooters and tricycles. While the tourism board started implementing these late last year, they only recently finalized some of the excursions that include a tour of the city’s “football neighborhoods” where groups can explore the city’s various football cities. (Buenos Aires has more than any other city in the world.) and just finalized all of them.
