Argentina's capital is known as the Paris of Latin America. Under the guidance of Mayor Torcuato de Alvear the city came to a great boom in the late 1880's. British companies established gas and electricity networks and built tramways. Pavements were widened, trees were planted, park and plazas were designed. With it's French and Italian looking hotels, bars and coffeeshops Buenos Aires became a popular tourist destination for the European and North American upper-classes.