Aluxury retreat in the heart of Río Cuarto
Produced by Jassen Pintado
Interviewee
Facundo Mercado, Gerente General en La Urumpta Hotel & Spa, AKEN MIND
Creative Direction
Omar Rodríguez
In the city of Río Cuarto, Córdoba, stands a space that redefines the concept of hospitality in the region: La Urumpta Hotel & Spa, AKEN MIND. With a proposal that combines nature, sophistication, and wellbeing, this hotel has managed to establish itself as a luxury benchmark while imprinting its own signature in the industry. Its General Manager, Facundo Mercado, shares with Boston Business Review the key factors that have made La Urumpta a unique destination in Argentina.
THE ESSENCE OF A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE
For Mercado, the hotel’s true differentiator lies in its people. “The warmth and professionalism of the AKENers team are fundamental; they are ambassadors of excellence,” he highlights. Added to this is an architecture designed in harmony with nature, where every detail seeks to preserve the original environment. The contact with native tree species and open spaces conveys the sensation of breathing pure air and reconnecting with the essential.
“Nuestro hotel desde su concepción se pensó en una estructura en comunión con la naturaleza, preservando cada especie arbórea”
- Facundo Mercado, Gerente General La Urumpta Hotel & Spa, AKEN MIND
Well-being is another key pillar. AKEN Spa & Wellness offers a complete relaxation circuit with water stations such as sensation showers, Finnish baths, and hydrojets in mini pools, along with heated and panoramic pools, both outdoors and indoors. All of this forms a proposal that Mercado describes as “the most disruptive and fascinating hotel in the region.”
RECOGNITIONS THAT ENDORSE EXCELLENCE
La Urumpta has been honored multiple times by the MyHotel platform, one of the most relevant in the Spanishspeaking world. These recognitions, based on guest surveys and the international NPS system, validate the high standards achieved in service and attention. “The impact is twofold: it
La Urumpta Hotel & Spa, AKEN MIND
confirms that satisfaction levels are consistent over time and motivates the team, who feel they are protagonists of each achievement,” explains the manager.
THE GUESTS’ PERSPECTIVE
The opinion of visitors is clear and consistent. According to the main OTA platforms, the most valued aspects are the staff’s attention, cleanliness,
the quality of breakfast and meals, the design of the facilities, and the spa services. These attributes reflect a strategy focused on the comprehensive experience, in which every detail is carefully attended to maintain high satisfaction rates.
GASTRONOMY AS IDENTITY
The culinary offering also plays a leading role within the hotel. Its
La Urumpta Hotel & Spa, AKEN MIND
restaurant has become a gastronomic icon of Río Cuarto, combining local and international flavors in a menu designed to captivate all five senses. “It’s not just a place for guests, but one of the most relevant alternatives in the region,” says Mercado.
THE BACKING OF AKEN HOTELS & RESORTS
The support of the AKEN Hotels & Resorts chain, part of the Miamibased management company AMEK Group, has strengthened La Urumpta’s international projection. The hotel benefits from solid strategic and operational backing that includes revenue management, realistic budget planning, work climate surveys, and performance evaluations. “The constant support allows us to optimize profitability, improve processes, and ensure that every team member is recognized for their contribution,” affirms the general manager.
LOCAL AUTONOMY WITH INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT
La Urumpta’s management combines the operational autonomy of a local business with the backing of an international chain. As Mercado explains, the relationship with AKEN Hotels & Resorts is built day by day through joint work with the management company AMEK Group. While daily operations are directly handled by the property, permanent coordination instances are established: weekly meetings with department directors and monthly presentations of results before the Board. This structure allows for maintaining independence without losing the strength of corporate support.
A FAMILY IMPRINT
The hotel is part of the business pool of the Donzelli Family, well-known entrepreneurs in Río Cuarto for their commitment to local investment and
job creation. La Urumpta reflects that family identity in its management, transmitting values of responsibility, commitment, and quality, enhanced by the professionalism of its human team. This combination gives it a close and authentic character that
complements the sophistication of its proposal
A MEETING POINT FOR DIVERSE AUDIENCES
The hotel’s strategic location, just minutes from downtown and the Río Cuarto airport, makes it a
La Urumpta Hotel & Spa, AKEN MIND
reference point for both tourists and corporate travelers. Although the business segment, particularly linked to the agricultural sector, is predominant, the hotel also attracts visitors seeking leisure getaways from different Argentine provinces and
even neighboring countries. With a wide range of services and wellness spaces, La Urumpta manages to serve both audiences in a balanced way, establishing itself as a versatile, high-category option.
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“Quiero dejar una huella en cada acto y contacto con mis equipos, para contribuir a su crecimiento profesional y personal”
Facundo Mercado, Gerente General La Urumpta Hotel & Spa, AKEN MIND
SUSTAINABILITY AS A ROADMAP
In recent years, La Urumpta has advanced with a Sustainability Master Plan aimed at reducing environmental impact and optimizing resources. Among the initiatives already implemented are the reduction of energy consumption, the decrease in paper use through recycling processes, and the classification of waste for reuse. These measures are part of a long-term commitment to
position the hotel as a benchmark for responsible hospitality in the region.
THE TRAJECTORY OF A LEADER
With more than 27 years in the industry, Facundo Mercado emphasizes that his career has been guided by a clear purpose: to ensure every guest leaves happy, satisfied, and eager to return. His career, which began in 1998, led him to hold various roles until consolidating himself as
La Urumpta Hotel & Spa, AKEN
General Manager of La Urumpta, a position he has held for five years. “I feel grateful for all that this profession has given me, and I want to leave a mark in every act, gesture, and interaction with my teams, contributing to their professional and personal growth,” he says.
La Urumpta Hotel & Spa, AKEN MIND is not simply a lodging space. It is a statement of principles on how modern hospitality should be conceived. Its ability to combine luxury with human warmth, family tradition with international projection, and innovation with sustainability makes it a model to follow in the region.
From its imposing architecture in communion with nature to the passion of each of its collaborators, the hotel reflects a commitment to excellence that transcends the conventional. In a market where the guest experience makes the difference, La Urumpta not only manages to meet expectations but exceeds them in every detail.
Under the leadership of Facundo Mercado and the support of AKEN Hotels & Resorts, La Urumpta projects itself into the future as much more than a luxury hotel: as a true symbol of Argentinean hospitality, capable of positioning Río Cuarto on the global map of excellence destinations.
