Mexico receives more than 20 million business and leisure travelers a year…
Mexico receives more than 20 million business and leisure travelers a year, making the country one of the most important international tourism destinations worldwide. While its proximity to the U.S. and its unmatched hospitality have contributed to its success in the tourism segment, Mexico continues to make strides to attract the business segment with advanced technology, valuable incentives and heavy participation in international trade fairs, including a Mexico Pavilion at next month`s IT&ME (The Motivational Show 2005) trade fair, to be held September 27-29 in Chicago.
Held at Chicago`s prestigious McCormick Place, The Motivational Show is the largest expo of its kind in North America, bringing together the world`s largest collection of incentive merchandise, travel and meeting destinations, recognition awards, promotional products, performance improvement services and business gifts expo. More than 80 Mexican entities, including destinations, convention and visitors bureaus, destination management companies, hotel chains, independent hotels and airlines will be represented within Mexico`s new pavilion.
Our increased participation at The Motivational Show is a reflection of the growth of the incentive travel and meetings and convention market in Mexico, said Eduardo Chaillo, director of the Mexico Tourism Board in Chicago. Mexico is a place where you can easily mix business and pleasure, with state-of-the art meeting facilities located near beautiful beaches, upscale shopping centers, world-class spas and golf courses, colonial towns, and breathtaking natural surroundings.
In a recent study performed by the International Congress and Conventions Association, Mexico jumped 17 notches this year to 11th place as the preferred destination for meetings and convention worldwide. This new position reaffirms Mexico`s increasing commitment to this US$1.5 billion tourism segment as well as meeting planners` and participants` overall satisfaction with our country as a destination for their events, said Elda Laura Cerda, executive director of the Mexico Convention Bureau.
Cancun topped the rankings for U.S.-based incentive travel, over Hawaii and Las Vegas, according to a recent survey conducted by Mexican-based consulting company, Consultores Asociados en Turismo (CAT – www.catconsultores.com). The study, commissioned by the Mexico Tourism Board, showed that among the factors which influenced the decisions of those surveyed were the availability of direct flights, the variety of activities available to participants and the value of its products.
Other noteworthy Mexican destinations that are popular for incentive travel are Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, Ixapa-Zihuatanejo and the Riviera Maya.
Dedicated to increasing domestic and international tourism to Mexico, the Mexico Tourism Board is taking a number of initiatives to make organizing events and meetings in Mexico easier than ever. In March 2005, the Mexico Tourism Board launched a web-based tool Meetings Online, allowing meeting planners to review online installations and available services in Mexico within the Meetings and Conventions segment, thereby fomenting the exchange of information between service providers and buyers located at www.visitmexico.com.
In addition, the inauguration of the Mexico Convention Bureau (Oficina de Congresos y Convenciones de Mexico, OCC) in July, 2003, makes Mexico one of the few nations in the world with a national bureau dedicated to meetings and conventions. In 2004, the government repealed its long-standing value added tax for meetings and conventions (10 percent in border states and 15 percent elsewhere).
These incentives, combined with strategic alliances with entities such as Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and Society of Incentive & Travel Executives (SITE), have put Mexico at the forefront in the business sector.
Impressive Numbers
Mexico offers an amazing variety of meeting options: 38 state-of-the-art convention centers in 25 cities, 26 destinations for incentive travel, 245,000 hotel rooms for conventions, more than 550,000 square meters of event space and 58 international airports.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
