SANTIAGO, CHILE experienced significant political unrest in late 2019 when millions protested for fairer living conditions after the government announced a subway fare increase and citizens raised concerns about inequalities driven by a market-oriented economy. In response, President Sebastián Piñera called for a national peace agreement and requested more than $2 billion from Chile’s Economic and Social Stabilization Fund across 2019 and 2020 to help address the crisis and begin bridging social divisions.
Despite that period of turmoil, Santiago remains open for business and continues to welcome visitors. Most international travelers arrive at Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport, the largest airport in Chile, located about 10 miles from downtown. The airport is a major hub for LATAM Airlines and offers extensive passenger amenities, including LATAM’s lounge, one of the largest in South America, featuring sleeping cabins, a business center and entertainment spaces.
Getting around Santiago is straightforward thanks to several reliable transportation options. The Santiago Metro is a safe, clean, efficient and affordable option with five interconnected lines that reach many parts of the city. Frequent users should consider purchasing a reloadable Bip! card for convenience. The city’s bus network, Transantiago, uses color-coded and lettered routes and can be more complex than the metro, so planning trips in advance helps ensure you board the correct bus. Taxis operate across the city but travelers should exercise caution due to occasional scams; ride-hailing services like Uber are also available.
Las Condes serves as Santiago’s business and financial district and hosts many event spaces and upscale hotels with strong MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) offerings.
W Santiago provides 26,350 square feet of meeting space across 11 versatile event rooms that accommodate groups from 18 to 1,110 guests. Meeting planners can customize programs using W Hotels’ Recess options, which include activities ranging from icebreakers to yoga sessions. The hotel can also generate a dedicated reservation link for attendees to simplify booking.
Santiago Marriott Hotel features 11,754 square feet of meeting and event space distributed across six rooms. Many of the event spaces benefit from natural light, offering a pleasant alternative to traditional boardrooms. The hotel also offers a business guestroom with a separate office area for private meetings or remote work. Several guest rooms provide views of the nearby Andes Mountains, and on-site dining includes Café Med and Latin Grill, showcasing South American flavors.
Parque Araucano, within walking distance of many hotels, includes Centro Parque, an event venue with more than 37,000 square feet of indoor meeting and event space plus additional outdoor areas within the park. Its flexible facilities can host everything from intimate board meetings to auditorium-style presentations, supported by modern audiovisual systems.
The Santiago Business and Conference Center (SBCC) in Parque Titanium is easily reachable by multiple transportation modes and offers vehicle access with parking as well as bicycle facilities. The venue is within walking distance of El Golf and Tobalaba Metro stations. With over 39,000 square feet of meeting and event space across three levels, the SBCC is well suited for large conventions and exhibitions. The center maintains an in-house catering team with dedicated food preparation areas and offers attractive park views. Five hotels, including InterContinental Santiago, are located within an eight-minute walk of the center.
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© INTERCONTINENTAL SANTIAGO
The recently renovated InterContinental property offers 27,157 square feet of meeting and event space across 16 rooms and participates in InterContinental Meetings. Its InterContinental Insider Collection delivers destination-focused meeting experiences, from off-site team-building activities to local expert presentations, designed to create memorable and culturally rooted events.
With a mix of traditional venues and destination-focused options, Santiago is well equipped to serve MICE planners and groups seeking professional meeting facilities combined with cultural and leisure experiences.
UNIQUE VENUES
Las Majadas de Pirque is a distinctive meeting hotel located in a palatial early-20th-century estate outside the city center. Designed for corporate stays, the property offers five configurable meeting spaces equipped with audiovisual systems and Wi-Fi. Catering and team activities range from horseback riding to live music, and the venue can arrange transportation from a single pickup point in Santiago for group transfers.
A short drive west of Santiago lies the Casablanca Valley, known for producing some of Chile’s finest wines and offering attractive winery venues for corporate events. Viñamar Winery provides three tasting options and guided tours available Tuesday through Sunday, along with Restaurant Macerado, which serves traditional Chilean cuisine via à la carte choices or tasting menus. Nearby Viña Indómita offers daily bilingual tours, private tour options and vineyard horseback excursions. Indómita’s on-site restaurant is led by award-winning Chilean chef Tomás Olivera. Both wineries are conveniently situated between Santiago and Valparaíso and serve as appealing off-site meeting and incentive options.