explora �pioneers in experiential travel to South America"s most remote and unexplored territories" return from ILTM in Cannes as proud winner of "Best Luxury Experience in the Americas" for explora Atacama.

The inaugural ILTM Awards recognise the very best luxury travel experiences from around the world, as voted by professional luxury travel buyers together with users of luxury travel community www.ultra.travel. Mr Gabriel Trivelli, European Sales Manager for explora, was privileged to receive the award from Apollo 11 Astronaut, Dr. Buzz Aldrin, (pictured above) and be in the company of the great and the good of the luxury travel industry. This international acknowledgement highlights explora's superior standing within the continent and the luxury travel industry as a whole. On winning the award explora's Vice President Jesus Parilla commented: "This recognition is a true testament to explora�s unwavering pursuit of excellence. In a year of great challenges, this accolade reaffirms that the investment that we have continued to make in our employees and the explora experience is paying off. Our focus is creating long-term partnerships and a viable future for our employees, travel specialists and the communities in which we operate." The award coincides with the recent celebration of explora Atacama's 10th anniversary which was celebrated with property-wide renovations of Hotel de Larache. Added features include: four new suites, each measuring 535 square-feet with separate living rooms and private balconies; new library, dining room, cocktail lounge and open-style kitchen; plus expanded pool area with the addition of two sizable outdoor Jacuzzis with space for 10 guests. 2009 also saw the introduction of a new wine programme taking explora travellers into the Alto Cachapoal Valley. Guests are accommodated at the 6-bedroom Casa Porta (an 1875 colonial-style house turned boutique hotel) and enjoy 1-2 day programmes of tasting sessions at the Vina Porta wineries. For further information, rates or reservations, visit www.explora.com or call +34 672 228972. Receive regular explora updates via Facebook or Twitter!

Notes to editors: explora (www.explora.com) explora is not so much a hotel group as a revolutionary way of traveling to remote places in South America, where the focus is on in-depth exploration of the surroundings and the luxury of the essential. Founded in 1989, explora encourages a new attitude towards travel for those who have a passion for discovering new places and people, in relatively unexplored regions of the southern tip of South America. explora owns and operates three lodges - explora Atacama, Hotel de Larache, explora Patagonia, Hotel Salto Chico and explora Rapa Nui, Easter Island (a certified LEED property) - together with four different �Travesi�as'" that offer travellers nomadic journeys throughout Atacama, Patagonia, Argentina and the salt flats of Bolivia . International Luxury Travel Market (www.iltm.net) International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) is the leading annual business to business event for the global luxury travel community, bringing together over 3,600 suppliers and personally invited professional luxury travel buyers in Cannes. The world's most sought after destinations, ultra-luxurious accommodation, elite transportation and unique travel experiences are showcased for the most discerning international luxury travel buyer via an unrivalled pre-scheduled appointment system and effective networking and information opportunities.

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