Between 2004 and 2010 there has been an increase of 25% of the number of hotel rooms (11.600 new ones and 11.700 remodelled ones).

Out of all hotel rooms in Colombia only 32% are qualified as four and five stars. This recent investment has been focused on this segment.

Despite this increase, hotel occupation in the principal destinations remains high, in particular in the segments of high income and in hotels directed at business travelers, all-inclusive resorts and ecotourism where the offer still does not meet the demand.

The arrival of international travelers to Colombia increased from 600 thousand in 2000 to almost 1,5 million in 2010, with an average annual growth of 10,6%, almost four times greater than the world average and one of the highest in the region.

Colombia has become established as an important destination for cruise ships in the Caribbean with the three principal ports of Cartagena, Santa Marta and San Andrés. In 2010 cruise ship numbers increased 30,9%, representing the arrival of 401 thousand passengers to Colombia.

Reasons to Invest in Tourism Infrastructure in Colombia

• Strong performance of the Colombian economy.
• International tourism growth in Colombia is above the global average.
• Attractive incentives for investing in the hospitality industry.
• Strategic location and connectivity.
• Growing hotel supply and demand.
• Highly trained employees dedicated to the service industry.
• Colombian tourist destinations are becoming more recognized around the world.
• Significant growth in business and tourism events.
• More multinational companies investing in Colombia.
• Growing hotel industry investment.

For more information about Reasons to Invest in Tourism Infrastructure in Colombia, click here

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Hospitality and Tourism Infrastructure -2012.pdf13.34 MB

Investment Opportunities

Bogotá:

As Colombia's capital city with a population of 8 million, Bogota is the most populaous and biggest urban center in the country. This is Colombia's main cultural, industrial, economic and tourism center and one of the most important cities in Latin America. Bogotá is increasingly being recognized as a tourist destination whose cultural attractions are on par with the world's greatest capitals.

• Products and Segments: History and culture, shopping, golf, Religious tourism, health tourism, events and business tourism (conferences and conventions).
• Opportunities: Entertainment venues, luxury hotels, and limited-service hotels in specific areas.

Cartagena:

The most well-known tourist destination in Colombia on the international level is the beautiful Caribbean city of Caratgena. Known as "The Heroic City" or "The Walled City," Cartagena has the longest protective walls of any city in the western hemisphere (12 km), built in the 17th and 18th centuries to defend the city from pirate attacks.

Renowned for the remarkable preservation of its historic center, the city was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.

With approximately 1 million residents, Cartagena is also an important urban center. It is a growing industrial hub and one of Colombia's most important ports.

• Products and Segments: Recreational tourism, Sun and sand (Barú, Rosario Islands), history and culture, cruises, events and business tourism.
• Opportunities: Cartagena currently has a shortage of resort-style hotels and limited-service hotels for the Mamonal Industrial Zone.

Santa Marta:

Santa Marta is an important cultural, historical, tourist destination situated on an idyllic Caribbean bay. Its proximity to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and Tayrona National Park make the city an unrivalled nature tourism destination. Santa Marta has a population of approximately 450,000.

• Products and Segments: Sun and sand, history and culture, nature tourism: ecotourism, adventure tourism, bird watching, Cruises.
• Opportunities: Resort and ecotourism facility construction. No international brand presence.

San Andrés and Providencia:

Colombia's Archipelago in the Colombian Caribbean is surrounded by a "sea of seven colors" with unparalleled natural beauty. Due to its natural features, biological wealth and the traditions of its inhabitants, UNESCO named the Archipelago as the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve in 2000. The archipelago is a major tourist destination for Colombia and the Central American Caribbean region. Approximately 73,000 people live on San Andrés.

• Products and Segments: Sun and sand, diving, Events and corporate tourism, cruise arrivals.
• Opportunities: Resort construction, full-service hotels, Marina construction.

Coffee Triangle:

Colombia's central region is made up of the departments of Caldas, Quindío, and Risaralda and is known for producing the best coffee in the world. Approximately 1.1 million people live in the Coffee Triangle.

• Products and Segments: History and culture (coffee culture), nature tourism, Adventure tourism, bird watching, agricultural tourism, rural tourism, ecotourism and business tourism in the large cities.
• Opportunities: Ecological and theme hotels, Limited- and select-service hotels in Pereira, Armenia and Manizales for business travelers. No international brand presence.

Santander:

The Department of Santander noted for its impressive geographical diversity which boasts plains, mountains, canyons, rivers and caves. This is a destination for adventure sports. Santander's capital, Bucaramanga, is a university city recognized as an important industrial hub. Approximately 2.1 million people live in Santander.

• Products and Segments: History and culture (colonial towns), golf, Nature tourism: Ecotourism, adventure tourism, rural tourism.
• Opportunities: Ecological and theme hotels for adventure tourism. Hotels for the business market in Bucaramanga. No international brand presence.

Medellín:

Medellin is Colombia's second most populous city and the second most important economic center. Known as the "city of eternal spring" for its pleasant year-round climate. As the capital of the department of Antioquia, it represents more than 8% of the national GDP. The city is known for being one of Colombia's cultural, industrial and academic centers. Approximately 3.7 million people live in Medellín.

• Products and Segments: History and culture, health tourism, festivals and fairs (Flower Festival), golf, shopping. Business tourism and events (conferences and conventions).
• Opportunities: Investment in the business tourism sector to develop event venues.

Cali - Pacific Region:

Cali is Colombia's third largest city (population: 2.8 million) and the capital of the Valle del Cauca department. It is the most important urban, cultural, economic, industrial and agricultural center in Colombia's Pacific Region.

• Products and Segments: History and culture, salsa. Events and business tourism (conferences and conventions). Nature tourism throughout the department and the Pacific region: Ecotourism, bird watching, whale watching.
• Opportunities: Limited- or select-service hotels to meet the growing demand for events held at the Valle del Pacífico Events Center.

Barranquilla:

Barranquilla is one of the main cities on the Colombian Caribbean coast with approximately 1.8 million residents. Besides being an important commercial, industrial and cultural center, Barranquilla has one of Colombia's most important and active maritime and river ports.

• Products and Segments: History and culture, fairs and festivals (Carnival of Barranquilla). Business tourism.
• Opportunities: Business hotels, limited-service hotels in industrial areas. A modern Convention Center is being built that will require lodging facilities nearby.
  
  

Region

Learn all about the major areas that present opportunities for investment in Hotel infrastructure and Tourism:

• Bogotá - cundinamarca
• Triángulo del Café
• San Andrés
• Santa Marta
• Cartagena - Bolívar
• Cali - Valle del Cauca
• Medellín - Antioquia
• Bucaramanga - Santander

Success Stories

• Hilton Hotels Corporation: The American chain Hilton Hotels Corporation opened its first hotel in Bogota’s financial district (73rd Street) and offers about 240 rooms. The hotel targets business tourism, but leaves the door open for vacation tourists.
• Holiday Inn: The hotel chain IHG Holiday Inn invested US$22 million in the Hotel Ciudad Salitre. The Hotel offers 191 rooms, 8 fully-equipped meeting rooms for events and a Convention Center. It is part of the business complex called “Centro Empresarial Arrecife”, which is located between El Dorado and La Constitución avenues.
• Marriott: The American hotel chain Marriott International opened its first hotel in Bogota, located on the southern side of El Dorado Avenue, about 15 minutes away from the airport. The hotel has 10 floors and offers 239 rooms.
• Hotel Ibis: The Ibis Bogota Museo is located beside the International Center (Bogota’s most important business district), near the National Museum, 15 minutes from "La Candelaria" historic district, and 45 minutes away from the Airport. At the hotel opening, Steven Saines, director of operations for Hotels Ibis Latin America, announced that a second Ibis hotel will be opening in Medellin. The construction site is ready and construction will start soon.
• Hyatt: The American hotel chain Hyatt has entered the Colombian tourism industry with the construction of a hotel in Bogota, offering about 335 five-star rooms.
• NH Hotels: The NH group arrived in Colombia opening several hotels. For the time being, they are planning the construction of the NH La 93 Embajada hotel (near Parque de la 93) in Bogota and a hotel in Medellin as well.
• Sonesta: The American hotel chain Sonesta began operating the Hotel Sonesta located in Bogota. This is the third hotel of the Sonesta Chain in Colombia, in addition to the hotels in Barranquilla and Valledupar.
• Sheraton: Sheraton Cartagena is located at El Laguito neighborhood. It is a first-class, full-service hotel with 256 rooms, a wide meeting room for events, a restaurant, a lounge-bar, several lounges and a gym-spa.
• Sofitel: The Sofitel Bogotá Victoria Regia Hotel has been completely remodeled with an innovative design concept and extreme functionality. The hotel presents its renovated rooms, meeting spaces and Basilic restaurant to offer a modern environment to its guests and city visitors.
• Radisson: The hotel chain Royal opened the Hotel Radisson Royal Cali, in the same building as the Hotel Pacífico Royal. This is the first Radisson in Latin America located in a non-capital city. It offers 146 rooms including VIP rooms, as well as business and imperial suites.

Contact

These are just some of the reasons to invest in Hotel Infrastructure and Tourism, read on to learn of more reasons why to make Colombia the destination for your projects.

Investment Specialist: Mónica Sánchez