Monthly Archives: December 2015

Awards & Accolades, Uncategorized

José Koechlin to Receive HOLA Lifetime Achievement Award

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We’ve received the joyous news that Founder and CEO of Inkaterra, José Koechlin, will be the recipient of the Hotel Opportunities Latin America‘s (HOLA) ‘Lifetime Achievement Award 2016.’

image courtesy of PURE

A prestigious arena for the hospitality industry, HOLA is a conference that provides an annual meeting place for hotel executives, investors, lenders and developers in Latin America. This is the first time that HOLA has granted the inaugural ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’, and it’s an honour that José’s been chosen to be the first recipient, paving the way for future honourees. Mr Koechlin is elated at hearing the news, “It is an honour to receive such a prestigious award and to see Inkaterra’s work in conservation across Peru being recognised by HOLA, one of the most reputable forums in the Latin American hospitality industry.”

Acknowledged by HOLA for his leadership in environmentally sound growth practices for the hospitality industry, José’s career continues to be described as “pioneering”. He has co-produced an array of critically acclaimed films and written educational literature, to name but a few. With his main passion lying within the conservation sector, he has dedicated over 40 years of his life to eco tourism and conservation in Peru.

The accolade follows a succession of awards that recognise Mr Koechlin’s contribution to conservation and he will be presented with the award at next year’s HOLA event, hosted by Burba Hotel Network in Miami on 11th-13th May 2016.

When announcing the news, President of BHN, Jim Burba, publicly shared his delight, “He [José] serves as an inspiration for his enormous contributions to the growth of tourism in Peru, as well as his leadership in environmentally sound growth practices for our industry in Latin America and globally.”

We’re extremely proud of José’s achievements as well as his acknowledgment by HOLA, an organisation that he was once a founding co-chair.

Conservation and Sustainability, Nature & Wildlife

Spotted: Andean Spectacled Bear

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As he tears away branches, perched against fallen trees of the Vilcanota River near Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, the two-metre tall wild Andean Spectacled Bear is unaware of an Inkaterra Explorer-guide, and his three inquisitive accomplices, watching him in awe.

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Munching on leaves, his feast for the day, the Andean Bear sits camouflaged amid the dense bushes, opposite the explorer-guides. It isn’t until he pads through a baron area that, binoculars aside, they get a clear view of their furry friend, his dense, black fur shining in the Peruvian sunlight.

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Inkaterra head of explorer-guides, Braulio Puma, explains it is most probably the same bear that has been sighted near Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel before, due to the unique pattern on the bear’s nose – an identification similar to a human fingerprint.

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The Inkaterra Andean Bear Rescue Centre, located within the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel property,  a project aiming to rehabilitate endangered Andean bears found in inadequate captivity conditions, studies and conserves the only bear species native to the Southern Hemisphere. Sightings like this one confirm the importance of the project, and the preservation of the unique biodiversity of the Machu Picchu cloud forest.

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Conservation and Sustainability, Uncategorized

José Koechlin Invited to Attend International Workshop on Biodiversity – Mexico

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In the lead up to the end of the year, many of the Inkaterra team have been travelling. Some have journeyed to London to collect awards while our CEO and Founder of Inkaterra, José Koechlin headed to Mexico City to partake in the International Workshop on Biodiversity. The international event was hosted lasted month by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), a governing body that aims to improve sustainable development in biodiversity.

This year the forum addressed primary topics to be discussed further at the upcoming COP 13, taking place 4-7 December in Cancun, Mexico. Discussions also included how strategies might integrate “the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity into relevant sectoral or cross-sectoral plans, programmes and policies.” This being a key goal embedded in the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020.

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Mr Koechlin was the only private business sector attendee invited by the CBD, and presented Inkaterra’s replicable business model on the ‘Global Overview of Mainstreaming in Productive Sectors and Country Experiences’ panel. José also discussed Inkaterra’s pursue of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets through the company’s initiatives on profitable conservation.

We at Inkaterra pride ourselves on our involvement in conservation and believe it’s extremely vital to attend and contribute to workshops and summits such as Conventions on Biological Diversity, sharing the importance of conservation worldwide.