Tourism

Uruguay is one of the most glamorous destinations in South America, with stylish beach resorts and unspoiled countryside. It attracts 2.3 million upscale tourists each year, of which 1.8 million are from Argentina.

A destination not to be missed

Minister of Tourism J. Pedro Bordaberry is eager to attract more visitors from the United States. “Our location makes us an ideal destination for people touring across Latin America,” he says.

Uruguay means “river of the painted birds” in the Guarani language, and it is home to abundant wildlife. There are numerous freshwater rivers, lakes and streams inland, and the coastline has hundreds of miles of white-sand beaches. The best-known resort is Punta del Este, the city that never sleeps. It offers yacht and fishing clubs, golf courses, casinos, luxury hotels, shopping, restaurants, and beautiful beaches for swimming and sunbathing.

Montevideo, the capital city, lies on the banks of the Río de la Plata, across from Buenos Aires. It combines colonial Spanish, Italian and Art Deco architecture, with a picturesque Ciudad Vieja (Old City). Visitors can enjoy the countryside and explore the nation’s gaucho (cowboy) past on an estancia, a traditional working ranch. There are also thermal spas in the northwest of the country.

Bordaberry points out that eco-tourism is becoming increasingly popular, with Uruguay ranked sixth in the world for environmental sustainability, ahead of Brazil, Argentina and Costa Rica. “Uruguay is a naturally beautiful country,” he says, “and there aren’t many of those left in the world.”

Radisson Montevideo Victoria Plaza Hotel

“Montevideo combines business and leisure.”

The five-star Radisson Montevideo Victoria Plaza, built in 1996 at a cost of USD 130 million, is one of the most spectacular hotels in South America. Located in the city’s commercial and financial district, it has every amenity for the business and convention traveler.

The hotel has 255 luxurious rooms, with views of the La Plata River, the bay or the city of Montevideo. There are 190 spacious deluxe guest rooms, 59 executive suites, four ambassador suites, and one presidential suite. All are equipped with two telephone lines with data port, cable televi-sion, voice mail and a complementary newspaper.

The hotel’s Spa Victoria is the only five-star health and fitness facility in town, featuring a pool, gym, aerobics classes, 100-meter (109 yards) indoor jogging track, sauna, Jacuzzi and solarium. The hotel also contains a variety of bars, cafés and restaurants, including the Arcadia on the 25th floor, offering wonderful panoramic views.

Managing Director Peter Schwarté says that the Radisson has the largest convention facilities in the city, with more than 26,000 square feet of meeting space. “Montevideo is a good location for congresses, combining business and leisure,” he says. The Radisson Montevideo Victoria Plaza has the latest equipment and a dedicated planning staff to make any event a success.

The hotel offers extra amenities for corporate travelers, such as a 24-hour business center with free Internet access. “We also have a 24-hour check-in/check-out, which means that guests can come any time and leave whenever they like on the day of departure without an extra charge,” adds Schwarté.

Sheraton Montevideo Hotel

“Sheraton Montevideo is the perfect hotel for business and leisure travelers.”

The five-star Sheraton Montevideo Hotel is one of the city’s newest hotels, offering comfort, excellent service, a relaxing atmosphere, and a focus on customers. It is located in the secure and fashionable residential area of Punta Carretas, with direct connection to the Punta Carretas Shopping Center, with its exclusive boutiques, a food court, 12 movie theaters and children’s play areas.

The hotel is close to Montevideo’s golf club and two blocks away from the Ramblas, the riverside drive along the coastline of the Rio de la Plata (River Plate), and it is therefore ideal for walks along the beach. This road provides easy access to every highway in the city, to Carrasco airport, downtown Montevideo, and the industrial zones. It is situated only three miles from the harbor where ferries to Buenos Aires depart.

In the airy and pleasant lobby of the hotel, one can find a bar, shops, and a breakfast room which becomes the Las Carretas restaurant featuring Mediterranean cuisine at lunch and dinner. One week every month there are country-theme food festivals with music. The hotel’s health club and fitness center is located on the top floor, with a swimming pool, solarium, Jacuzzi, and sauna.

With such a wide array of facilities, Jorge Stein, General Manager, says his main priority is to ensure the highest quality of service. Training is ongoing and extensive, much of it in English, providing guests with true five-star service. “The quality of service combined with the ‘individuality’ encourages many repeat guests,” says Stein, adding, “A comfortable personal approach starts with the way we welcome our customers. We are worth the Sheraton name, which is a tremendous advantage. In Montevideo we are leaders in service and quality in the hospitality industry.”

The fully air-conditioned rooms and suites are all equipped with smoke detectors and sprinklers, two telephone lines, mini-bar, color television, clock radio, hair dryer and in-room safe. Business travelers can make use of multiple meeting rooms with state-of-the-art equipment. There is also a full-service business center, round trip airport transportation, currency exchange, car rental and free parking. Stein adds, “At Sheraton Montevideo, we offer the highest excellence in quality and service, proved by both customer feedback and our Number One position in the yield and penetration index. When you stay with us, we will ensure you receive everything you know that is hallmark at Sheraton, going beyond your expectations,” Stein points out.

Belmont House

“This is the most exclusive hotel in Carrasco, Montevideo.”

The Belmont House Hotel, a member of the prestigious international Relais & Chateaux group, is situated in the heart of Carrasco’s residential quarter. “This is the most exclusive hotel in Carrasco, Montevideo,” says Alfredo Folle Algorta, President. “We are located in the best and most exclusive area. Because this is a small boutique hotel, it attracts celebrities, diplomats and heads of state.” Famous guests have included José Carreras, Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Hillary Clinton and Liza Minnelli.

The hotel has 24 rooms and four suites, all with garden views. Many rooms have additional facilities like Jacuzzis, balconies and fireplaces. There are conference and meeting facilities on site, as well as a world-class restaurant, the Allegro. Folle Algorta explains that Relais & Chateaux hotels all have excellent restaurants, equivalent to Michelin standards.

A businessman himself with a financial-sector background, Folle Algorta says he understands that each day running a business is a test to be the very best. “My staff are very important, and we serve our guests on a very personal level,” he states, adding, “I am here every day and I am personally present at important events. I believe the personal touch is very important, and as the owner and manager, you cannot delegate these things.”

There are plans to add another 20 rooms and build extra meeting space, to accommodate increasing demand from the corporate market. The hotel adheres to the Relais & Chateaux group’s five Cs: “calme, caractère, charme, cuisine, courtoise” (quiet, character, charm, cuisine, and courtesy). At the Belmont House Hotel, exclusivity and luxury remain its hallmarks.

Apart Hotel Bremen

“Our apartments are made to make you feel comfortable.”

The German owner of Apart Hotel Bremen has traveled throughout South America, but settled in Uruguay because the country and the people captivated him. He opened the first apartment hotel in Montevideo, and it has been a success from the beginning. The hotel, decorated in stylish turn-of-the-century style, features a popular restaurant and a cozy pub serving German beer from the barrel.

The 11 apart-ments, accommodating up to six people, range in size from 40 to 85 square meters (42,5 to 92,5 square yards). All have cable television with European channels, CD players, video recorders, telephones and fax machines. The Apart Hotel Bremen is the only hotel with a permanent T1 Internet connection in every apartment. Every apartment also features a fully equipped kitchenette, and washing machine in each modern bathroom.

Because of its excellent location – just minutes from the commercial and financial center of Montevideo, but also just a few blocks from the beach – the Apart Hotel Bremen is a favorite with corporate travelers and tourists. “Our guests are mostly businesspeople that are here for a longer period of time, or diplomats,” says Managing Director Peter Stross, adding, “During the summer period we have some tourists from Europe.”

Stross recommends Uruguay as both a business and a pleasure destination. “For tourism this is one of the best locations for holidaymakers – it is safe and you can find the best beaches in South America. Our apartments are made to make you feel comfortable, and they have nothing to do with the cold atmosphere of many hotel rooms,” he says.

Meliá Confort Montevideo

“Make the Melia Confort your first choice of hotel when visiting Uruguay.”

The Meliá Confort Montevideo – part of the global Sol Meliá Group – is the destination of choice for travelers seeking comfort, safety and style. It is situated in the Punta Carretas district of Montevideo, just 100 meters (109 yards) in each direction from the Montevideo Golf Course and the Montevideo Shopping Center (considered the best mall in Uruguay).

General Mana-ger Marcelo Chiappino says that the hotel is so peaceful, a turtle has taken up residence in the fountain outside and has lived happily there for the past three years. “We are also just a five-minute walk from the beach and Parque Rodo, which has many fun things to do, such as good restaurants, shows and the best nightlife in the city,” he adds.

The hotel has 74 rooms, as well as eight luxury rooms with fax machines. The Meliá Confort Montevideo is the only hotel in the city to offer free broadband Internet access in every guest room. There is a lobby bar and restaurant on site, as well as a conference room accommodating 150. For relaxation, there is a hydro-massage pool and fitness center, with a sauna and solarium.

The Meliá Confort was the first hotel in Latin America to receive ISO 14001 environmental care certification, and it has 60 percent repeat visitors. “This is a four star-plus hotel offering the services you expect from a five-star hotel, only at a better price,” says Chiappino. “Make the Meliá Confort your first choice of hotel when visiting Uruguay.”