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Hilton to open in Ushuaia; Closed stadium and recreational centre; Several groups lobbying to establish casino; Equestrian endurance competition; Gas exploration in Tierra del Fuego.

Hilton to open in Ushuaia

Hilton International announced the construction of a new five star hotel in Ushuaia. The project was confirmed yesterday with the signing of an agreement with Yowen Hotel S.A. for the building of the southernmost hotel in the world. A US$13 million dollar investment will go into the hotel that will be finished in late 2006, or early 2007. "We are proud to be able to confirm that Hilton International will have a new five star establishment in a city as beautiful as Ushuaia. The new hotel will have the style that Hilton International can give its establishments and will be an attraction for this Argentine region, visited by tourists from all over the world," said Tom Potter, vice-president for Hilton International Latin America. "The new Hilton Ushuaia will be a designed hotel, with 150 rooms, conference and event facilities, fitness, swimming pool, restaurant and bar, with a sophisticated yet warm style at the same time, on the banks of the Beagle Canal and surrounded by an incredible Patagonic forest," said Massimo Praga, a partner of RED Hospitality Consulting in charge of the project. "All of us who work at the Hilton Buenos Aires are very happy to announce that on the month of our fifth anniversary in the country, we will soon have a new Hilton Ushuaia, in Tierra del Fuego," said Patricio Alvarez, general manager of Hilton Buenos Aires.

Closed stadium and recreational centre

Chilean private investors are planning the building of a closed multipurpose stadium with a capacity for 3,000 spectators. The project will demand an investment of 1,2 million US dollars and will be undertaken by the Chilean Construction Chamber. A delegation from the Chamber which flew in from Santiago said the main gymnasium will be full equipped with the purpose of serving as a recreational centre for Punta Arenas residents. Private sector involvement will be supported by the national and regional government since the recreational activities are seen as an opportunity to combat obesity and alcoholism, two indexes where Punta Arenas figures among the worst cases in Chile.

Several groups lobbying to establish casino

A Spanish and German group joined the long list of hopefuls interested in a licence to establish a casino and other gambling activities in Punta Arenas. Recent Chilean legislation opened the possibility for a limited number of casinos (17), under certain conditions, with a maximum of three per region. The only other casino in Magallanes is in Puerto Natales and the new bill authorizes the city of Punta Arenas to establish a second gambling centre. The Spanish group Cirsa manages 52 casinos in Latinamerica, has an annual turnover of 150 million US dollars and told Punta Arenas officials they are interested in building a hotel with the casino and a conventions centre. The German Group Hamburg Holding S.A. runs casinos in Europe and the head of the delegation vice-president Arsen Premer from Croatia said that "it was a great moment to invest given the fast growing tourism industry in Chile". Apparently Mr. Premer owns 25 casinos in Croatia.

Equestrian endurance competition

Over ninety horse riders from ten different countries have registered so far for the international Patagonia Equestrian Endurance competition scheduled for May 7 in Torres del Paine Park. "More than a competition it's a cross country march", said Luis Enrique Opazo director of the event organized by the Equestrian Endurance Chilean Association. The competition has two categories: Safari (rider and horse will little or no endurance experience which must cover thirty kilometres, and two subcategories, junior under 16 and senior, over 16); the other category is Experts (horse and rider with endurance experience that must cover sixty kilometres and are also divided in Junior and Senior subcategories). The competition has several legs, some with natural obstacles, and before continuing veterinarians check the horse. According to Mr. Opazo the organizers of the event will have international coverage and is sponsored by Chilean and foreign companies. The equestrian endurance competition first arrived in Chile in 1993. Further information, www.patagoniaenduro.

Gas exploration in Tierra del Fuego

ENAP, Chile' government owned petroleum company has expanded the area of exploration for natural gas in Tierra del Fuego. According to ENAP CEO Enrique Davila, two new projects have been added to the Lake Mercedes area where surveying has been completed and drilling is expected to begin in the coming weeks. The areas involved are Gobernador Philippi and San Gregorio, and they are part of the aggressive ENAP campaign to reduce its natural gas dependency from an only source which has caused so many problems to Chile during the last two years. Chilean Congress is currently considering a bill to limit the gas supply from an only country to 85% with the purpose of diversifying the energy provision. However Magallanes authorities have requested the Chilean Congress to add an amendment to the bill given the fact that the methanol industry next to Punta Arenas is virtually totally dependent from Argentina until alternative ENAP gas supplies can be discovered.