Sacred Valley’s Largest Spa Retreat and Direct Access to Peru’s Celebrated Machu Picchu Trails
NEW YORK – Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) in a franchise agreement with Libertador Hotels, Resorts & Spas, announced the opening of Tambo del Inka, a Luxury Collection resort in the sacred valley of Urubamba as part of its long term growth strategy in South America. With rising hotel demand and secular trends driving hotel development, The Luxury Collection will also open its third hotel in Peru in 2011 with the debut of Palacio del Inka, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Cusco, the capital of the ancient Incan Empire. Each spectacular property will seamlessly integrate local customs, culture and natural influences to offer global travelers unique and exceptional experiences in one of Latin America’s most culturally diverse destinations. The new Tambo del Inka resort is the newest addition to The Luxury Collection portfolio, complimenting the recently opened Paracas hotel on Peru’s pristine southern Pacific coast.
The resort will be the first of its kind in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, offering a quiet, luxurious retreat and an array of modern amenities while fully embracing the region’s natural surroundings. In addition to its 128 luxuriously appointed guestrooms and suites, each with mesmerizing views of the Andes and the Vilcanota River, Tambo del Inka will feature a full-service spa, two heated swimming pools and a private train station to facilitate trips to the iconic hilltop city of Machu Picchu. Miami-based Arquitectonica spearheaded the resort’s architectural concept to create an overall design that blends seamlessly with the hotel’s location.
„The Luxury Collection brand has important penetration in South America and allows us to keep the identity of breathtaking places and landscapes and cherish them through unique hotels,“ said Libertador Hotels, Resorts & Spas CEO Jorge Melero. „Our strategic plan for the next five years extends beyond Peru’s borders, and we look forward to future collaborations with Starwood.“
„We are excited about the addition of this exclusive hotel to Starwood’s portfolio. The Luxury Collection stands out in its category for delivering authentic, indigenous experiences and an exceptional level of service to its guests – a compelling combination for discerning global travelers,“ said Osvaldo Librizzi, President of Starwood Hotels & Resorts in Latin America.
Tambo del Inka will provide guests with a magical setting enhanced by exceptional service and indigenous design touches. Ancient tradition fills each room, creating a rich, inspirational atmosphere. All accommodations feature grand floor-to-ceiling windows that open up to breathtaking natural vistas as well as 400-thread linens, 32″ LCD televisions, dedicated work space, complimentary Wi-Fi and high speed Internet connectivity and individually controlled air-conditioning.
Tambo del Inka’s 5,905 square foot spa, The Spa at Valle Sagrado, will be the largest facility of its kind in the area featuring 12 treatment rooms each surrounded by panoramic views of the Andes. With direct access from the guest rooms area, the spa offers unique indigenous treatments – such as Andean Chocolate, Gold from the Gods and Misti Mud Therapy using ancestral Inca ingredients, such as coca leaves, volcanic mud, gold used by Incan princesses, quinoa and various other fresh regional fruits and produce as well as a variety of more classic beauty and wellness treatments. Facilities also include two heated swimming pools, a sauna, steam bath and fully-equipped gym.
Set between the city of Cusco and the vestiges of Machu Picchu, The Urubamba Valley offers an enchanted journey connecting ancient Incan culture with a modern cosmopolitan city. With T’ikariy, Libertador’s exclusive partner for activities and cultural immersion, guests can choose from a variety of unique experiences, history and cultural tours, including exploring the vestiges of the Inca Empire and the living communities of their descendants. Working with T’ikariy, guests of The Luxury Collection’s Tambo del Inka can experience the Ollantaytambo ruins,the community of Chahuaytire, known for its expert weavers, and the town of Pisaq, celebrated for veritable masterpieces of textile art made by the town’s inhabitants as well as the circle terraces of Morayand its agricultural laboratory. Guests are also invited to experience the tranquility of the Sacred Valley with a picnic lunch surrounded by beautiful countryside. Outdoor enthusiasts will also enjoy kayaking on Lake Piuray, biking along mountain roads, and perhaps exploring the Maras Salt Mines.
Libertador Hotels, Resorts & Spas is Peru’s largest hotel owner and operator and in collaboration with Starwood will debut the first Westin in South America with the opening of Libertador Westin Lima by the end of 2010. The award-winning hotels and resorts that make up The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts are some of the world’s most iconic properties, including The Grande Bretagne; Hotel Marqués de Riscal; Mystique; Hotel Danieli; The U.S. Grant, The Palace Hotel and The Phoenician.
About The Luxury Collection
The Luxury Collection(R) is a selection of hotels and resorts offering unique, authentic experiences that evoke lasting, treasured memories. For the global explorer, The Luxury Collection offers a gateway to the world’s most exciting and desirable destinations. Each hotel and resort is a unique and cherished expression of its location; a portal to the destination’s indigenous charms and treasures. Magnificent décor, spectacular settings, impeccable service and the latest modern conveniences combine to provide a uniquely enriching experience. Today, The Luxury Collection is a glittering ensemble of more than 70 of the world’s finest hotels and resorts in more than 30 countries in bustling cities and spectacular destinations around the world. The Luxury Collection includes award-winning hotels that continuously exceed guest expectations by offering unparalleled service, style and class in some of the most desired destinations in the world. All of these hotels, many of them centuries old, are internationally recognized as being among the world’s finest. For more information, please visit http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.luxurycollection.com&esheet=6342641&lan=en-US&anchor=www.luxurycollection.com&index=1&md5=03154d190b4739a4ea30c64a4939ea38.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1000 properties in nearly 100 countries and territories with 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis(R), The Luxury Collection(R), W(R), Westin(R), Le Méridien(R), Sheraton(R), Four Points(R) by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft(R), and ElementSM. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.starwoodhotels.com&esheet=6342641&lan=en-US&anchor=www.starwoodhotels.com&index=2&md5=657c0809c1478a853049cc801f69ae5a.
Libertador Hotels, Resorts & Spas Background, www.libertador.com.pe
With its first opening in Cusco more than 30 years ago, Libertador Hotels, Resorts & Spas is the largest Peruvian hotel group, currently owning and operating seven hotels – in Arequipa, Cusco, Lima, Paracas, Puno, Trujillo and Urubamba – catering to discerning travelers in cities that stand out for their exceptional character, sites, and lesser known attractions. A private 12-passenger aircraft is also part of the brand portfolio for private transfers between Lima and Paracas. Another new hotel, Palacio del Inka, will soon open in conjunction with the Luxury Collection in the ancient city of Cusco, and a second Lima hotel will be opening in late 2010 in partnership with Starwood’s Westin brand.
Picture: Carstino Delmonte/ Touristikpresse.net (archive, picture for illustration only, does not show a Starwood Hotel)
