New Website Editor at Escaped to Latin America

The tour company Escaped to Latin America is actively expanding their range of products and vacations and have taken on a new member of staff to help with website development, content and editing.

Stacey Shapiro is from South Africa, is a trained journalist and will be responsible for adding new products and programs to the company websites over a six month project. She explained that “I am excited to be involved in a writing project which is different to what I am used to, it is a new challenge and I will be learning a lot about tourism in Latin America as I go along”.

“After the visits made to Travel Mart Latin America this year and last there are so many new products, programs and options that I would like to offer to our clients” explains Gary Sargent, Managing Director of the Cusco based company. “It is a substantial task, taking information from our suppliers CDs and brochures, writing new destination descriptions, editing photographs etc, but when it is done there will be a wide array of extra tours and vacations on show so our clients can visit Latin America with us over several years and do something completely different every time”.

Gary is particularly keen to promote Chile and Colombia from his Peruvian office as they are two lesser visited neighbouring countries with lots to offer travelers and tourists. Anyone interested in traveling to Latin America should visit the company website and take their expert advice on visiting this amazing continent.

Walking the streets of Cusco in October, you could be forgiven for thinking that the city’s sole reason for existing is to allow large numbers of people to gather, march, proceed and otherwise celebrate the enormous number of saints whose images inhabit the various churches. As you turn a corner, you realize where the deep bass beat of drums is coming from as an orgy of color and sound greets your senses.

The marching band, whose dress varies from brightly colored traditional costumes, through plain black to the sand camouflage of the police units, proceed gravely over the cobbles, ahead of and often also behind an ornately dressed statue, carried at shoulder height by four or more sturdy cusqueños, natives of the city of Cusco.

Escaped to Latin America at the 33rd Travel Mart Latin America

Escaped to Peru, part of Escaped to Latin America, were one of the 1000 or so attendees at this year´s Travel Mart Latin America held at the end of September in Puerto Varas and Frutillar in Chile. Managing Director Gary Sargent represented his company at this important travel industry annual event where suppliers and buyers meet over 3 days of meetings and events.

Chile was represented by several members of central and local government at the opening ceremony, including the Vice President of Chile, in an attempt to promote tourism in North Patagonia focused around Puerto Varas. Delegates braved the near freezing temperatures to enjoy this beautiful place surrounded by active volcanoes, lakes and forests. Those delegates who participated in pre or post event visits were impressed by the landscapes and warmth of the local people.

“2009 has been a difficult year for the tourism industry with the global economic crisis and swine flu worries, but we are seeing some confidence returning to the market over the last few weeks. Many delegates at the travel fair were being positive about the year to come, of which I am one” explained Gary Sargent. “This event is an excellent way to meet suppliers of new and improved travel products and maintain personal relationships with the people with work with across South and Central America”.

The next Travel Mart in 2010 is to be held in Peru, the country where Escaped to Peru is based and Gary is sure that the event will be a great success and very well organized.