Thunderbird Resorts will build four five-star hotels in the cities of Cusco, Arequipa, Trujillo (La Libertad) and Iquitos (Loreto) in the following three years, according to the general manager of hotel chain Las Américas, Pierre Berthier.

Last May, Thunderbird Resorts was granted the Peruvian hotel chain Las Américas offering USD 43,501,839, a number that exceded the base price established by its owner, Caja de Pensiones Militar Policial, on USD 40.5 million. “The investments in hotels of this kind in the provinces may reach USD 120,000 per room”, pointed Berthier.

He explained that, of these projects, the first one would be in Cusco, due to a national and international trend of visiting this city since Machu Picchu has been chosen as one of the Seven Wonders of the world.

“Besides, another attractive feature for investors is that the touristic movement is 24 hours a day, so it’s easier for any chain to invest in this place without a possibility of loss”, he stated. He added that, after Cusco, the following projects would be Arequipa, Trujillo and Iquitos.

“In Iquitos case, altough it is a city that has some political problems, it is not a reason to stop the development of foreign investments”, he commented.

He also informed that US Thunderbird Resorts would invest us$ 10 million in one year to introduce a new entertainment policy in the country (such as casinos, restaurants and international shows).

With regards to the hotel market in general, he said that, between January and July, there was a 15 increment in the sector, while occupancy rates reached an 80 . “In the case of Lima, the increment is basically boosted by the corporative segment, while in the provinces it is due to the receptive segment”, he added.