Venezuela is hardly an obvious candidate for the next great luxury travel destination. After decades of political and economic turmoil, the country faces deteriorating infrastructure, significant security risks, and an uncertain political future. The U.S. State Department advises Americans to reconsider travel, with stronger warnings against visiting several regions, including parts of the Amazon.
But Adriana Cisneros, the Venezuelan businesswoman whose family group has interests spanning media, real estate, and hospitality, believes the country has an unusual opportunity to build something different.
She estimates it could be eight years before Venezuela sees a Four Seasons, Rosewood, or Capella. Rather than waiting for the conventional luxury hotel industry to arrive, she imagines a network of four or five base camps connected by small aircraft and boats, offering access to the country’s remarkable natural environments.
Her vision: “Extraordinary, ul