About us Metropolitan Touring

We are pleased and proud to share with you that the Great Place to Work Institute – Ecuador has placed Metropolitan Touring among the top companies chosen as Great Place to Work, based on interviews to the company’s employees.  The activities of Great Place to Work Institute are based on more than 20 years of research, dedicated to building a better society by helping companies transform their workplaces.  The Institute launches an annual competition to select the Best Companies to Work For in seven Latin American countries and 31 worldwide. Being tourism a “people business” it is a top priority of Metropolitan Touring to improve the quality of life of the people who belong to the company. A great place to work has been defined as a place where employees "trust the people they work for, have pride in what they do, and enjoy the people they work with" - a great workplace is measured by the quality of the three interconnected relationships. The GPTW model is based on Credibility, Respect, Fairness, Pride and Camaraderie. We are sure that this trust and satisfaction of our employees will be directly reflected on the service you and your clients are receiving from us.

Metropolitan Touring was founded in 1953 and is Ecuador’s leading Travel Corporation with its own ground and Galápagos cruise-expedition operation. Expanding over 50 years, the history of Metropolitan Touring is full of passion, inspiration, courage and success, with an extraordinary team of a highly professional staff led by a group of Ecuadorian visionaries eager to boost tourism in Ecuador. Designed for upscale and demanding guests, Metropolitan Touring offers a fulfilling selection of exciting and innovative experiences in Ecuador’s megadiverse four natural regions: Pacific Coast, Andean highlands, Amazon Rainforest and Galapagos Islands, and its new challange in Peru, with all its archaeological and natural richness.. Our dedication to quality, our experience, excellence in travel safety, commitment to earthly environments and local cultures is unequaled in the discovery business.

Environmental commitment

As pioneers of ecotourism in Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands, we are totally committed to the conservation of all ecosystems, natural and urban habitats and people’s well being. We support and contribute to the preservation of the environment, scientific investigation, education, and permanently promote environmental awareness among our personnel, local communities and guests through our direct participation in the operation of sustainable tourism and the creation in 1998 of the Galapagos Ecuador Foundation which finances two major projects: garbage recycling and coastal cleaning.

Corporate Fact Sheet

• Our Mission: To share the wonders of Ecuador with the world’s explorers.
• Our Vision: To lead the way of excellence in the travel industry.
  Metropolitan Touring pioneered responsible tourism and expedition voyages to the Galapagos Islands and are the leaders in the operation of exciting, innovative and imaginative tours and excursions in continental Ecuador.

Our Galápagos expeditions aboard the 90-guest MV SANTA CRUZ and yacht ISABELA II are geared toward all aspects of the Galápagos: discovery, adventure, environmental interpretation, aquatic activities, relaxation, superb service and much more. Our 21-room Finch Bay Eco Hotel Resort on Santa Cruz Island offers land and sea packages with our new Sea Finch Yacht designed to bring guests in close contact with the unique wildlife and wondrous nature of the Galápagos National Park and Galápagos Marine Reserve.

Metropolitan’s exclusive “Chiva Express” Rail & Road programs offer the unique experience of “riding the roof” along the Andean Highlands and down to the Pacific coast.

• Company Founded: 1953
• Employees for 2006: 698
• Headquarters: Metropolitan Touring Building
• Avenida De Las Palmeras N45-74 y De Las Orquídeas. Quito - Ecuador
• Locations: Offices in the main cities of Ecuador and sales, support and R&D offices worldwide.
• Contact: (593) 2 298 8200
• Websites: www.metropolitan-touring.com / www.galapagosvoyage.com 
  

Management Team

• Mr. Roque Sevilla, Executive President
• Mrs. Paulina Burbano de Lara, Vice President Sales & Marketing
• Ms. María Cecilia Alzamora, Comercial Director USA/Canada
• Mrs. Tamara Karolys, Sales Manager Europe & Incentives
• Mrs. Cristina Kranen, Sales Manager USA & Canada
• Mrs. Veronica Sevilla, Sales Manager Latin America
• Mr. Hideo Taniguchi, Sales Manager Asia
• Mrs. Silvia Cifuentes, Sales Manager Ecuador
• Mrs. Sylvia Moncayo, Director Corporate Communications

OUR CORPORATE PHILOSOPHY

Customers are our reason for being; we believe in creating loyal customers by understanding their expectations and providing personalized services, with attention to every detail.  We highly value the feedback we receive from our customers; we listen and learn from them as they help us to be consistent in our search for excellence in all aspects of our business.

Teamwork is the core of our success.  Our staff is motivated, proactive and enthusiastic, working together towards a common goal.  We promote learning, personal development and growth towards the achievement of individual and collective excellence.  We encourage solidarity and care for the integrity of our families –the main source of motivation in our daily existence.

We love Ecuador: its hospitable people, millenary traditions, awesome landscapes and delicious flavors. The interest we have in learning, investigating and getting to know our country is inexhaustible. Our pride lies in sharing Ecuador with the world.

Community and nature are at the heart of our business.  We encourage the protection of Ecuador’s extraordinary biodiversity and the appropriate use of its natural resources.  We respect our cultural heritage, learn from it and work with the communities to create new opportunities for development.

Leadership for us is beyond being the first –we are passionate dreamers-- and generate new, original and innovative ideas.  We belong to a world in constant movement and are ready for its challenges

We believe in the power of communications.  Our communications are direct, transparent and sincere; we value and encourage the opinions of others.  We promote ways and means to transmit what we have learned, and through our open communication, establish quality personal and institutional relationships based on trust and respect.