Mendoza Mayors’ International Travels: A Deep Dive into Costs and Destinations
In 2024, several mayors from the province of Mendoza embarked on international trips, aiming to position their communes in sectors they deemed strategic. The Sun submitted an access request to the Public Ethics Workshop to uncover the details of these travels, including destinations, reasons, costs, and accommodations. The findings reveal a interesting glimpse into the journeys of these communal leaders, particularly focusing on Ulpiano Suarez, the mayor of the capital.
The Scope of the Investigation
Table of Contents
The data requested by The Sun included:
- Travel destinations.
- Reasons for travel.
- Number of days spent abroad.
- Accomodation details.
- Delegation members.
- Per diem allocations for mayors and their teams.
- cost of travel tickets.
This extensive request aimed to shed light on the financial and logistical aspects of these official trips.
Ulpiano Suarez: A Frequent Flyer
Mayor Ulpiano Suarez made five trips abroad in 2024, visiting Chile, Brazil, and Spain. Each journey had a specific purpose, ranging from tourism promotion to urban development conferences.
First Trip: Chile’s Maipo Valley
Between April 14 and 16, Suarez traveled to Chile to participate in the “Vintage of the Maipo Valley. Parco Hurtado Park.” accompanied by Roberto Ríos, Secretary of Tourism, Culture, and International Relations, the delegation stayed at the Hyatt Place Santiago/Vitacura. The per diem allocated for this trip was 872,508 pesos per person, covering food, stays, passages, and other expenses.
Second Trip: Spain’s Sustainable Urban Innovation
From June 30 to July 7, Suarez and Sebastián Fermani, Secretary of Surroundings and Urban Development, attended the XXVI CIDEU Sustainable Urban Innovation in Zaragoza, Spain. They stayed at the Alfonso Hotel for three days, with the institution covering their accommodation. The per diem for Suarez was $4,060, while Fermani received $3,780.The round-trip tickets cost $2,130, bringing the total trip cost to $9,910.
Third Trip: Chile’s Smartcity expo
Between July 24 and 28, Suarez returned to Santiago, Chile, with Ríos to participate in the “International City Week. Smartcity Expo Santiago 2024.” They stayed at the Le Meridien Hotel, with the organization covering Suarez’s accommodation. Suarez’s per diem was $595,while Ríos received $1,582. The event organizers also covered the travel tickets, making the total cost $2,177.
Fourth Trip: Chile’s Mountain week
From september 11 to 13, Suarez traveled solo to Santiago for the “Fifth International Mountain Week 2024: Mountain Tourism as a Dynamizer of Sustainable Development.” This trip had a per diem of 69,000 pesos.
Key Takeaways
The table below summarizes the key details of Suarez’s international travels in 2024:
| Destination | Dates | Purpose | Accommodation | Per Diem | Total Cost |
|——————|———–|————-|——————-|————–|—————-|
| Santiago, Chile | April 14-16 | Maipo Valley Event | Hyatt Place Santiago/Vitacura | 872,508 pesos | N/A |
| Zaragoza, Spain | June 30-July 7 | Sustainable Urban Innovation | Alfonso Hotel | $4,060 (Suarez), $3,780 (Fermani) | $9,910 |
| Santiago, Chile | July 24-28 | Smartcity Expo | Le Meridien hotel | $595 (Suarez), $1,582 (Ríos) | $2,177 |
| Santiago, Chile | September 11-13 | Mountain Week | N/A | 69,000 pesos | N/A |
Conclusion
These international trips highlight the efforts of Mendoza’s mayors to foster global connections and bring innovative ideas back to their communes. While the costs and logistics of these journeys are meaningful, the potential benefits for the province’s development remain a key focus. For more insights into Mendoza’s strategic initiatives, explore the Comprehensive Mendoza Travel Guide 2024.
Stay tuned for further updates on the province’s international engagements and their impact on local communities.nAct as an expert news reporters or journalists and create deeply engaging, well-researched, plagiarism-free news article BASED ONLY AND EXCLUSEVELY ON INFORMATION FROM THE ARTICLE BELOW, utilizing web search for relevant information and hyperlinking all external references directly to the contextual keywords within the blog body (NOT IN footnotes or a separate references section), including all provided quotes verbatim in quotation marks and attributing them naturally, seamlessly incorporating all multimedia elements from the original source, maintaining a elegant yet conversational tone with varied sentence lengths, integrating primary and secondary keywords organically, embedding relevant internal and external links, adding one table to summarize key points, strategically placing calls to action, fostering user engagement through fresh insights and meaningful analysis, and returning only the requested content without any additional commentary or text. When you create the article vary sentence lengths, combining short impactful statements with more elaborate descriptions to create a dynamic reading experience, Ensure a smooth narrative rich with descriptive details, immersing the reader in the subject while keeping the content approachable, Naturally integrate primary and secondary keywords in the the body text without keyword stuffing. Also Include internal and external links by hyperlinking relevant keywords within the text. All backlinks must be hyperlinked directly in the body of the blog, not in footnotes or a separate references section.and link relevant keywords directly in the text and Ensure hyperlinks are natural and maintain the flow of the article.
Do not place the sources at the end of the blog. YOU MUST HYPERLINK TO THE CONTEXTUAL WORD THROUGH OUT THE BLOG.
Include one table in the blog post to summarize key information or comparisons, helping break up the text and present data in a digestible format and vary Sentence Length: Mix short and long sentences to create a more natural flow and Be mindful of overusing certain terms or phrases, as this can signal AI authorship.
Do not place the sources at the end of the blog.YOU MUST HYPERLINK TO THE CONTEXTUAL WORD THROUGH OUT THE BLOG. Return only the content requested, without any additional comments or text.
the created article should be BASED ONLY AND EXCLUSEVELY ON INFORMATION FROM THE ARTICLE BELOW :nn:rnrn diem for fuel, as it traveled by car, while it occupied $ 987 for accommodation at the Panamerican Hotel, expenses and food.
the last departure of the country of the mayor of the capital was on November 13, when he traveled to Rio de Janeiro to participate in the “Mayor Summit of Río U20 2024 ″, where he was until November 18.
This trip was also only suarez.Air tickets and stay at the Windsor Excelsior Copacabana hotel and were in charge of the organization, while he received $ 476 for per diem.
In this way, adding the five trips, which was destined for per diem, both for the mayor and for his delegation was 1,814,016 pesos and $ 13,550.
MARCOS CALVENTE
The departure of the country of the communal chief of Guaymallén were part of the controversies that occurred during the year 2024, as there was even a complaint before the provincial justice by the opposition.
Between November 5 and 9, Calvent participated in the Smart City Expo World congress In the city of Barcelona. He was accompanied by the director of innovation and attention to the neighbor, Ignacio Conte, and the Director of Communication and Institutional Affairs, Melisa Villarroel.
To cover the costs of the trip, Calvent utlilized $ 8,250 for per diem, along with 10,917,000 pesos for the purchase of three air tickets. these official funds were transferred by the municipality to the Bank Account of Conte, who managed the necessary payments to guarantee the participation of the mayor and cover the operating expenses of the delegation in Europe.
According to the data obtained from the request for access to public information,it was observed that Air tickets only included the Argentine-Spanish section.
This data is striking, since during this visit to the old continent, Calvent took the opportunity to travel to Italywhere he met with the Argentine ambassador to that country, Marcelo Giusto.
“Mayor Marcos Calvent held a productive meeting at the Argentine Embassy in italy with Ambassador Marcelo Giusto, a figure of great international prestige in the diplomatic field”affirms a press release prepared by the commune website.
On this trip, there are no details about how the passages that connected Spain with Italy, or who traveled, nor if there was accommodation in a hotel.
Another striking fact is the assignment of passages. As specified in the document, on November 3 they left Calvent together with Conte and Villarroel, on a flight that came out of Mendoza, made a scale in Lima, then in Madrid to finally land in Barcelona.
As for the return tickets, There is a ticket that directly connected Barcelona with Mendoza and another that made the Barcelona Route- Buenos aires that does not have an assigned holder. In addition, one of the passages that connected the old continent with the country is missing.
on November 11 there are two tickets – the name of the mayor and his head of the press - that connect Aeroparque with Mendoza.
Esteban allasine
According to the information sent by the commune, Esteban Allasino left the country four times during the year 2024:
- Panama: To participate in the Network of Sustainable Cities and City Halls for Democracy, under the Konrad Adenauer stiftung (KAS) Foundation in Germany, where he spent 3 days rnrnnAct as an expert news reporters or journalists and create deeply engaging, well-researched, plagiarism-free news article BASED ONLY AND EXCLUSEVELY ON INFORMATION FROM THE ARTICLE BELOW, utilizing web search for relevant information and hyperlinking all external references directly to the contextual keywords within the blog body (NOT IN footnotes or a separate references section), including all provided quotes verbatim in quotation marks and attributing them naturally, seamlessly incorporating all multimedia elements from the original source, maintaining a sophisticated yet conversational tone with varied sentence lengths, integrating primary and secondary keywords organically, embedding relevant internal and external links, adding one table to summarize key points, strategically placing calls to action, fostering user engagement through fresh insights and meaningful analysis, and returning only the requested content without any additional commentary or text. When you create the article vary sentence lengths, combining short impactful statements with more elaborate descriptions to create a dynamic reading experience, Ensure a smooth narrative rich with descriptive details, immersing the reader in the subject while keeping the content approachable, naturally integrate primary and secondary keywords in the the body text without keyword stuffing. Also Include internal and external links by hyperlinking relevant keywords within the text. All backlinks must be hyperlinked directly in the body of the blog, not in footnotes or a separate references section.and Link relevant keywords directly in the text and Ensure hyperlinks are natural and maintain the flow of the article.Do not place the sources at the end of the blog. YOU MUST HYPERLINK TO THE CONTEXTUAL WORD THROUGH OUT THE BLOG.
Include one table in the blog post to summarize key information or comparisons, helping break up the text and present data in a digestible format and Vary Sentence Length: Mix short and long sentences to create a more natural flow and be mindful of overusing certain terms or phrases, as this can signal AI authorship.
do not place the sources at the end of the blog. YOU MUST HYPERLINK TO THE CONTEXTUAL WORD THROUGH OUT THE BLOG.return only the content requested, without any additional comments or text.The created article should be BASED ONLY AND EXCLUSEVELY ON INFORMATION FROM THE ARTICLE BELOW :nn:rnrn diem for fuel,since it traveled by car,while it occupied $ 987 for accommodation at the Panamerican Hotel,expenses and food.the last departure of the country of the mayor of the capital was on November 13, when he traveled to Rio de Janeiro to participate in the “Mayor Summit of Río U20 2024 ″, where he was until November 18.
This trip was also only suarez.Air tickets and stay at the Windsor excelsior Copacabana hotel and were in charge of the organization,while he received $ 476 for per diem.
In this way, adding the five trips, which was destined for per diem, both for the mayor and for his delegation was 1,814,016 pesos
Mayors of Mendoza: Who Traveled Abroad in 2024 and Who Stayed Local?
In 2024, several mayors from Mendoza, Argentina, embarked on international trips for various professional engagements, while others remained focused on local governance. These travels, funded entirely by the organizers, sparked discussions about transparency and the purpose of such trips. Here’s a detailed look at who traveled, where they went, and the controversies that followed.
International Trips: A Global Perspective
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
One mayor spent four days in Baltimore, participating in the City Data Alliance of Bloomberg Philanthropies, a collaboration between Bloomberg Philanthropies and Johns Hopkins University. This event focused on urban innovation and data-driven governance,offering insights into improving municipal services.
Medellín and Bogotá, Colombia
another mayor was invited by the Local Innovation Network (RIL) to attend the Expo I Smart City in Bogotá. This four-day trip highlighted advancements in smart city technologies and sustainable urban development, providing valuable lessons for Mendoza’s municipalities.
Berlin, Germany
A five-day visit to Berlin was facilitated by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Foundation (KAS), where the mayor participated in an International Forum for Urban Governance and Sustainability. This forum brought together leaders from around the world to discuss strategies for creating resilient and sustainable cities.
The Missing Details
While the trips were fully funded by the organizers, the information provided by the municipalities was incomplete. Key details, such as the size of the delegations and specific accommodations, were omitted, raising questions about transparency.
Mayors who Stayed Local
Not all mayors ventured abroad.Matías Stevanate of Maipú, Francisco Lo Presti of Las Heras, and Diego Costarelli of Godoy Cruz remained in Argentina throughout 2024, focusing on local governance and community needs.
The controversial Travels of Emir Andraos
Emir Andraos,the mayor of Tunuyán,made four international trips in 2024,two of which sparked controversy.
Trips to Chile
Andraos visited Chile twice. the first trip was for the Valle del Maipo 2024 festival, where he was accompanied by two officials. The second trip took him to iquique to support athletes participating in a beach volleyball pre-Olympic event. These trips cost over 2 million pesos in per diems and travel expenses.
Germany and Spain: The Controversy
andraos traveled to Germany for an International Workshop on Municipal Cooperations for Climate, organized by SKEW. While the passages were covered by the organizer, per diems totaled 978,821.70 pesos. The controversy arose when Andraos extended his trip to Spain, where he met with Gabriel Cairo, a non-professional sports manager at FC Barcelona. This six-night stay in Barcelona cost 3,179,976.84 pesos in per diems, paid by the mayor himself.
Key Takeaways
| Mayor | Destination | Purpose | Controversy |
|———————–|———————–|————————————————–|——————|
| Unnamed Mayor | Baltimore, USA | City Data Alliance of Bloomberg Philanthropies | None |
| Unnamed Mayor | Medellín & Bogotá, CO | Expo I Smart City | None |
| Unnamed Mayor | Berlin, Germany | International Forum for Urban Governance | None |
| Emir Andraos | Chile (2x) | Valle del Maipo 2024 & Beach Volleyball Pre-Olympic | None |
| Emir Andraos | Germany & Spain | Climate Workshop & Meeting with FC Barcelona | Extended trip |
Calls for Transparency
The incomplete information provided by the municipalities has led to calls for greater transparency. Residents and local media are urging officials to disclose full details of international trips, including delegation sizes, accommodations, and the specific benefits these trips bring to Mendoza.
Engage with Us
What are your thoughts on these international trips? Do they benefit Mendoza’s municipalities,or are they unnecessary expenses? Share your opinions in the comments below and stay tuned for more updates on local governance.nAct as an expert news reporters or journalists and create deeply engaging, well-researched, plagiarism-free news article BASED ONLY AND EXCLUSEVELY ON INFORMATION FROM THE ARTICLE BELOW, utilizing web search for relevant information and hyperlinking all external references directly to the contextual keywords within the blog body (NOT IN footnotes or a separate references section), including all provided quotes verbatim in quotation marks and attributing them naturally, seamlessly incorporating all multimedia elements from the original source, maintaining a sophisticated yet conversational tone with varied sentence lengths, integrating primary and secondary keywords organically, embedding relevant internal and external links, adding one table to summarize key points, strategically placing calls to action, fostering user engagement through fresh insights and meaningful analysis, and returning only the requested content without any additional commentary or text. When you create the article vary sentence lengths, combining short impactful statements with more elaborate descriptions to create a dynamic reading experience, Ensure a smooth narrative rich with descriptive details, immersing the reader in the subject while keeping the content approachable, Naturally integrate primary and secondary keywords in the the body text without keyword stuffing. Also Include internal and external links by hyperlinking relevant keywords within the text. All backlinks must be hyperlinked directly in the body of the blog, not in footnotes or a separate references section.and Link relevant keywords directly in the text and Ensure hyperlinks are natural and maintain the flow of the article.
Do not place the sources at the end of the blog.YOU MUST HYPERLINK TO THE CONTEXTUAL WORD THROUGH OUT THE BLOG.Include one table in the blog post to summarize key information or comparisons, helping break up the text and present data in a digestible format and Vary sentence Length: Mix short and long sentences to create a more natural flow and Be mindful of overusing certain terms or phrases, as this can signal AI authorship.
do not place the sources at the end of the blog. YOU MUST HYPERLINK TO THE CONTEXTUAL WORD THROUGH OUT THE BLOG. Return only the content requested, without any additional comments or text.
The created article should be BASED ONLY AND EXCLUSEVELY ON INFORMATION FROM THE ARTICLE BELOW :nn:rnrn ” class=”below-content widget widget_block”/>
