CARTAGENA HOTEL ASSOCIATION JOINS CHTA AS NEWEST MEMBER DESTINATION IN 15 YEARS
Cartagena, the colonial port city on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, represented by COTELCO Cartagena, has joined CHTA as its 33rd member destination and the first to enter the regional trade association in over 15 years.
COTELCO, Colombia’s Hotel and Tourism Association, represents and supports the interests of the Colombian hotel and tourism sector with 900 affiliated hotels nationwide with a presence in 23 departments of the country. The Cartagena chapter has 56 affiliated hotels and more than 4,000 hotel rooms under its purview, including brands such as Estelar, Faranda Hotels, GHL Hoteles, Hilton, Intercontinental Hotels Group, Karisma Hotels and Resorts, Movich Hotels, Radisson Hotels and Resorts and Sofitel.
The Caribbean port of Cartagena de Indias was founded in 1533 and its old walled city and fortress, called the Ciudad Amarullada, once repelled invaders and pirates. These days, thanks to the efforts of COTELCO, the charming city now welcomes visitors to its tiled roofs, balconies, flower-filled courtyards and famously lively social life.
The history of Cartagena, where the New World treasure of gold and silver was shipped to the Old World, is redolent with romance and drama: it is the final resting place of the great liberator Simón Bolivar. Cartagena’s dramatic history is evident in the old churches which were built as fortresses to rebuff pirates and foreign invaders like Sir Francis Drake.
Its natural beauty features an alluring scenic mix of white sand beaches, coral reefs, jungle slopes, and the steep peaks of the world’s highest coastal range. Inhabiting the lush land is a wide variety of marine and wildlife. Colombia features more than 1,900 types of birds, the largest variety of avian life in the world.
With its various activities, scenic and picturesque views, we welcome another Caribbean destination to our association. COTELCO Cartagena’s entry into the trade association was unanimously approved at the recent CHTA Board of Directors Meeting in Montego Bay, Jamaica.