Meetings Matter Chatter
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Meetings Matter Chatter
Why Travel to Peru? Listen to the Locals
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A chat about all things M&E and Peru with Diana Bauer, owner and operator of Be Peru and Luis Chang, Chief Tourism & Investment Specialist at PromPeru (Peru Tourism Board) in Houston. They discuss why Peru is such a hot destination for MICE attendees and if you've been to Peru before, what you can expect from some new venues and sites.
All right, good afternoon, listeners, and thank you for joining on the latest episode of Meetings Matter Chatter. I'm your host, Nikki McLean, the Director of Account Management for BCD Meetings and Events. Welcome to my two guests that I have today, Diana Bauer from BPuru and Lewis Chang, the Chief Tourism and Investment Specialist at Prom Peru in Houston. Welcome to you both.
SPEAKER_02Hi, Nikki. Thank you. Thanks for having us.
SPEAKER_00Thank you, Vicki. Nikki, it's an honor to be here.
SPEAKER_01Thank you. So I always like to start the episode with a little bit about the background. And so we'll start with you, Diana, but how did you come to be the founder and owner of BeParu? Tell us about your background there.
SPEAKER_02Well, um, I studied hotel management in a university in Venezuela and ended up living in Peru because I married a German-Peruvian um husband. And I work in the hotel industry for many, many years. And then in 2006, I got a job offer to be the sales manager of a major DMC in Lima, Peru. And after two years of working there, I decided to go independent, got the funding from family, and opened BeParu uh basically based on the fact that many of the customers I had um um assisted kept saying, I I want something more personalized. So that's why I opened BePeru. A small, very, very tailor-made, very, very personalized company.
SPEAKER_01I love it. And you you you help support group and FIT leisure as well, right? And mice. Indeed.
SPEAKER_02BeParu has all these areas: group and and FIT leisure, um mice, and also what we call special interests, because we attend special programs for the educational area.
SPEAKER_01I love it. Now, Lewis, tell me a little bit about your background and how long you've been working in the industry to kind of promote business and tourism for Peru.
SPEAKER_00Well, I have a long history of working as a policymaker on development issues in Peru and also a few years in Venezuela. But 10 years ago, I had the chance to come to the US as a permanent resident. So I took the chance, and when I arrived in the US, I joined the from Peru office in Washington, D.C. I was very fortunate. Uh, as that's when I started working on promoting Peru as a mice destination, which was not very well known as a mice destination, unlike as a leisure destination. Uh in 2019, we moved the office from DC to Houston. Um so I continue working on the mice segment until now.
SPEAKER_01And was there any like strategic reason for Houston over DC? Is it just more of a central part of the country, or what was the reasoning there?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, the reason is that uh many exporters um were asking to have an office in central south us because there was a lot of potential. Um the support, the the uh the largest port of the US is look East Houston, um, and also is is the is a gateway to uh the central south part of the US and the Midwest. Um we also have uh an office in New York, an office in Miami. Um so there were three offices on the East Coast and an office in LA. So they wanted to balance the geographical distribution of the offices, and that's why, well, we we we moved from DC to Houston.
SPEAKER_01Okay, that makes sense. Thank you. So now let's talk about how we can travel and transport ourselves to get to Peru. So, you know, I had the lucky experience of being able to experience it firsthand this September when I was on your fabulous fam trip. But I think for me, Peru is truly one of those magical destinations where it feels like you have to have like planes, trains, and automobiles or maybe even sprinter vans to get there. But how would you describe to the listeners how we can get North American, you know, US and Canadian travelers and meeting attendees to get to Lima? Diana, what can you tell us a little bit about um some flights from Europe? And then Luis, I think you have some information about North America.
SPEAKER_02Great. Well, yes, we have great connectivity with basically Europe, that of course extends the connections to Australia, New Zealand, you know, elsewhere, uh, Asia, Africa. Basically, from cities like Paris, Madrid, Amsterdam, we have daily flights with several airlines. And starting this month of December, we are having a direct LATAM Airlines flight from London to Lima, which is it makes us very happy because LATAM Airlines is the airline we mostly use for domestic connectivity inside the country. So being able to come and fly all the way with one airline makes a huge difference.
SPEAKER_01Yes, it definitely does. And what about the US, Lewis?
SPEAKER_00Um, well, uh you may know that Lima is uh is the main gateway to Peru, and Peru is a hub at the heart of South America. So we have plenty of connections and direct flights to all the countries in the Americas, but especially with the US. We have direct flights uh to Lima from seven different airports from coast to coast. So it's LA, uh Houston, Atlanta, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Newark, and New York. We have daily flights, and from some of these airports, we have several flights a day. And we have very good connectivity with uh Panama City, Mexico City, and and Bogota. We are also um on the same time zone as the East Coast right now. So there's no jet lag for US passengers going to Peru. Uh during the spring and and summer, we are in the same time zone as the central part of the US. So Chicago, Houston, Minneapolis, Des Moines, uh, we're on the same time zone. So there's no jet lag. Now, the longest flight, direct flight from the US to Peru is the one from LA. So that's eight hours and 50 minutes. So uh it's not that uh big distance. Very often our clients in the US think that we are um much further than traditional well-known destination as Buenos Aires or Rio de Janeiro, but actually we're closer. We are very close to the US, actually.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I experienced that too. I think it felt like it was a long flight, but not any longer than like if we were to go to Europe or even for myself in Minneapolis to go to Hawaii feels like a very long journey. And I loved the fact that it was literally the same time zone in Lima. And then when we went over to Cusco, it's just one hour difference. So it's just like if I went to New York or something or Florida. That um there's another myth that I think people were asking about before I went on the trip. They were like, Oh, aren't you worried you're gonna get like altitude sickness or motion sickness or anything like that? And I think you can tell us, Diana, that that is a false rumor, correct?
SPEAKER_02Totally, completely false. It's a myth. As a matter of fact, um basically it's really simple. The day before arriving to the high destination you are traveling to, may it be Cusco or Puno, you just have to take it easy. Um, preferably um the not many glasses of wine, but basically the most important thing is drink lots of water. And once you land in the in the destination with altitude, it's very simple. You have to walk very slowly, keep on drinking your lots of water, and um eat as many candy as you can, preferably lemon candy, and during the day, for example, in Cusco, until four o'clock, but not after that, four o'clock in the afternoon, grab your cups of coca tea because that will help you really get used to the altitude. And if your program permits, hop into bed at least for an hour, uh, kind of to reboot your body. And when you wake up or get up, you will definitely feel fine. Basically, trust me, it's a myth. Just have to follow the instructions.
SPEAKER_01Yes, and you gave us very clear instructions. So that's kind of the next thing I want to talk about is of like the accommodations of where to stay, and then some of the Peruvian hospitality. So one thing that I remember that made a huge impression on me from this trip was that you literally thought of everything as the coca tea, as you mentioned, the lemon candies. Um, you had rain ponchos, we had plenty of bottled water. Um, sometimes there were toilet paper for some of the, you know, outside destinations, but you really went above and beyond, you know, any DMC that I've ever traveled with thus far. So I think that was really amazing. And I'm curious if you can kind of tell the listeners, um, because I'm sure you strategically thought through this entire itinerary of what we would be doing, but what um, what why were certain hotels chosen and why do the people of Peru make it such a magical experience for the attendees?
SPEAKER_02Uh, well, Luis, we could talk about this both of us. Basically, I'll start with a little why we chose these hotels. Um, the group you you were part of was specifically a group that is driven by mice, right? You are basically mice buyers. So we know as a fact that we had to provide services, especially the hotel services that were um at the level of what is expected, especially when you compare them with international options. So um, Luis organized that the Belmont chain, uh the Belmont Hotel chain and trains and cruises uh gave us um, for example, the Harambingham service hotel, uh sorry, the Harambingham train to go to Machu Picchu. And at the same level of very good high-end services, the Marriott uh company, which has in Lima and in Cusco excellent property. So that is why we stayed in the JW Marriott, El Convento in Cusco, and the West End that is also a Marriott hotel. So basically, it was to um make you live the experience that all your mice clients will expect when you come. Okay. Um, then bueno, Luis, we have other options, right, that we would have loved to include, but the itinerary didn't let us like a very Peruvian uh chain, which is called Incaterra. Incaterra is a hundred percent Peruvian company. They have compared their services in the past with the Aman chain type hotels um in very um autochtonous sites. They they keep themselves very well integrated in the environment where they have built, but with exquisite um decoration. But anyway, that'll be for next trip, Nikki.
SPEAKER_01Okay. No, the the properties were all very, you could just tell it was very well thought through. They were very comfortable, very gracious, um, you know, luxurious beds and meeting spaces, and the food was fantastic. So it really was, it was really, really thought through. One other comment, and I I don't know if he comes with every trip, but you picked out an amazing tour guide named Chris, who I think all of us will remember. And we all kind of linked with him on LinkedIn and Facebook, but he's so amazing. So why did you choose him to lead us on most of the days that we had our tours and sites?
SPEAKER_02Well, basically, I've worked with Chris ever. Oh, we have worked together ever since I opened Biperu. Uh, he was very young 15 years ago, he was even single. Um I mentioned this because he's now he's married and we bring the wife along several times. Yeah. So um Chris is apart from being in love with his country, he knows Cusco so well. He is also an archaeologist. So he is the best combination. He knows it all. Uh, he was brought up uh in Cusco and spent his weekends in unique spots that we are now able to include in our programs like Warokondo, because he knows exactly where we're going and what has to be told about these specific areas. So he is he's the best we can have. Fortunately, he has a brother that was exactly as well trained as he is. So when one is not available, we have the other one.
SPEAKER_01Oh, it's like a tag team. Oh, that's funny. I don't think I knew that. Well, that's good. They're they're an amazing family, and I do think the archaeologist uh tie-in is is especially interesting and unique, especially for those people that are truly interested in like the why and the how and how are some of these you know venues and uh uh sites created because it's it's like magical. So that's amazing.
SPEAKER_03It is okay.
SPEAKER_01So, Lewis, we get this a lot. You know, I know that Peru has been on a lot of people's wish lists. It's usually a bucket type list trip that our incentive attendees want to go on. So, why, in your opinion, is Peru one of the hottest destinations for meetings and events.
SPEAKER_00Um, when talking about what makes Peru a uniquely wonderful destination, I always love to refer to the three Cs for people to remember. So the first C is choice of attractions. Peru has such a diversity of attractions, it's not only Machu Picchu, but I could say that we have four types of very diverse attractions. The first one is um we have a long history. Peru is the oldest country in the Americas, it's 5,000 years old. We have the uh the most uh ancient city in the Americas, which is Kara. That's why we say we are 5,000 years old. Uh we have a lot of history and cultural treachers. We are the second most mega diverse country in Asia on the planet. So you find so many breathtaking uh landscapes from the seaside, desert, snow-covered mountains, colorful mountains, lovely valleys, and of course the mighty Amazon forest. So everything in one single country. And that diversity of landscapes allow you to practice many, many types of adventure activities. So it's also a paradise for adventurers. And last but not least, in terms of attractions, Peru has been awarded the world's leading culinary destination for 10 years, and we have the best restaurant in the world according to the world 50 best list. So you eat very well. That's the first C choice of attraction. The second C is closeness, and we are I already mentioned how close we are to the US and all the connectivity and so on. And the third C is comfort, comfort at its best. We have um award-winning hotels, which are among the best hotels in Central and South America, according to uh Travel and Nature Magazine, Condenast, uh the hotels you already mentioned, which are lovely, and three of the top luxury trains in the world: two Belmont trains and one um Inca Rail train, which are really, really spectacular. So choice of attraction, closeness, and comfort. And if you combine all those uh different factors, you can craft so many wealth factors for your clients in Peru. That's why we say it's a very hot destination right now.
SPEAKER_01Yes, and I mean it sounds like you can make very lots of different itineraries. So, Diana, tell me a little bit about some other groups that you know what you would present for an incentive group option.
SPEAKER_02Look, for example, I I was uh we always uh end up talking a lot of about incentives. I just wanted to mention that Peru has also is has also started to become a very interesting destination for meetings, for congresses. Uh the city of Lima has already relaunched their uh the convention center of the city of Lima, which is hosting, starting to host great Congress Inside Meetings. We're gonna have APIC meeting next year again. Um, but anyway, regarding the incentive trips, there are so, so many destinations we can combine, always based on the client's expectations, the length of stay. But what I have to say and admit is that any trip you make to this country will involve great dining, wonderful meals, based not only on these exquisite um creations by the famous chefs like Gaston Agurio or Virgilio, but basically every single person in this country that has access to a kitchen cooks well. Also, there's, as Luis said, there's so many amazing spots. Um confirming this um uh the facility to have great trains, good um flights that take you not here and there. And also, what is most important is the Peruvians love music and dance, especially when it comes to their traditional from their hometown, from their festivities. So basically those incentive trips are always full of color, full of full of life, noisy, but nice, noisy.
SPEAKER_01Color. And I remember the hats that we saw, and you explained kind of the significance around why uh the women and the men wore certain hats, which I thought was fascinating. But you're right, it always comes down to that culture and wanting to immerse the attendees in that local experience and make sure that they're truly experiencing the destination in which they're visiting, which I think is fantastic. Um, what are some new parts of Peru that the listeners should consider for their itineraries?
unknownLuis.
SPEAKER_00Uh well, um, I I think one one of the hottest products right now are the Amazon cruises. So that's that's very high-end as a luxury product. For um three, four days and three nights, you can go into uh an amazing, pristine, virgin part of the Amazon forest, uh almost untouched by the human being. And uh you you get into a natural resource as big as Costa Rica, uh, and you uh as we say in a poetic way, you and Mother Nature become one in those four days. Um that's very very high-end. Um for the more adventurous uh person, we recommend the rainbow mountains. There are two rainbow mountains, uh, one is very very uh demanding to reach, but the other one that we did with with you and and Diana, uh Palcoyo is is a lovely part, but uh it's it is more for adventurer people uh because we you have to go up to 17,000 feet above sea level. Um so those are very hot products, that's breathtaking, um delightful experiences. And um we also always recommend to do the traditional circuit um Cusco, Puno, Arequipa, which you now you can do that with the Andean Explorer, which is a Belmont train, um, with all the luxury you need.
SPEAKER_01Wow, that sounds fantastic!
SPEAKER_02Sorry for interrupting. The both the luxury cruises uh Luis mentioned and the Andean Explorer are great products in itself because they include everything for you. You do not have to worry about where am I taking them for lunch and where are we having dinner? In the cruises, everything is included: excursions, meals, entertainment, as well as on the train, the Andean Explorer that Luis just mentioned.
SPEAKER_01That's awesome because I think a lot of attendees and meeting planners are looking for that kind of all-inclusive so that they're not having to liaise with different vendors. And like you said, think about the different meals. It's kind of all packaged together for them, which is really nice. Um, so kind of the crown jewel that everyone, you know, feels like they need to see or wants to see when they come is Machu Picchu. So, what can you tell us about visiting that fabulous site?
SPEAKER_02Well, basically, indeed, we still consider it our crown jewel, as you just have said. Although I must say, always bringing back what I learned from our super guide Chris, there are 20,000 um archaeological sites in only the state of Cusco. So imagine all we have to discover. Yes. But well, we have managed. I always say, I always repeat this. The Incas that lived in Machu Picchu had an excellent marketing manager because it has managed to become famous and continue to be famous still. So basically, it's very easy. This is a very long day when you have to go to Machu Picchu, but it's really worth it. It's a train ride, three hours going if you leave from the city of Cusco or an hour and a half if you go from Oriente Itamo. You get there, you ride a bus 25 minutes to the entrance of the ruins, you of the archaeological remains. You visit the site, not more than three hours, because we need to control the time inside to give everybody the chance to see it. And Machu Picchu is a protected uh patrimony. So we have to be very careful respecting the time, the rules. Okay. And so, well, after the visit, you come back down and on the train you've taken, you can or have lunch in town, or maybe you have had lunch on board your Hirum Bingham, and then you're ready to come back to Cusco or uh. So it'll be a full day program, but trust me, it'll be worth it, especially if you ride back home on the Hirum Bingham, because they make sure you do not notice the three hour three-hour trip because they keep you busy on board.
SPEAKER_01Between the entertainment car and the bar car and the fabulous meal that they give you. You're right. You don't even think that you're on it for three hours. So that's amazing. And then what about going to um Luis mentioned? I did not know there was more than one Rainbow Mountain. I think you said you took us to one, but tell me a little bit about that journey and what it would take to get there.
SPEAKER_00Do you mean Polco, the one we went to? Yeah. So it takes us three hours to go to Polcoyo, so it does okay. But once you arrive, you don't have to hike. You just walk. You just walk, you know, a bit a little bit uphill. It's not you don't have to hike. The thing is that you have to do it slowly because you are going to be at 17,000 feet. But the scenery is really breathtaking. And you can walk for more than an hour and you're going to see more and more different colors. So you see the turquoise, the purples, the burgundies, the greys, the uh the light blues, all combining in something spectacular you haven't seen anywhere else. And then you have um you can make several stops. We we call them miradores, uh, from which you have a a great view, and for a very, very, very, very, very fit people, you just go to the the third one. So it's worthwhile. Um it's something unique. So um Balcoya was worthwhile, unlike the Vinicunka, which is the other one, but the other one is much more demanding. You have to get up very early in the morning, 4 30, you are picked up at 4 30, and then you are taken to a place that you have to walk for uh a couple of hours, and then you are in a very high altitude, and to reach the peak of vinicunca is an extra an extra effort. So I I think uh Diana chose the right one, the one which uh was okay for us. But as I'm as I mentioned, because it's so high, it's it is more for people who have more an adventure up spirit.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and I think that's part of what is great about working with a company like yours, Diana, is that you probably do a lot of discovery and qualification and understanding like what is the demographic of the group, what are the interests, what are their fitness levels. That way, you know, you pick the right choices for them as to what they're going to. Because I think, you know, our group, there were definitely some people that made it all the way to that third stop. Myself, I think I was happy just stopping at stop one and sitting there and relaxing and watching the views and taking photos and you know, having conversations with people as they pass by. But yeah, it really is um, it's really a sight to see. And I keep, since I've been there, I keep seeing stuff, whether it's on Instagram or travel magazines that I read, different things, it's like it's coming up as this new destination. How long has it been available to use for commercial use?
SPEAKER_02Um, let's say, Luis, something about eight years, not more than that.
SPEAKER_00That's right. It's not the those are very, very new discoveries. And when we ask our guy, what how is it that we didn't know about them uh long ago? And uh probably the explanation is that because of the climate change, these these were snow covered mountains. And once they we lost them this snow because of the um increase of the temperature, we managed to see all those colors, which are different minerals. Because we our mountains are very rich in minerals, you know. Peru is a mining country, but we didn't know that the these minerals have so different colors and they combine in in a very exciting way.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, definitely. As a matter of fact, depending on the how sunny the day is, you will see, you will always see colors, but maybe uh brighter or darker, but still you can see at least six, seven different colors.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it's so amazing. I I I put together, I think I sent this to you, like a I think it was like a 51 slide PowerPoint of all my photos from the trip and just kind of some notes and things like that that I wanted to remember. And that was one of my favorite days because I wore a bunch of bright colors that day and I felt like I kind of blended in with the mountains, which were so beautiful and colorful. And you literally cannot find that anywhere else in the world. So it's definitely a once-in-a-lifetime uh experience for sure.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely, absolutely. As a matter of fact, your slideshow is wonderful.
SPEAKER_01Oh, thank you. Thank you. I spend many, many hours on it. So I hope that uh I might put some music or something into it, but I knew we were doing this podcast episode, so I wanted to save some of the secrets for that too. But so for those that weren't on our amazing trip, can you kind of do a quick rundown of some of the things that we did, some of the venues that I wanted to kind of highlight? Um, and and because we started off in Lima, obviously. That's where everyone flew into. So I'll diana kind of let you lead through this uh itinerary for us.
SPEAKER_02Okay, absolutely. So well, uh everybody landed from uh different origin um origins from the states and Canada. We started in Lima, and in Lima it was kind of quick because we needed, we really wanted to take everybody to Cusco, but we took it to uh iconic spots. First of all, downtown, which is a must, uh, where we kind of learn how and why the city of Lima was founded and nowadays what it means to the basically government system and the economy of the country. So we have a we had a quick um walk through Main Square, where we have a like many of the other Latin American uh cities or capitals, the cathedral, the presidential palace, city hall. Then in one of the streets very near the main square, we have Casa de Aliaga, which is the only house that uh still is the home to the original family that built it downtown Lima, because basically everybody moved out to the residential areas. But the Aliaga family still lives there. And fortunately, they have opened the house for us to use as a museum or a venue spot um for groups, not big, 40-50, but it's a unique site, especially because we can combine that with after Casa de Aliaga, we go direct to the airport of Lima and then we board our flight to continue to Cusco, which is exactly what we did. With a little stop at the Cordano Bar, which is a bar that has also existed in Lima for many, many years, and they they're very famous because of their butifaras, which is a very Peruvian sandwich. Okay, so well, then we arrived in Cusco, and indeed we tried to make everybody rest for a while.
SPEAKER_01You did, yes.
SPEAKER_02We had no issues with altitude because the minute we landed, we went straight to Urubamba, which is located um in the Sacred Valley, which is lower in altitude than the city of Cusco. So it'll help us get used to altitude even better than if we stay in Cusco. There we had a couple of nights, we visited uh great places like Maras, the salt mines, famous because of their pink salt, and Moray, which is the agricultural site, the um quechuas used in the income times to experiment with crops. That day we took you to a unique brand new spot called uh Hacienda Silva, which is in the little town of Guarocondo. Why am I saying it's a brand new spot? It had been kept under covers, but we finally talked to the family and said, You have a you have a jewel in your hands. So they opened the house for us, and now we're developing the specific venue for stops for our groups. That day we prepared for you a great lunch based on Pachamanca, which is um in the earth uh cooking. After that, we had a little show of one of the examples of the celebrations we have in Cusco to honor the Virgin of El Carmen. And then, well, we continued the days. We had our full day to Machu Picchu, we uh boarded um going with a Bistodome train that picked us up in the train station of the hotel we were staying at. And on the way back, we took the wonderful Hiram Bingham that, of course, gave us dinner and lots of entertainment and the observatory coach. And uh, well, we had also the chance to see Machu Picchu itself. We even um had the time to sit and rest inside the ruins. Remember, we we took a break. We all took a break together. Yeah, yeah, we did, and well, the following day we had this unique discovery of the rainbow mountain called Palcoyo, which we've already talked about. And um we organized for you all the best options of unique um lunches and dinners and spots for you to see so you could kind of get the feeling of what we have and maybe trespass the information, or give the information to your clients. And we also have the chance to visit the city of Cusco, of course, which has great, great spots to visit, like Coricanta or the Temple of the Sun, Main Square, and maybe some shopping of alpaca products.
SPEAKER_01A few of us might have spent some money down there, yes, and are still obsessed with alpacas, yes.
SPEAKER_02Well, it's improving Peruvian economy.
SPEAKER_01So and very unique gifts for those who might be receiving them for the holidays. So sh don't tell anyone, but very fun. And it was it was such a joy to experience some of those unique venues and the meals. I mean, like you said, I I am not a good cook, so I will never tout that about myself. But I mean, every meal just I felt like kept getting better and better. So um, it was such a a unique dining experience for those of us as well. Um, okay, so we talked about a lot about what we did, but is there anything coming? Is there anything that our listeners should be aware of as far as are there any new hotels opening or meeting spaces that they should know about as they're thinking about beyond 2024, maybe into 2025 or 2026?
SPEAKER_02Luis, do you want to comment on that?
SPEAKER_00Um, I think you you have more knowledge about the intercontinental. I think uh I don't want you to, I don't want to ruin your good news you have. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Well, basically what we must say is that there is a new airport being built in the area of Cusco, which will not be inside the city that's right now. Um I just I don't have the exact information of when it will be open, but it's in the process of being built.
SPEAKER_00Okay. I I would add that uh Peru, uh the Lima Airport is going to have um a second runway um in January 2025. So everything is, and I think a new complex of stores, shops, and new things. So is so the Lima Airport is going to be a very exciting place to arrive in and to depart from.
SPEAKER_01Oh wow. I mean, I already thought it was pretty nice, but adding a runway and some more shopping and and dining will be fantastic. And then indeed.
SPEAKER_02And they are trying to um diversify the existing terminal with the one that's going to be new because we want to go back to the same or increase the amount of flights in and out from that airport because, as Luis said earlier, we are a hub. So, anyway, what's new? What's on its way? Intercontinental Hotels Group is building an intercontinental property in Meira Flores, which has is going to have a beautiful view of the ocean, of the Pacific Ocean. And of course, I'm sure they are going to have wonderful meeting rooms. Um, then the JW Marriott in Lima has already refurbished their meeting spaces and their restaurants. Um, and they are have started working on refurbishing all their rooms. So by 2025, it's going to be basically a brand new property. Um, as I mentioned before, new products, see uh Hacienda Silva in Warokondo. And um, well, I also wanted to um talk a bit more about this convention center I mentioned before, because it has been open for many years now, uh, but now it is um acquiring more importance because we are kind of all of us, uh public and private uh enterprises are working on promoting it because it's really, really a wonderful site. It's really going to be good for good venues, big venues, important venues. And the location is beautiful because just next to the national theater. So it's a great site for um like a Peruvian show, when you finish your your final day of Congress, you can do something really spectacular in the national theater. And then, well, um, we cannot um leave out talking about the Tambo de Linca, which is the hotel you we all stayed at when we were in Uruguamba. Tambo de Linka is a luxury collection hotel, part of the Marriott chain, but they have distinguished themselves not only because of their wonderful rooms, but because they have one of the most spectacular spas in South America. They've been, they have won several prizes because of that. And their uh sister hotel or brother hotel, which is the Western in Lima, it's the only hotel with 300 rooms. In case anybody wants a big property, there you go. It's the only one that is as big as that in the city of Lima.
SPEAKER_01Okay. Yeah, and that's where we stayed uh the first night before we flew to Cusco, correct? Okay. And then I also stayed on my last night. Um, there's a lovely, was it a Wyndham hotel that's right by the airport there? And it was so convenient, clean, modern, and so easy. I mean, literally the next morning when I had to get up early, you just walk across the street. So it's a very easy transfer.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely. And that that saves you at least an hour traffic from wherever you you're staying in in town. So it gives you a couple of hours more of sleep.
SPEAKER_01It does, it does, which we can always appreciate when traveling. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Absolutely.
SPEAKER_01Okay, so it's getting to be lunchtime here where I'm at. So let's talk a little bit more about the food and just the overall kind of culture of Peru. So one thing that I realized honestly from I think the moment that I landed, and one of your uh transportation and your guides was telling me that you're really thought of as this global agricultural resource. And I didn't realize that. Like, what are some of the foods that you produce and what are you exporting to other parts of the world?
SPEAKER_00So we are the number one supplier of several agricultural products to the US: asparagus, blueberries, and quinoa. So we are the number one. But we also are a significant supplier, an important supplier of grapes, avocados, mangoes, coffee, cocoa, and citrus products. We used to be a great supplier, and we are a great supplier of mining uh products, minerals and metals. So we are a big crush uh producer of copper, gold, silver, lead. But we did so well in producing agricultural products because because of the the climate privileged situation of Peru, that agricultural products have overtaken the mineral exports as exports to the to the US. We are also very good in fishing, so we have a fishing industry, we are uh a global supplier of fish milk. Um so we we have mining, fishing, and agricultural products. Um and then we we are an important supplier to to the US and to China also.
SPEAKER_02And we also sell a lot of gold to Europe.
SPEAKER_01Oh, interesting. Okay.
SPEAKER_02Yes, indeed. And and well, we we get income out of everything, so we even sell our garbage to Japan. So they use it for this thing. So anything that can produce taxes is good for us.
SPEAKER_01You guys are very smart thinking of every last resource you can sell. So that's genius, right? Yeah. Well, I think you both mentioned earlier at some point in the cast that like you're really seen as like the foodie capital. Well, Lima is the foodie capital of Peru, but you have some of the world's most renowned restaurants down there too, that I don't think people realize. They think of like New York or LA or you know, Paris or London. But let what's new with your food scene? What can you tell us about any kind of up-and-coming restaurants, chefs, cuisine that we should know about?
SPEAKER_02Uh, well, okay. Well, basically we I can tell you about the ones that exist, and I can tell you a bit about those that we think are coming up. Um, the ones that you have mentioned that are in the top tens or top 50s are, for example, Central, which belongs to Virgilio Martinez, and it's just next to Colle, which belongs to his wife, Pia Leon. They both have been part of the best 50s, if not once, maybe twice. I don't really know how many times each. But then we have younger chefs like uh Jason. Um, he was he is married to a French girl and he studied uh cuisine in France, opened a restaurant in a Peruvian restaurant in France, and realized that he wanted to come home. So he opened Awitcha, which is a restaurant that is located in Barranco, which is very trendy in the city. Um so he has this new uh concept of Peruvian fusion cuisine, and then we have Aaron, uh, which is not a restaurant, but he has opened a very unique bar called Carnival. And basically, all the drinks you can buy there look like a carnival. They're full of color and shapes and unique glassware, it's wonderful. But there is something we must not forget that is the fact that Peruvian cuisine was put on the map by Gaston Acurio. Gaston is this famous Peruvian chef that decided to make our cuisine famous. Don't we leave Luis? We owe him that, don't we?
SPEAKER_00We do, we do. Um Gaston went to um uh the a French school. Uh he married um a European lady, and the two of them set up a restaurant uh in the it was in the early 2000s, uh um Astreet de Gaston, which was the very first one Nouvelle Cuisine restaurant in Lima. And that's where all the revolution started, and he's the one who started, you know, um the outreach of Korean cuisine in different parts of the world. And from then, um Virgilio um Martinez, which you mentioned, which who runs the top number one restaurant in the world was he used to work with a gastro at the beginning. So uh all of this um generation of chaps of new people that has put Peru in the map of hot cuisine, they are the ones who are um the builders of our so famous gastronomical scene in Peru.
SPEAKER_02And one thing I want to add uh really is that for example, Virgilio, Gaston also, they have um opened social responsibility programs as a part of their businesses. For example, Gastón uh sponsors a little school south of Lima to train new chefs, people from humble origins to give them the possibility of a new of a career. And also Virgilio works with agriculturers in lost spots in Cusco. So they're really trying to kind of give back, right?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, no, that's fantastic. And I think you know, you've mentioned a lot of different cuisines here and it and some great restaurants. So hopefully the listeners can catch this. And if not, we can put some of these names and website links in our show notes so that people can be able to look for those if they're coming. So one thing I was thinking about is we've spent a bulk of this conversation talking about if it was somebody's first time coming to Peru. But as you both know, as you know, tried and true experts in this in this region and country, like there are people that have been to Peru before. So, you know, again, what can they expect that's new and different from maybe their first time coming?
SPEAKER_00Well, as I as I mentioned earlier, I I think usually the uh the the the itineraries go to Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Now I always say you have time or you've come for a second time, go to the Amazon forest to have a different experience, um, which is quite different from what you saw during your first trip in Peru. So you could go to Madre de Dios and get into one of these wonderful luxury lodges, walk on the tree's canopies and uh do all the bird watching and enjoy the deep Amazon forests and starry skies as you've never seen in your life, or go and take the Amazon cruise in Iquitos, which is up north. Um also, we always recommend the circuit I mentioned, uh Cusco Purno Arequipa, uh, which is really, really beautiful. You go to Arequipa is a um colonial gem, and uh you could go extend your trip to the Kolka Valley, you see all these wonderful huge green terraces left by the Incas, and watch the condo the condors and go to the one of the deepest, the second deepest canyons in the world, which is the Kolka Canyon, and so on. So there are many things to do. You you might want to watch whales on the northern coast of Peru from July to October. So the these giant whales come to Peru from Antarctica um to reproduce themselves. And then once they finish, they go back to Antarctica. So that's that's a spectacle. Uh on the and on the also on the northern coast, we have a string uh of different archaeological sites of different cultures called the the moche route. Um that's um very, very interesting. If you are interested in knowing more about history and pre-Inca cultures, um that's a very nice place to go. And last but not least, we have the um we have some waterfalls um in the Amazon forests um that that was covered by BBC uh sometime, and those are very near the Quelep Fortress, which is another prank, uh very well preserved archaeological site, and there is a subsuspending cable car that you can use to get into Kuala, and very nearby you have uh Gokta, Yamiya, and all these beautiful waterfalls. So um you should spend many, many weeks in Peru.
SPEAKER_01You have sounds like it. Sounds like people need to come multiple times. And Diana, I'm sure you get a lot of requests, right? Yeah, you've got to at least come twice, but you probably get a lot of mice requests. So is there anything new that you've seen that people are trying to combine some of these destinations that Lewis just talked about?
SPEAKER_02Uh well, basically I have to go uh and tell you about the last request I received. By the way, it's confirmed. Yeah, normally people for a mice trip ask for one destination because mice uh incentive trips tend to be five days, four nights, right? They're short. But this one is going to be 12 days, 11 nights, and they are combining Lima, Cusco, and Bolivia. I am so happy for Bolivia because they have unique destinations. They have this gorgeous place called the Salario Uni. It's a salt flat. And this is this is the most wonderful thing I've ever received as an RFP. Uh I worked on it, and the reason is that being Bolivia not famous for incentive as a incentive destination, they are they are also proud of being able to receive the group because, well, it's a group that is willing to experience different, totally different. They are uh ready to even um spend more in uh discovering the place than what can that what what the hotel can cost. So there you go. That is something really unique. It's going to be a great, a great program.
SPEAKER_01Yes, that sounds like it. You'll have to report back and let us know how that goes. I mean, I feel like I could talk to the two of you for days. And I I spent, you know, almost nine days with you, but it this has been such a fun conversation. But what is we're gonna do a couple things. So we're gonna do final thoughts. So, like, what is one thing that you want the listeners to remember about Peru today? And I'll let each of you answer that. And then we're gonna do a little fun fact question. It's kind of a personal one that I'll throw in at the end. So let's start with uh Diana, what are your final thoughts on Peru today and what you want the listeners to remember?
SPEAKER_02Well, a bit of a bit of reconfirming what I said earlier in the podcast is that Machu Picchu is definitely the best known archaeological remain in Peru. But beware that there are more than 20,000, meaning you have to come back more than once. There is so much, so much Peru to be seen. Um, and when you come to Peru, wow, everybody's gonna love to have you here. So remember that you're always welcome in this country.
SPEAKER_01Wonderful. And Louis?
SPEAKER_00I would add to what um Diane has just said, um and to point out to Peruvian hospitality. People are very very warm. I think Peruvians you they like they they very much like to talk, eat, party, dance, sing, and welcome international visitors. So wherever you go in Peru, you are going to face with smiling faces, you're going to see smiling faces because they love to talk to you. Um and I I think being exposed to another culture as as you did during your the farm trip and interact with locals and talking to them, talking to Chris, talking to the people, uh, talking to the guy who gave us this class of uh Pisco Sour, um that makes the experience very rich. And I think that's an important component of what makes an experience unforgettable. So it's the human contact that makes things unforgettable, and then you can make all your uh your own stories of what you lived because of the human contact.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that human connection. No, absolutely. We felt that each and every day that we were there. So thank you for that. Um okay, so let's do the fun facts. So I'm gonna start with you, Lewis. If you were not working for the job that you have today with Prom Peru in Houston, what would you do with your time? How would you spend your days?
SPEAKER_00Um, two things. Um, two years ago, I graduated as an executive coach. So um I'm very much willing to be um an effective communication executive coach. Um I'm trying to build up my own operating system, but bit by bit. Uh I still love my full-time job. And the other thing is um I follow your advice to study photography because I like taking photographs, but I'm not a professional guy. I'm just to it, you know, out of uh because I I I have my iPhone and that's it. But uh I would I would like to become a kind of uh professional photographer one day.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, you do take very thoughtful photos. You made sure everyone looked good, you knew the right angle and the lighting. So yeah, I was very impressed with that too, even as your little hobby. So I like that. And Diana, what would you do? You you're so busy with your company, but like what would you do if you weren't doing this?
SPEAKER_02Well, I I I don't know. I always say, what would I be, what I what would I be doing if I didn't do what I'm doing now? And I definitely always come back to the same. I would love to teach. Whoever wants to learn what I do, what I have been doing the last 15 years. Um I learn every day, so I'm sure there's so much I could teach. I'm hoping that somebody would be interested in maybe duplicating what Luis and I do, what I do. There is so much to teach about it. Um, that's what I would love to do. Teach. I love that. My knowledge to somebody.
SPEAKER_01Yes. Well, and I feel like you both just, you know, you shared so much knowledge today in this episode. So I want to thank you again, um, all you listeners for listening to today's episode of Meetings Matter Chatter. We hope that we've inspired you to, if not, take your first trip to Peru or come back if you're looking to experience something new and exciting to further your Peruvian experience. So I want to thank both of my guests, Diana and Lewis, for joining today. And we'll let you uh wish everyone a good afternoon.
SPEAKER_02Thank you. It was lovely being with you.
SPEAKER_00Thank you very much indeed, Nikki. That's a pleasure.
SPEAKER_01Thank you so much.