Hotels spring up as Colombia grows safer for tourists

[naaman fletcher]

Reporting from Bogota, Colombia — If you seek a monument to the security gains Colombia has made under President Alvaro Uribe's eight-year administration, the newly inaugurated JW Marriott Hotel here is a good place to look.

Improved security, the dynamic economy and some tax breaks are attracting the major international hotel chains that for decades shied away from Colombia. Uribe, who leaves office Saturday, officiated at the 264-room Marriott's ribbon-cutting ceremony last week.

"I don't have words to express my thanks for the confidence you show in Colombia," Uribe said to executives of Marriott and Grupo Poma, the El Salvador-based firm that owns the new hotel under a franchise agreement. "It means a lot to this great city and country that we can count on your expansion here."

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This year, hoteliers will add about 4,700 rooms — half of those in Bogota, the capital — in new properties across Colombia, including projects by international chains Hilton, Sonesta, Inter-Continental and NH Hotels.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-colombia-hotel-20100806,0,2123585.story?track=rss

Ha Ha, stupid Marriot, Hilton, and Intercontinental. Don't they know that crime isn't really down in Colombia? All they had to do was ask ou local expert. Sitting around in Kansas she knows FAR MORE about what the local situation in Bogota is than these silly corporations. It is not like they have any experience operating in 3rd world countries or anything.

[rabs]

1. You have a hankering for pizza today?

You are walking on very thin ice when you attack a very respected and long-time DUer with your vicious comment below:

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Ha Ha, stupid Marriot, Hilton, and Intercontinental. Don't they know that crime isn't really down in Colombia? All they had to do was ask ou local expert. Sitting around in Kansas she knows FAR MORE about what the local situation in Bogota is than these silly corporations. It is not like they have any experience operating in 3rd world countries or anything.

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[naaman fletcher]

2. What is vicious about it?

It's true isn't it? Crime is not down in Bogota, and therefore these hotel chains are dumb for investing on the premise that it is.

[Vogon_Glory]

3. You Naughty Fellow, You!

You naughty fellow you! How DARE you confuse people with inconvenient facts!

:silly:

[Bacchus39]

4. Colombia is a marvelous country to visit

I highly recommend it