From Wall Street to the Andes: Las Qolqas Featured in Bloomberg
We’re honored that Las Qolqas Eco Resort was recently featured in Bloomberg’s Hong Kong Edition newsletter in the article “Hong Kong Dealmakers Find That Life After Banking Isn’t So Bad” by journalists Denise Wee and Richard Frost (April 2024).
The piece explores how a new generation of Hong Kong bankers are redefining success after leaving high-pressure financial careers — and among those stories of reinvention is our founder, Herman van den Wall Bake, whose journey led him from investment banking to creating Las Qolqas in Peru’s Sacred Valley.
Reinvention in the Andes
In the article, Bloomberg describes how Herman, after a career in investment banking, decided to “be his own boss and do projects that would have a positive impact.” One of those projects became Las Qolqas, an eco-friendly resort nestled between Cusco and Machu Picchu, designed to merge sustainability, local culture, and hospitality.
What began as an idea evolved into a living ecosystem: a riverside retreat powered by solar energy, built from natural materials, sustained by local farmers and artisans, and guided by the principle that true luxury lies in balance — not excess.
Building from Scratch
Bloomberg highlights the challenges behind that transformation: navigating permits, facing a global pandemic, and learning to build something from the ground up. Herman admits he “underestimated” how complex it would be — but also that the personal satisfaction of creating something meaningful far outweighed the comfort of steady paychecks or corporate titles.
As the article puts it, “The personal satisfaction of building something that addresses a need and adds value boosts your well-being in ways that working for a large firm seldom does.”
That line captures the spirit of Las Qolqas perfectly. Every path, every plant in our gardens, every local partnership tells a story of resilience and renewal.
A New Definition of Success
Herman often says that Las Qolqas was built not to escape the world of finance, but to redefine what growth means. In the Sacred Valley, growth is measured in seedlings, in community ties, in moments of silence that money can’t buy.
The resort has since become a model for regenerative tourism — proof that business and purpose can coexist when guided by intention.
As Bloomberg’s piece suggests, there really is life beyond banking — and sometimes, it’s found at 2,800 meters above sea level, where the mountains remind us to move slowly and build consciously.
Read the Full Article
You can read the Bloomberg story here.
We’re grateful for this recognition — and for every guest, partner, and local collaborator who continues to make Las Qolqas a place where reinvention finds its home.