Travel2latam spoke with Ana Caffera, Director of Sales & Marketing at Sheraton Asuncion and Aloft Asuncion.
How did the project for these two properties you have in Asunción come about?
The Sheraton Asunción opened its doors in 2004, 20 years ago, and was the first international chain hotel to arrive in the city, which was a source of pride not only for us as hoteliers, but also for Asunción itself and for the country.
Aloft opened its doors in 2017, as the second Marriott brand, and both hotels have very different characteristics. Sheraton, which we know a little better, is a more corporate, conservative and family-oriented hotel, and Aloft is a much more daring brand, aimed at the corporate segment, which is what we have most in Asunción, but much more unbridled, with music and a more modern style.
Do both receive meeting tourism?
Yes, mostly corporate clients and meeting tourism, which is growing a lot in Asunción. These are the congresses of all kinds that are held and important events that are taking place in the city, such as the final of the Copa Sudamericana that we are going to have in November.
This year we are also with FELABAN, which is a very important banking congress, and luckily we also receive some tourists, mainly from the Argentine coast, who come delighted by shopping tourism, which is very convenient today for this type of public.
Regarding shopping tourism, the hotels are located near two shopping centers…
Yes, both Sheraton and Aloft hotels are located in the city's new shopping centre. Next to Sheraton is the Paseo de la Galeria complex, one of the most important shopping centres, and next to Aloft is the Shopping del Sol, which is also very important. Both are 300 metres away and surrounded by all the multinational companies, so we have an unbeatable location for both hotels.
What amenities do the properties offer?
The Sheraton is a slightly more complete hotel, with a convention center and 14 function rooms in total. It has a pool and gym, which are the basic amenities, and it also has the Club Lounge, which is a space for our guests staying in suites and club rooms. At Aloft we have a gym, pool, terrace, and a grab-and-go area with some snacks that one can help oneself to 24 hours a day to complement the room service.
What are the main markets for each of the properties?
For both properties, the markets are handled in a very similar way. Without a doubt, the Argentine market is our first feed market, ranked in the top five. Then we have an important segment in the local Paraguayan market that comes from the interior of the country. There is also Brazil and Chile, which is growing quite a bit, and there is the European and American market that comes to Asunción, either for corporate or investment reasons, or to come and see what the country is like in general.
What growth has Paraguay and Asunción in particular had?
In recent years, looking back 10 years, Asunción has grown significantly in terms of infrastructure and real estate investments. Much of this investment comes mainly from Argentina and some Latin American countries. People who come here at least once a year say they are impressed with the country's growth, and that is also an advantage for investors, taking into account the stability that Paraguay has with its inflation and currency.
How do you deal internally with the situation of having new competitors joining the city's hotel offering?
Initially we were the only hotel in the area, and several hotels joined us, but one always considers that competition is good, that means that the city continues to grow. And of course we are good neighbors to each other, so it is something positive.
How do you see demand at different seasonal peaks?
The year remains quite similar. We usually have peaks in September, October and November, and we notice a low season starting in the second half of December and January, probably due to the temperature. The temperatures we have here in Asunción are quite hot, and if there is a low season as such, it would be at that time. Even so, the properties have many different layouts, where events can be held perfectly with those temperatures. The Sheraton hotel has 14 rooms, all obviously air-conditioned, which does not prevent us from holding our meetings, events or conferences. Even in January of last year we had a very large conference in Asunción, which we hosted and we can easily host some of them.
Have you developed food and entertainment options after an event or conference?
Yes, due to the location of both hotels, we focus a lot on the local public and all those people who are working around us, and that is why both spaces, both the Sheraton terrace and the Aloft rooftop, are very welcome. We do different activities there, for example, at Aloft once a month we do Live at a Love, where we invite a group, musician or singer who is in the process of growth, and we give them the opportunity and the space to shine there. Obviously, we promote those nights and it is something that is already very well positioned in the area.
How do you handle working with agencies and operators?
Due to the fact that the majority of the clients are corporate, we have a lot of direct bookings. In companies, there is still direct contact between the secretary or the person who is going to travel and we have direct contact with them. We also have a lot of online sales through online travel agencies, and also with local operators with whom we have direct contact, but there is still that contact between the hotel and the final sale that gives that confidence, being able to speak with someone who explains what you need. In the same way, contact is maintained by email.
Today, despite being a property that looks very good at 20 years old, Sheraton is going to have a renovation project, right?
We are currently working on the renovation of the hotel, and if everything goes well we will start next year. All the rooms, the entire lobby area and the façade will be changed, so we are very happy and eager to see the results.
What final message would you like to give to our audience of agencies, operators and MICE professionals?
We are here at the disposal of MICE. Surely some of you have already come to Asunción for a conference, and if you haven't, I invite you to be encouraged to nominate it as a city, to bring your conferences here, because those who have done so have really been very happy and surprised, either by the gastronomy or by the people who stand out for their kindness. The city is very interesting, not only our hotels, but it is also very well prepared and has a gastronomic offer that complements and is very popular.
So if I invite you, we are always available to encourage you to come to Asunción and find out about the offer we have.