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Quito’s Historic Center is far more than its colonial architecture: it is a living ecosystem sustained by hundreds of entrepreneurs who, day after day, preserve its cultural, gastronomic, and human identity. Yet many of these businesses face real obstacles — limited access to credit, low digital visibility, and scarce management training — that hold back their growth. Addressing these barriers in an integrated way not only strengthens those who sustain the heart of the Historic Center but also transforms the experience of every visitor who walks its streets.
In Quito’s Historic Center — a UNESCO World Heritage Site where every street holds memories and every space reflects centuries of history — we understand that sustainability begins with how we relate to our surroundings and to the people who bring them to life.
En Casa Gangotena, we believe that “being a good neighbor” is about inhabiting our territory with responsibility, empathy, and purpose. It means actively contributing to the well-being of the Historic Center, strengthening those who sustain its cultural, social, and economic identity: its entrepreneurs.
Under this vision, we work alongside De Vuelta al Centro in an initiative that drives the economic, social, and cultural revitalization of the Historic Center through technical assistance to local and gastronomic businesses. Beyond economic reactivation, this project represents a commitment to a development model based on regenerative tourism: one that not only minimizes negative impacts but also actively contributes to strengthening the social fabric, preserving local identity, and generating shared prosperity.
The project aims to strengthen at least 120 small businesses through a comprehensive approach that combines business management, marketing, financial literacy, and heritage value enhancement.
We deeply believe that regenerating a destination begins with empowering its community. When an entrepreneur grows, their neighborhood grows with them; when a traditional business is strengthened, a piece of Quito’s living memory is preserved.
Through training, technical support, and access to financial and digital tools, entrepreneurs have been able to improve their management skills, strengthen their brands, and expand their growth opportunities — without losing the cultural essence that makes them unique.
Beyond building business skills, the project promotes the recovery of each business’s historical memory, recognizing that the value of the Historic Center lies not only in its architecture, but also in the stories, traditions, and knowledge alive within every local enterprise.
Results That Reflect Transformation
The impact achieved demonstrates how collaboration can become a genuine tool for social and economic transformation.
Participating businesses in 2025 generated over $337,000 in sales and recorded a 15% increase in profits. In addition, more than $724,000 in credit was facilitated, enabling businesses to strengthen operations, expand opportunities, and generate stability for dozens of families.
One of the most inspiring aspects has been the participation of women entrepreneurs, who represent more than 63% of the businesses involved in the project — reflecting the fundamental role women play in shaping the present and future of the Historic Center.
Cases such as Confitería El Gato y Museo del Pernil show how tradition and innovation can coexist. Both businesses have strengthened their growth while keeping alive the gastronomic and cultural identity that defines Quito’s Historic Center.
The impact of this initiative goes far beyond the numbers. Businesses that have served traditional Quito dishes for generations, small artisan shops, and family-run enterprises now have concrete tools to compete in the digital economy without giving up their identity. That combination — innovation rooted in heritage — is precisely the heart of the regenerative tourism model that Casa Gangotena champions as a replicable framework for other heritage destinations across the region.
A Commitment That Continues
At Casa Gangotena, being part of Quito’s Historic Center’s social fabric requires consistency, collaboration, and a shared vision for the future. That is why this journey does not end here.
The results achieved inspire us to keep strengthening this ecosystem of entrepreneurs who keep the cultural, gastronomic, and human essence of the Historic Center alive. Every business strengthened represents a story preserved, a family that thrives, and a territory that continues to regenerate through its people.
As part of our ongoing commitment, we will continue driving this work alongside De Vuelta al Centro with a third training cohort planned for 2026, expanding opportunities for more entrepreneurs and consolidating a regenerative tourism model that actively contributes to collective well-being.
Because we are convinced that the true value of Quito lies in the people who build it every day, and when we work together with purpose, we allow sustainability to transcend words and become a force capable of inspiring, connecting, and transforming entire communities.
