Press room
Read the latest news directly from Cartagena and updates from the hotel, exclusives, plans, and events to help you plan your next visit.
With a strong commitment to strengthening the skills and knowledge of tourism service providers in the region, the FormAlístate program has successfully concluded its training cycle. Led by Cotelco Cartagena y Bolívar, the Cartagena Chamber of Commerce, and FONTUR, this initiative has provided a valuable opportunity for tourism professionals — including traditional and eco-tourism operators, transportation providers, travel agencies, the hotel sector, and restaurants — to come together in a joint effort to raise service standards in Cartagena and promote the city’s sustainable and professional tourism growth.
Carlos Uricoechea, a member of our Food Quality Control team and one of the program participants, shared his experience:
“I believe these sessions were enriching in every sense. These spaces are essential for growth from a hotel industry perspective. We learned that by working together we can generate a positive impact on both visitors and the city of Cartagena by delivering the highest quality service.”
On a professional level, Carlos highlighted the value of the course content and the quality of the instructors, noting their impact on both his professional and personal growth:
“In my particular case, I was appointed leader of the hotel’s Tourism Sustainability Committee, and this training complements my knowledge in this area.”
Both María Mosquera, our current Hostess, and Yair Tapias, Lead Waiter at Kanuú — the hotel’s restaurant — agree that their experience in the FormAlístate training program was invaluable. María emphasized the opportunity for learning and collaboration the program provided, allowing her to acquire specific knowledge in the tourism sector, from sustainability to commercial coaching and customer experience:
“It was a truly stimulating and valuable experience for my daily work. I gained specific skills for my role as well as comprehensive knowledge of different aspects of the tourism sector, which has broadened my perspective, horizon, and passion for hospitality and service.”
Yair, for his part, highlighted the holistic understanding of the industry he gained during the training modules:
“I learned to appreciate the importance of every role in tourism service delivery, regardless of the specific area each person works in. I also acquired new skills and strategies that have improved my productivity and effectiveness at work.”
The collaborative and educational environment fostered throughout the program was also praised by participants, who emphasized the opportunity to interact with professionals from different sectors and hotels across the city, as well as the quality of the course content and excellence of the instructors. Carlos added:
“The product innovation workshop, for example, provided valuable tools to develop new and creative strategies, both professionally and personally. The step-by-step learning method — from empathy to testing — allows us to identify opportunities for improvement and offer a fresher, more attractive experience to tourists visiting Cartagena. Personally, my interest in quality management motivates me to continue deepening my knowledge and applying it to help consolidate our hotel and our city as global tourism benchmarks. I am committed to my professional growth and eager to take advantage of future opportunities, including new courses, workshops, and even postgraduate scholarships.”
With the success of FormAlístate, it is expected that participants will implement new strategies and improvements in their respective establishments, contributing to the continued growth and sustainable development of tourism in Cartagena.
“From Cotelco Cartagena y Bolívar, we celebrate the success of this program — an initiative that has become a seedbed for transformation in our industry. FormAlístate was a collective learning experience that strengthened participants’ capabilities while promoting innovation and passion for professional and personal growth for our city. But this is only the beginning. Cotelco and all participating entities remain committed to continuing this effort and nurturing Cartagena’s tourism ecosystem. The testimonials of Carlos, María, and Yair are ideal examples of the positive impact of this type of training and the importance of continuing to develop such initiatives,” emphasized Diana Carolina Ariza, Executive Director of the Hotel Association.
At InterContinental Cartagena de Indias, we celebrate the execution of these initiatives and firmly believe in the comprehensive development of our team members, committing to provide them with growth opportunities and support so they can reach their full potential. Our General Manager, Alejandro Manfredonio, emphasized:
“We are always willing to support initiatives that emerge from strategic alliances among the city’s key sectors — initiatives that not only strengthen individual employee capabilities but also contribute to the consolidation of tourism excellence in our country. We are dedicated to fulfilling our promise of fostering an environment that supports both personal and professional growth, because we consider our team to be our top priority and the driving force behind our continued success. We embark on a journey fueled by passion for hospitality, toward a future where excellence, sustainability, and innovation are the pillars of tourism in our city. FormAlístate has planted the seeds of change in Cartagena’s tourism sector, and we are confident these seeds will continue to grow and bear fruit in the future.”
At InterContinental Cartagena de Indias, we celebrate the implementation of these initiatives and firmly believe in the comprehensive development of our team members. We are committed to providing them with the time, resources, and support needed to reach their full potential. Our General Manager, Alejandro Manfredonio, emphasized:
“We are always willing to support initiatives that arise from strategic alliances among the city’s key sectors — initiatives that not only strengthen the individual capabilities of our employees but also contribute to the consolidation of tourism excellence in our country. We are dedicated to fulfilling our promise of fostering an environment that supports personal and professional growth, as we consider our team to be our priority and the driving force behind our continued success. We embark on a journey fueled by passion for hospitality, toward a future where excellence, sustainability, and innovation are the pillars of tourism in our city. FormAlístate has planted the seeds of change in Cartagena’s tourism sector, and we are confident these seeds will continue to grow and bear fruit in the future.”
With a strong commitment to strengthening the skills and knowledge of tourism service providers in the region, the FormAlístate program has successfully completed its training cycle. Led by Cotelco Cartagena y Bolívar, the Cartagena Chamber of Commerce, and FONTUR, this initiative has provided a valuable opportunity for tourism professionals — including traditional and eco-tourism operators, transportation providers, travel agencies, the hotel sector, and restaurants — to unite in a collective effort to raise service standards in Cartagena and promote the city’s structured and professional tourism growth.
Carlos Uricoechea, a member of our Food Quality Control team and one of the program participants, shared his experience:
“I believe these sessions were enriching in every sense. These spaces are essential for growth from a hotel industry perspective. We learned that by working together we can create a positive impact on visitors and on the city of Cartagena by delivering the highest quality service.”
On a professional level, Carlos also highlighted the value of the course content and the excellence of the instructors, noting their impact on both his professional and personal development:
“In my particular case, I was appointed leader of the hotel’s Tourism Sustainability Committee, and this training complements my knowledge in this area.”
Both María Mosquera, our current Hostess, and Yair Tapias, Lead Waiter at Kanuú — the hotel’s restaurant — agree that their experience in the FormAlístate training program was invaluable. María emphasized the learning and collaboration opportunities provided by the program, which allowed her to gain specialized knowledge in areas ranging from sustainability to commercial coaching and customer experience:
“It was a truly stimulating experience and extremely valuable for my daily work. I gained specific skills for my role, as well as comprehensive knowledge of different aspects of the tourism sector, which has further expanded my perspective, my horizons, and my passion for hospitality and service.”
Yair, for his part, highlighted the holistic understanding of the industry he gained during the training modules:
“I learned to appreciate the importance of every role in tourism service delivery, regardless of the specific area each person works in. In addition, I acquired new skills and strategies that have improved my productivity and effectiveness at work.”
The collaborative and educational environment fostered throughout the program was also praised by participants, who highlighted the opportunity to interact with professionals from different sectors and hotels across the city, as well as the quality of the course content and the excellence of the instructors.
Carlos added:
“The product innovation workshop, for example, provided valuable tools to develop new and creative strategies, both professionally and personally. The step-by-step learning method — from empathy to testing — allows us to identify opportunities for improvement and offer a fresher, more engaging experience to tourists visiting Cartagena. Personally, my interest in quality management motivates me to continue deepening my knowledge and applying it to help position our hotel and our city as global tourism benchmarks. I am committed to my professional growth and eager to take full advantage of future opportunities, including new courses, workshops, and even postgraduate scholarships.”
With the success of FormAlístate, participants are expected to implement new strategies and improvements in their respective establishments, contributing to the continued growth and sustainable development of tourism in Cartagena.
“From Cotelco Cartagena y Bolívar, we celebrate the success of this program — an initiative that has grown into a seedbed of transformation for our industry. FormAlístate was a collective learning experience that strengthened participants’ capabilities while fostering innovation and a passion for continued personal and professional growth for our city. But this is only the beginning. Cotelco and all the organizations involved remain committed to continuing this effort and nurturing Cartagena’s tourism ecosystem. The testimonials of Carlos, María, and Yair are clear examples of the positive impact these training programs have and the importance of continuing to develop them,” emphasized Diana Carolina Ariza, Executive Director of the Hotel Association.
At InterContinental Cartagena de Indias, we celebrate the execution of these initiatives and remain firmly committed to the holistic development of our team members, providing them with opportunities for growth and support to help them reach their full potential.
September 25, 2023
Last Thursday, September 20, in an emotional ceremony that took place at the InterContinental Hotel Cartagena de Indias, the official launch of the new InterContinental brand culture took place. During the event, the hotel chain presented its renewed focus on culture and service, while paying a moving tribute to its employees in an evening designed to "Inspire Great Things."
The motto "Inspire Incredible" now becomes the brand promise that drives the beliefs, feelings, work methods and experiences lived at the InterContinental Hotel, focusing on the well-being of its staff and the characteristic hospitality that distinguishes the brand worldwide. This new culture is based on three essential pillars: the invitation to discovery, the promotion of empowerment and the defense of possibility. These values will strengthen the chain's ability to attract and retain talent, foster high engagement, maintain a competitive advantage and support overall performance.
During the event, a panel moderated by Alejandro Manfredonio, General Manager of the hotel, was held, in which leaders from various areas shared their expectations and experiences throughout their work career, and in which the global guidelines of the chain were linked. with the know-how of the city. The conversation included Aurora Ochoa, sales director, Paola Cortés, food and beverage manager, and the Hotel's executive chef, Juan Jimenez, who through anecdotes expressed their gratitude to their work teams and to everyone present for their contribution to each of the shared successes and achievements.
"With this promise, we aspire to provide our collaborators with a place where everyone can feel part of something bigger, forging a personal and professional path full of opportunities to learn, grow and pursue new goals and horizons. This culture represents excellence , fusing local knowledge with the global experience of our chain, which is a pioneer in the hotel industry. It not only aims for excellence in the service we provide to our guests, but also drives us to move forward together," emphasized Manfredonio.
The event also highlighted local talent, with an exciting live painting display by Cartagenera artist Yunaris Carmona, a dazzling performance by Circo Caribe, and a live saxophone performance by Jesus Camacho. The musical setting was provided by DJ Daniel Mieles, the decoration and setting by JAC Diseños and Premier Rental, and the audiovisual production was carried out thanks to the joint efforts of Magix Group and Nova Producciones, while Pedraza Producciones captured the special moments.
InterContinental's new culture promises to bring an exceptional experience to its collaborators and guests, forging a path towards a future full of exciting possibilities and extraordinary achievements for both the brand and the city, ensuring that its presence sustains and increases the positive impact that has had in the region, thus reinforcing its commitment to a sustainable and responsible vision of tourism.
April 21, 2023
In total it has 1,075 square meters of rooms and areas for events. Its gastronomic offer and service focused on details have positioned it as one of the city's favorite settings.
On Friday, July 28, during the WeTrade 2023 business fair, the Hotel InterContinental Cartagena de Indias had the honor of receiving the Friendly Biz certification awarded by the Chamber of Diversity. This distinction, which highlights the hotel's unwavering commitment to promoting respect and inclusion, represents a significant milestone in the city's pursuit of safe and responsible business spaces.
The certification was delivered to the General Manager of the Hotel, Alejandro Manfredonio, who shared that in the last five months, all employees have participated in training and coaching sessions that have allowed the dissemination of policies, processes and procedures aimed at strengthening the diversity and equity of the different population segments, reaffirming its commitment to promoting the economic empowerment of the diverse population in Colombia and Latin America.
"This certification is of utmost importance for the InterContinental Cartagena Hotel, as it ratifies our firm commitment to creating safe environments for all our stakeholders and visitors, while we continue to actively promote spaces where respect and diversity are promoted. Our goal is to generate an impact positive both in the local community and in the tourism sector at the national level,” said Manfredonio.
To obtain certification, external audits were carried out that verified compliance with an appropriate methodology regarding awareness of inclusion and customer service. The process, which consisted of five stages, began on March 9, 2023 with the training of the Steering Committee, continued with the training of the Diversity Champions, and continued with the preparation of the rest of the staff by the Human Talent office.
In addition to training its staff, the hotel also extended its commitment to inclusion to other key areas, providing training on inclusive communications and promoting diversity in its supplier chain. This comprehensive vision of inclusion, which spans both within the organization and its business relationships, reflects a heightened awareness of the importance of diversity as a catalyst for innovation and sustainable growth.
The Friendly Biz certification is a seal awarded by the Chamber of Diversity in Colombia to organizations that seek to promote diversity and inclusion in their operations. Since 2014, various business sectors in Colombia have received this seal, which is valid for two years. "We deeply value and celebrate actions as positive as these, which demonstrate a firm commitment to the respect and dignity of all people, without exceptions. We are truly satisfied to be active participants in this relevant conversation," highlighted the manager, Alejandro Manfredonio.
It’s official: Chase Travel has named Cartagena one of the top destinations to visit in 2026. As you explore the Walled City, you’ll be captivated by colorful colonial buildings, vibrant plazas, and streets rich with history. Around every corner, there’s a story to discover, an art gallery to explore, or a boutique café ready to welcome you.
Featured for Chase Travelers: For guests using Chase credit cards, Cartagena offers the perfect balance of “smart luxury” in South America — Caribbean landscapes, cultural depth, and premium hotels with preferred rates when booking direct.