- 5 mins
Another Labor Day has arrived at Las Torres Patagonia, and for the moment the days are calm now that the majority of our team members have closed out our 2023-2024 season with pride. This season we delivered great new adventures to visitors who came to us from all over the world. Now we’re preparing for the new cycle, which will begin in the second half of this year. In the meantime, we’d like to acknowledge all those individuals who make the magic of Patagonia possible. Here we’ll share some of their stories.
Rolando Marimán: More than two decades of work and inspiration drawn from nature
Rolando Marimán, or ‘Don Rolo,’ as he is known at the hotel, is our faithful woodcutter. He’s in charge of chopping the firewood in the mornings, and making sure that each of the rooms inside the hotel and the staff villas have enough logs to withstand Patagonia’s cold days.
Don Rolo has been part of our team for more than 20 seasons, working in the Cerro Negro Ranch, Hotel Las Torres, and Refugio Central, and other areas. His long career makes him one of our most veteran workers.
"In addition to performing my duties, what I like most are the work teams that are created here. At Hotel Las Torres, there is a kind of school that’s created when hundreds of people come every season to learn about work and nature."
Pedro “Peyuco” Contreras: A noble gaucho-baqueano cowboy spirit
Our gaucho-baqueanos, or Patagonian cowboys, are the soul of our service. With their skills in the field and mastery with horses, they preserve our Patagonian traditions. One of them is Pedro Contreras, known as ‘Peyuco’.
Peyuco is passionate about this part of the world. He can often be found in the stables with the horses, sharing a cup of mate tea or playing the guitar to add another air to the Baqueano experience.
"My experience working at Hotel Las Torres has been incredibly enriching and full of growth. The stable team has given me the opportunity to grow and improve both as a person and as an employee.”
Ximena Cárcamo: Delivering the best experience in transportation
The first point of contact between passengers and Las Torres Patagonia is with our team of drivers, who pick up visitors who come from all over the world and take them to our hotel, as well as several of the excursions inside Torres del Paine National Park.
All logistics and coordination are in the hands of Ximena Cárcamo, our Transportation Leader. Ximena joined us at the end of 2016. Starting first in administration, later she took on the role of team leader.
"I am very proud of the trust that my managers and the company owners have placed in me by giving me this opportunity. This makes me very happy. My team is composed of 23 people, and together we’ve worked hard to overcome obstacles and to continue offering excellent service.”
Macarena Maturana: Conquering new horizons to attract new visitors
If there is anyone who knows about Las Torres Patagonia, it is Macarena Maturana, our Key Account Manager for the Latin American market. Macarena has 20 years of experience in the tourism industry–12 of which she has spent growing with us. Many of you probably recognize her from trade shows and events, representing our efforts and working closely with renowned tour operators.
"This has been a truly wonderful journey. I feel a deep affection and passion for the company, for the park, and for the Kusanovic family. I can say that I feel very comfortable and supported. It is a source of pride for me every time I have the opportunity to talk about Las Torres Patagonia, and the progress and growth we have experienced as a company."
Elsa Miranda: Leading, coordinating and instructing the Las Torres Patagonia team
As Head of Sales at Las Torres Patagonia, Elsa Miranda has broad responsibilities in several processes key to our experience. Elsa is responsible for the correct entry of reservations into the Tourplan system, balancing the team's workload across the different sales channels, and organizing management’s shift schedules.
This year, Elsa will celebrate 10 years working with us, and teamwork has been one of the keys to her success.
"One of my biggest challenges has been establishing and maintaining a sense of team, especially since both my responsibilities and those of my team are carried out remotely. Adapting to new ways of interacting and completing tasks has meant an ongoing process of moving forward and adjusting. Although it hasn’t always been easy, this experience has also brought with it numerous rewards, both on a work and personal level."
Patricio Coo: Leading people and culture in Patagonia
Our People and Culture Manager at Las Torres Patagonia has one of the most important missions: building and developing outstanding teams. People are at the center of what we do, across a variety of experiences. From the waiters at Bar Pionero to the managers at the mountain refuges, and from the cowboys who take care of our stables to the people in charge of our bio-intensive vegetable gardens. Having good teams is fundamental to what we do, as Patricio knows very well.
"It is a tremendously rewarding, extremely challenging, and very dynamic job. It constantly tests you in terms of skills, creativity, and efforts needed to achieve people’s well-being, to maintain the quality of our service, and to manage an operation that has many variables in its processes."
