José Koechlin von Stein is founder and president of Inkaterra, a pioneering company in ecotourism and sustainable development in Peru since 1975. Recognized as the third best hotel brand in the world according to a survey by the prestigious Travel+Leisure magazine, Inkaterra was named by the United Nations as the first Climate Positive hotel brand in the world, due to the environmental benefit it provides to the planet. Through a holistic approach, Inkaterra produces scientific research as a basis for the conservation of biodiversity and the well-being of local communities.
José Koechlin contributed to the promotion of the Amazon rainforest as co-producer of Werner Herzog's masterpieces, Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972) and Fitzcarraldo (1982), winner of the Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival. The cultural initiatives promoted by José Koechlin include the publication of numerous books, music albums, educational tools, as well as the organization of the international exhibitions Machu Picchu and the golden empires of Peru, now open in Sydney’s Australian Museum, and Orchids of Machu Picchu, which received 1.7 million visitors at Gardens by the Bay, Singapore.
Among his recent achievements, José Koechlin leads the Inkaterra and Grupo initiative AJE, which has declared Machu Picchu the First Carbon Neutral Wonder of the World. Current president of the National Chamber of Tourism, CANATUR, José Koechlin has received a series of distinctions for his career, such as being named by the International Hospitality Institute as one of the “100 most powerful people in global hospitality in 2022”.