Buenos Aires may not be the largest city in South America, but it ranks among the region’s top destinations for international meetings and conferences. According to the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), the Argentine capital consistently outperforms other Latin American cities in the number of international events hosted. In 2014, the most recent ICCA data available, Buenos Aires hosted 91 international events, placing it 21st globally and first in Latin America.
The city’s appeal for expos and incentive groups is multifaceted. Lucía Bo, director of sales and marketing at Palacio Duhau – Park Hyatt Buenos Aires, one of the city’s leading group-friendly hotels, highlights a blend of modern infrastructure and distinguished European-style architecture. Known as the “Paris of South America,” Buenos Aires offers warm, attentive locals, diverse neighborhoods, rich culture and a wide range of experiences that make it an outstanding spot for events.
Palacio Duhau – Park Hyatt Buenos Aires outdoor event © Palacio Duhau – Park Hyatt Buenos Aires
Statistics from the Buenos Aires Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Buenos Aires Tourist Board further underline the city’s resources: more than 30,000 hotel beds across three- to five-star properties, 36 universities, over 200 theaters, 144 museums and more than 7,200 bars and restaurants. These assets provide strong selling points that help sustain Buenos Aires’s leadership in the MICE market.
Tilo Joos, general manager of Hilton Buenos Aires, believes these strengths will keep the city competitive for decades. The 419-room Hilton offers event space for up to 4,500 attendees and tailored planning services for groups seeking authentic local experiences. “Argentina and Buenos Aires provide very compelling options when it’s time to choose a destination for an international event,” Joos said, noting the city’s growing popularity among global meeting planners.
Hotels and venues in Buenos Aires connect groups with signature local experiences. Palacio Duhau offers packages such as Tango, Wine & Cheese, featuring a sommelier-led wine tasting and chef-led cheese presentation paired with a tango performance in the hotel gardens. The hotel also organizes excursions to Estancia La Bamba, one of Argentina’s historic ranches, where guests discover gaucho traditions and equestrian pursuits.
Many hotels offer tango lessons. © Christin Farmer | Dreamstime.com
In Puerto Madero, the stylish Faena Hotel Buenos Aires serves groups from 15 to 600 in its ballroom and the Faena Arts Center, hosting private tango lessons, yoga and meditation sessions, wine tastings and exclusive viewings of the acclaimed Rojo Tango show.
InterContinental Hotels Group, represented locally by InterContinental Buenos Aires, Holiday Inn Express Puerto Madero and Holiday Inn Buenos Aires Ezeiza Airport, also highlights the destination’s MICE appeal. Gerardo Murray, regional vice president for distribution and commercial marketing at IHG for Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, points to the city’s vibrant urban life, extensive shopping, outstanding dining scene—ranging from modern Andean cuisine and tapas to excellent wines and steakhouse fare—and diverse cultural offerings.
Murray emphasizes the variety of off-site activities available to groups. Buenos Aires’s cultural venues offer historic and artistic breaks from meeting schedules, from Plaza de Mayo’s classical architecture to the opulent Teatro Colón, which reflects strong European influence and unrivaled acoustics.
Meeting capacity will expand further with the addition of the Buenos Aires Exposition & Convention Center, scheduled to open in 2017 in Recoleta. The new center will accommodate up to 5,000 people and increase the city’s convention and expo capacity by roughly 10 percent. Existing large venues include La Rural, which provides more than 860,000 square feet of exhibition space across seven pavilions and capacity for 8,900 attendees; Centro Costa Salguero, with over 335,000 square feet and space for 6,000; and the Golden Center near Jorge Newbery Airport, set among lakes and gardens with 48,000 square feet of exhibit space and capacity for 2,500 guests.
Unique venues add character to meetings in the city. The historic Teatro Colón, opened in 1908, features a 2,654-seat auditorium and elegant salons ideal for private events. Other notable locations include the Metropolitan Design Center (10 breakout rooms and a 200-seat auditorium), the Modern Art Museum (two breakout rooms and a 200-seat auditorium) and Usina del Arte in La Boca, a converted power plant with theaters seating 250 and 1,200. The Buenos Aires Tourist Board assists MICE planners in coordinating access to these spaces.
Universities and sports facilities also broaden venue options. Nine public and 20 private universities offer a variety of meeting and event spaces, while more than 20 sports venues—ranging from major soccer stadiums to tennis courts—provide alternative settings for large and small gatherings. Whether groups prioritize cuisine, culture, history or sports, Buenos Aires delivers memorable places to meet and enjoy shared experiences.