When it comes to satisfying a range of attendee interests and delivering a broad spectrum of venues, there’s no denying Mexico’s diversity. From its beautiful coast to its bustling inland cities and quiet Spanish Colonial towns, Mexico’s varied gathering spots include striking beach resorts, quaint haciendas, high-tech urban convention centers and centuries-old historic buildings. The long list of diversions has everything from golfing, scuba diving and deep-sea fishing to exploring archaeological ruins, museum hopping, listening to mariachi music, shopping for folk art and dining on authentic regional cuisine.
Although 2009 has been a difficult year for Mexico, with the economic downturn, the H1N1 flu scare and drug-related violence, the country has met the challenges head on. The Mexico Tourism Board launched aggressive marketing initiatives to confront perception issues, keep travelers updated and boost tourism arrivals, and it has a renewed commitment to be an invaluable resource to meeting planners while delivering competitive, value-inherent pricing as the country expands its infrastructure.
Aside from new meetings-friendly beach resorts, there are convention centers popping up in cities throughout the country, including recent openings in popular destinations such as Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan, while existing facilities, such as Expo Guadalajara, have significantly expanded.
Fiscal incentives are another strong draw for groups, including favorable exchange rates and the Mexico Tourism Board’s zero-tax initiative, which eliminates the value-added tax for facilities, services and food and beverage related to meetings and conventions.
Meanwhile, planners can submit RFPs and research facilities and destinations through Meetings Online, available on the Mexico Tourism Board’s website, www.visitmexico.com.
As several planners interviewed for Meetings Mexico attest, one of the world’s most diverse destinations presents countless reasons to bring events south of the border.
Baja California Peninsula
Known for its stunning scenery—which ranges from beautiful blue seas to dramatic desert landscapes—the Baja California Peninsula is an easily accessible paradise with a growing array of upscale hotels with group facilities.
Baja California actually includes two separate states. Baja California Norte is home to the busy border city of Tijuana and the waterfront town of Rosarito. Baja California Sur is where visitors head to enjoy time in up-and-coming destinations like Loreto, a charming fishing village dating to 1697, and La Paz, the state capital, which is a great starting point for group activities such as fishing, diving and eco-tours.
Farther south are the legendary towns of San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, known collectively as Los Cabos. Since the first tourists discovered this precious piece of land at the tip of the peninsula decades ago, hoteliers have established some of the nation’s best accommodations here, and most have ample facilities for meetings and conventions. An array of activities, including golf, adventure excursions, cruises, snorkeling and scuba diving, and even whale watching, provide groups with plenty of interesting options.
Resorts slated to open in the next year or two include two top-drawer, meetings-friendly properties: The Montage Los Cabos and The Ritz-Carlton, Los Cabos, Quivera.
Pacific Coast
As difficult as it is to imagine nowadays, there was a time when the concept of a jet-set destination didn’t exist. Then planes started landing on Mexico’s Pacific Coast, and celebrities—as well as movie producers—started putting places like Acapulco and Puerto Vallarta on their itineraries. The rest is history.
Today, both of these destinations continue to offer refreshingly new options for vacationers as well as meeting planners, with an unmatched variety of accommodations, activities, and meeting and convention space. Add destinations like Mazatlan, Manzanillo, Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo and the blossoming, newly named Riviera Nayarit, which extends for 100 miles north of Puerto Vallarta, and you’ve got an enticing variety of destinations to suit the needs of any group.
The newest large venue in the region is the Puerto Vallarta International Convention Center, which debuted earlier this year with more than 100,000 square feet of meeting and event space. Another new group convention venue is the Mazatlan International Center, which at press time was slated to open in November with 80,000 square feet of space function space, and Acapulco’s Il Duomo (formerly named Expo Imperial), a 730,000-square-foot facility scheduled to open in 2010 as part of the Mundo Imperial complex.
New resorts catering to groups in the region include Banyan Tree Cabo Marques in Acapulco and Capella Ixtapa.
Yucatan Peninsula/Gulf Region
The expansive Mexican Caribbean encompasses some of the most popular destinations in Mexico, including Cancun, the country’s highest-profile beach resort. A longtime mecca for sun worshippers, Cancun has evolved over the decades and in recent years has become an upscale hot spot with a stunning selection of stylish hotels and venues for groups, but there are properties to fit every taste and pocketbook. Meetings-ready standouts include Moon Palace, Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach Cancun, Hyatt Regency Cancun and Gran Melia Cancun, all of which have recently completed enhancements.
South of Cancun is the Riviera Maya, one of the country’s fastest-growing tourism destinations, where elegant resorts, precious Mayan archeological sites and natural treasures dot the terrain. The region caters to groups with everything from boutique gems like Ceiba del Mar Spa Resort to the expansive Fairmont Mayakoba, which was unveiled in 2006. The latest high-end, meetings-friendly hotel to open in the region is Grand Velas All Suites and Spa Resort, which debuted in November 2008.
Just off the coast is the island of Cozumel, which measures 30 miles long and 10 miles wide, and is legendary for its natural riches and excellent accommodations and group facilities. Home to the second-largest barrier reef in the world, the entire Mexican Caribbean is renowned for snorkeling and scuba diving.
Also noteworthy is Merida, the so-called "white city" that’s lined with beautiful historic architecture; it serves as the ideal gateway to the archeological treasures of the Yucatan. Farther along the gulf coast is Veracruz, a bustling port founded in 1519 that offers myriad activities and historic venues for groups, not to mention one of the biggest carnival celebrations in the nation.
Interior Mexico
Mexico’s coastline may be alluring, but savvy planners are well aware of the sophisticated, culture-rich options that await in Mexico’s interior, where an impressive number of UNESCO World Heritage sites—as well as large group venues and fashionable hotels—are among the draws.
Mexico City, the nation’s capital, is one of the largest cities in the world, so it’s no surprise that this metropolis offers countless possibilities for meetings and groups—including large luxury hotels and upscale boutique properties, world-renowned historic and cultural venues, tempting international cuisine and a highly skilled workforce.
The city of Guadalajara, meanwhile, is one of the nation’s top cultural and economic hot spots, with a beautifully maintained historic center, culturally rich venues and excellent dining and catering. Groups here can enjoy a day trip to Tequila, birthplace of the popular drink of the same name.
Farther north is Monterrey, one of Mexico’s economic powerhouses; a modern industrial capital with a historic heart and a creative bent. The city’s cultural facilities, including the Museum of Mexico History and the Museum of Contemporary Art, make for excellent event venues.
The city of Puebla is another interior Mexico destination that mixes sophisticated facilities with intriguing cultural draws, including a historic downtown with hundreds of buildings constructed between the 16th and 19th centuries.
Smaller Spanish Colonial cities hold their own special allure. Planners can consider Oaxaca, a historic city that is a hub of fascinating indigenous culture and folk art; San Miguel de Allende, which has landmark architecture, a relaxed ambiance and artistic flair; and Guanajuato, a charming UNESCO World Heritage Site where delegates may stroll cobblestone streets and sleep in beautifully maintained historic hotels.
Mark Chesnut’s first venture into Mexico was a quick jaunt into the border town of Nogales as a teenager. As an adult, he’s managed to expand his range quite a bit south of the border, and has written about Mexico for more than 15 years. His work has appeared in Business Traveler, Caribbean Travel + Life, Hispanic Magazine, Latin Trade, the Miami Herald, Travel + Leisure Mexico, TravelAge West, Travel Weekly and numerous inflight magazines.
