On Site: Quito Looks to Add Kempinski Hotels, Among Other Luxury Hotel Brands

QUITO, Ecuador -- Look out Peru and Panama, you could have some company when it comes to Latin American destinations looking to beef up their luxury markets.

As part of Travel Agent's ongoing coverage of the 37th Travel Mart Latin America, we sat down Patricio Gaybor, general director of Quito Turismo, who told us Quito is looking to increase its luxury hotel portfolio to keep up with other Latin American destinations that are doing the same.

"We are working in that direction," he told Travel Agent. "We own four historic buildings in the 'Old Town' and plan to reach out to brands like Six Senses (Hotels, Resorts & Spas), Kempinski (Hotels) and Orient Express (Hotels)."

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And the timing is right for Quito to perhaps get at least two of those brands.

Kempinski Hotels announced in April of last year its re-entry into Latin America with the signing of a management contract for a new luxury resort in Colón Province, Panama. The company now has an active pipeline in the Western Hemisphere, including projects in Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Rio de Janeiro.

In February, Six Senses Hotels, Resorts and Spas announced five new-build properties across five countries. All are scheduled for completion by 2016. The new additions will include the brand’s Western Hemisphere debut, with properties under development in St. Lucia, Dominican Republic and Colombia; its first presence in Bhutan, and the opening of Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain, China at the end of 2013.

"Orient Express isn't just looking at Quito," says Gaybor. "I think they want their first hotel in Ecuador to be in Quito and then they will look at other parts of the country, such as the Galapagos."

Keep visiting www.travelagentcentral.com for more updates from our ongoing coverage of Travel Mart Latin America, which runs through Friday.