Lima: a center for conference, meetings and events tourism

Conference and events tourism holds a privileged position within the sector since it generates increased income for Peru's economy. A representative that participates in an international meeting can spend up to five times more than a traditional tourist– approximately $570 a day– with an average stay of 6 days.

 

Lima features modern buildings, green spaces, and squares of all sizes. It also holds the largest number of hotels, restaurants, shopping centers, art galleries, coffee shops, casinos, theaters, evening entertainment and clubs in the entire country, making it one of the most important and complete cities in Latin America.

 

The City of the Kings, because of its infrastructure, is becoming an important showcase for conference and events tourism. In Latin America it is ranked fourth for events and meetings, according to the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA).

 

In 2014, the capital of Peru hosted COP 20, and it has already been confirmed as the host of other events to come. This year, the World Bank summit will be held in Lima, and in 2016 it will host the APEC events, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad XIV), the Unesco World Congress of Biosphere Reserves, and the 27th International Coordinating Council of Biosphere Reserves, among others. Also worth noting is that in 2019, Lima will host the Pan-American Games.

 

 

As a response to the boom in international events in Peru, construction is has begun on the Lima Convention Center in the San Borja district, a facility with cutting edge technology and the ability to accommodate 10 000 people.

 

The Lima Convention Center will have five levels for conference rooms and another five for service platforms (recreational areas, cafeterias, a dining area and kitchen, a shopping area and a tourist information area). The "Plenary Room" is located on the eighth floor and is designed to hold 3 500 people. Each room will be equipped with a microphone, amplification and speaker system for playing high-quality music, allowing it to meet the international standards established for this type of center.

 

The Lima Convention Center aims to become a venue for large international events thanks to the support of the Lima Conventions Bureau, which promotes the city as an international destination for meetings, offering the best and most varied and complete services and tools needed to put on a successful corporate event. The country's economic stability and the reputation of its different tourist attractions are additional incentives for holding more corporate events in Peru.