MENDOZ A: THE MATRIX OF MALBEC
BT: Tell us a bit about the Park Hyatt Mendoza and its long history.
ARNULPHI: Since the old Plaza Hotel opened its doors in 1926, it has been the venue for the most important events in the city. When Park Hyatt Mendoza opened in June 2001 the main focus was to maintain these traditions by playing host to social and cultural events as well as local art. Thus, our guests feel they are still part of the hotel´s identity.
For the last 15 years, the hotel has held events like the renowned Masters of Food & Wine, a combination of gastronomy, wine, art and entertainment where the best wineries of Mendoza participate boasting the most outstanding chefs and artists. In addition, the hotel has also been the venue for charity events to help children and youngsters from marginal schools in our society.
BT: What kinds of travelers are choosing your property?
ARNULPHI: Nowadays, most of our guests are foreigners. Since the brand has its origins in the US, most of our services are targeted to American visitors. Our brand offers the possibility to belong to World of Hyatt. This allows people to earn points in all our properties worldwide and can be used at any Hyatt around the world.
Not only leisure travelers, but also those event planners for the meetings, incentives, conventions and events segment, which is so important for us, are eligible for this membership.
BT: How is the Park Hyatt tapping into the popularity of the region’s wine industry?
ARNULPHI: The wine industry has been growing steadily throughout the years as has tourism in Mendoza. The hotel has therefore developed new strategies to offer specific services required by the wine industry, such as guided tastings, international contests and so on. In 2016, the hotel was the chosen venue for the World´s Best Sommelier, welcoming more than 350 participants worldwide.
As part of that, we are implementing a new service experience through our “Wine Concierge.” Our concierge team is specialized in the Wine Route to recommend the best experience for both beginners in the world of wine as well as specialists who are interested in visiting different wine regions in Mendoza.