The latest edition of CASAS, the architecture and design magazine of the Cosas publishing group, paid an emotional tribute to the legacy of our vice president, Denise Guislain. It celebrates her extraordinary vision, which always emphasized discretion and authenticity all while expressing her character and style across each Inkaterra property.

“How do you make one feel at home in places so remote and different from our daily lives? No one knew the secret better than Denise Guislain,” writes Jimena Salas Pomarino. “Passionate about design, architecture, fashion, jewelry and, in general, about what is aesthetically beautiful, Denise, Director of Quality and Design at Inkaterra, managed to give each hotel a personality of its own.”

The tribute in CASAS magazine highlights that Denise's contributions were honored with the scientific name of the beautiful Maxillaria deniseae, an orchid species native to Machu Picchu, which was described as new to science in 2009. The article also acknowledges Inkaterra La Casona, the first boutique hotel in Cusco and the first Relais & Châteaux property in Peru, as Denise's masterpiece. For this work, Denise received some of the travel industry's most prestigious awards, including the 2018 World's Best Awards by Travel + Leisure, which named Inkaterra La Casona the Best Urban Hotel in Central and South America and the 4th Best Hotel in the World.

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In recognition of his outstanding contributions to ecotourism and his valuable impact on the National Amazonian University of Madre de Dios (UNAMAD), José Koechlin von Stein was awarded the title of Honorary Professor on July 4.

José Koechlin is founder and chairman of Inkaterra, a pioneering company in ecotourism and sustainable development in Peru since 1975. Recognized as the third best hotel brand in the world by the prestigious Travel + Leisure magazine, Inkaterra was also named the first Climate Positive hotel brand by the United Nations due to its countless conservation initiatives and the significant impact it has made on the environment. The brand celebrates Peru's biodiversity and culture through a holistic approach and contributes to scientific research aimed at nature conservation and community well-being.

Koechlin was also named one of the “100 Most Powerful People in Global Hospitality” in 2022 by the International Hospitality Institute. In addition to serving as president of the National Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR) in Peru, he is an emeritus board member of Conservation International (Washington, D.C.) and was president of the Sociedad Hoteles del Perú for 20 years. He won the 2015 PURE Award for his Contribution to Living Tourism and is a passionate advocate for sustainable development in rural Peru.

During the ceremony held at UNAMAD's institutional auditorium, José Koechlin delivered a lecture titled "Past, Present, and Future of Ecotourism in Peru" to academics, scholars, and the university community. He highlighted how Inkaterra has become a replicable model for achieving sustainable development through regenerative tourism, which facilitates the restoration of natural areas in Peru.

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The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has awarded a $2.5 million grant over three years to Inkaterra Asociación (ITA) to conduct feasibility studies for establishing a conservation corridor aimed at preserving biodiversity and ecosystem services. Following these studies, sustainable business practices will be implemented to drive positive change in the Madre de Dios region of Peru.

The Madre de Dios region is one of the most biologically rich areas in the world, with nearly half of its land protected in national parks and natural reserves. However, the region faces significant challenges from illegal activities, such as illegal gold mining and deforestation, which undermine formal, long-term investments.

The Madre de Dios Sustainable Landscape (MDSL) initiative aims to apply business expertise to identify viable commercial practices that advance regional sustainable development goals, including the preservation of biodiversity in this diverse area of the Peruvian Amazon.

This initiative is funded by the Enterprises for Development, Growth, and Empowerment (EDGE) Fund, announced by USAID Administrator Samantha Power in 2023. The private sector partnership seeks to demonstrate sustainable business opportunities in the region and aims to raise $100 million to develop sustainable activities in the Lower Madre de Dios Conservation Corridor, located in the buffer zone of the Tambopata National Reserve.

Spanning 252,047 acres of high-value biodiversity ecosystems at risk, the MDSL initiative is part of the Vilcabamba-Amboro Conservation Corridor, one of the world’s richest biodiversity hotspots, extending between Peru and Bolivia.

The MDSL initiative is represented by prominent Peruvian private sector entities, led by Inkaterra Asociación and including AJE Group, Inkaterra, and Tamesis Impact, with contributions from the Smithsonian Institution and the Wyss Academy for Nature. These organizations are committed to promoting conservation and sustainable business practices to protect and manage the extensive rainforest ecosystems of the Madre de Dios region.

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Inkaterra La Casona, the first boutique 5-star hotel in Cusco and the first Relais & Châteaux property in Peru, was ranked 6th in the “Top 10 City Hotels of Central and South America” category in the prestigious 2024 World’s Best Awards by Travel + Leisure magazine.

Each year, for the World's Best Awards survey, Travel + Leisure asks readers to share their opinions on travel experiences around the globe, including the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Over 186,000 readers participated in the 2024 survey, casting more than 700,000 votes across over 8,700 properties.

Inkaterra La Casona is located in the historic Plaza de las Nazarenas, surrounded by the vibrant, cobblestoned streets of Cusco. This 16th-century manor house was once the training grounds for an elite Incan army and has hosted illustrious guests such as Spanish Conquistador Diego de Almagro and ‘Libertador’ Simón Bolívar.

After a five-year restoration by Denise Guislain, emphasizing its original architecture, Inkaterra La Casona reflects a harmonious blend of cultures and traditions across centuries. Surrounding the main patio, the hotel's 11 suites feature fireplaces, heated floors, and extra-large bathtubs. The halls are adorned with colonial furniture, Pre-Columbian textiles, and original murals.

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