Meet in Buenos Aires

The Paris of South America is a meetings destination with a comeback story that

The Paris of South America is a meetings destination with a comeback story that defies the odds

In December 2001, Argentina suffered the worst economic collapse in over a century, a confidence-shattering financial breakdown that made the global crisis at the end of 2008 look like a minor inconvenience by comparison. In the decade since, however, the country has staged a dizzying recovery and has triumphed over both history and negative expectations to enjoy both stability and growth.

When Argentina’s economy crashed a dozen years ago, the road back seemed inconceivably long – the country’s dramatic turnaround could not have been predicted. But in the intervening years (2002-2011), the Argentine economy has seen a 94 percent increase, and it shows.

Although last year’s growth rate slowed (along with the rest of the world), so far 2013 has seen a return of momentum. The latest reports have the Argentinian economy growing at 7.8 percent clip in May, which puts first quarter growth at 4.9 percent. Argentina’s Central Bank projects the economy to grow a robust 4.6 percent in 2013.

Tourism is booming; new air links make it more convenient to visit than ever before.

“After Argentina’s catastrophic economic meltdown in 2001, the number of people living on the poverty line increased to nearly 50 percent,”says Colin M Lewis, professor of Latin American economic history at the London School of Economics (LSE).“Now 60 percent of Argentinians are considerably better off than they were in 2000-02.”

The capital Buenos Aires is a grand city in every sense, often called the Paris of South America. Steeped in history and culture, it offers event goers a wealth of opportunity.

“Buenos Aires has changed a heck of a lot in the past six years,”says Paul Irvine, co-founder of luxury South American