Meeting and Convention Planner 2 MEETING AND CONVENTION PLANNER Meeting and Convention Planner Directory: Bertha Leticia Navarro Secretary of Tourism Eduardo Barroso Dear Reader: Undersecretary for Tourism Operations The promotion of business travel is a top priority of Mexico’s tourism industry. It is imperative that we coordinate our efforts in order to convince our visitors to stay María Elena Mancha González longer and spend more. CEO Mexico Tourism Board This segment of the industry is especially important because it gives visitors a wide range of experiences while providing us with the opportunity to position our Francisco Madrid country as a competitive destination that not only offers quality services but originality and culture, as well. Undersecretary for Tourism Planning Meetings and conventions comprise an important part of business travel, and Mario Palma Mexico has a large number of interesting venues for these events. Located in 56 Undersecretary for New Projects and Quality Control destinations, they can satisfy a wide range of requirements, from world 4 5 congresses to corporate conventions. Editorial Board: This publication is focused at meeting and convention planners, both Mexican and foreign. Designed to provide industry professionals with the information they Ana Compeán need to organize these events in Mexico, it includes complete, up-to-date General Director for the Development of Travel Products information about destinations and venues throughout our country. Eduardo Yarto In preparing this Planner we had the invaluable support of Mexico’s convention Director for the Development of Business Travel and visitors bureaus, meeting and exposition venues, and hotels. I wish to express my sincere appreciation to them for their cooperation. Eduardo Chaillo Ortiz Mexico Congress and Convention Bureau Sincerely, Mariano Escobedo 726, Col. Anzures Tel/Fax: 2581-6300, ext. 6308 and 6309 Secretary of Tourism The partial or total reproduction of material contained herein is prohibited without the written consent of the Ministry of Tourism. Meeting and Convention Planner Table of Contents Page Introduction 9 D. Inland Cities 83 Aguascalientes 85 A. Beach Resorts 13 Ciudad del Carmen 87 Acapulco 15 Celaya 89 Cancún 19 Chihuahua 91 Cozumel 23 Colima 93 Ensenada 25 Cuernavaca 95 Huatulco 27 Culiacán 97 Isla Mujeres 29 Durango 99 Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo 31 Hermosillo 101 La Paz 33 Los Mochis` 103 Los Cabos 35 Monclova 105 Manzanillo 37 Pachuca 107 Mazatlán 39 6 Palenque 109 7 Puerto Escondido 41 Saltillo 111 Riviera Maya 43 San Luis Potosí 113 Vallarta 47 Tampico 115 Veracruz 51 Tepic 117 Toluca 119 B. Colonial Cities 53 Torreón 121 Campeche 55 Tuxtla Gutiérrez 123 Guanajuato 57 Villahermosa 125 Morelia 59 Xalapa 127 Oaxaca 61 Querétaro 63 E. Major Cities 129 San Cristóbal 65 Guadalajara 131 Taxco 67 León 137 Tlaxcala 69 Mérida 139 Zacatecas 71 México, D.F. 141 Monterrey 151 C. Border Cities 73 Puebla 157 Ciudad Juárez 75 Mexicali 77 Tapachula 79 Tijuana 81 Introduction These variants are the result of a or maritime terminal), as well as any combination of dominant temperatures and complementary services provided by the Introduction the rainy season. Each of the country’ s hotel. This benefit will go into effect on Mexico is an excellent option for meetings and Time Zones destinations and cities features specific January 1, 2004, in accordance with Article conventions. A wide gamut of the world-class Mexico covers an extensive area and is located climatic variants that are also affected by the Eight of the corresponding decree. technical capabilities and services needed for in three time zones: Pacific Daylight Time (PDT), altitude. these events are found in our big cities as well Mountain Daylight Time (MDT), and Central Certain destinations charge an additional as in our small towns. Daylight Time (CDT), all on Greenwich mean In general, the weather is pleasant during 2% tax on accommodations and an time minus eight, seven and six hours, the entire year with average temperatures additional 5% tax for banquet services. This Planner provides meeting and convention respectively. This means that when it is12 noon between 15º and 28º C in almost all Check when you make your arrangements. organizers with an overview of 56 Mexican in Greenwich, it is 6 a.m. in Mexico City, 5 a.m. destinations. destinations that have the infrastructure to host in Mazatlán and 4 a.m. in Tijuana. These times Tipping is customary throughout the these events. change during the summer months, April to Mexico’s official currency is the Peso. Even country. In some cases, it may be included in October, when clocks are set forward one hour. though most establishments accept US the cost. In others, it is left up to the Destinations for Meetings and Dollars in exchange for goods and services, organizer to decide on the amount. Most Tropical Savannah Conventions: billing and invoices are issued in Mexican estimates will specify this item. Tips vary Fifty-six destinations located throughout the Tropical Wet currency. The rate of exchange between the according to the service provided: Mexican Republic are included in this directory. Tropical Wet (summer)/Dry Peso and the US Dollar fluctuates so it is a They possess a large portion of the facilities and Wet year ‘round good idea to check before making any Restaurant and banquet services: 10 to 15 services required for meetings and conventions, Wet (summer)/Dry transaction. percent of the cost but there are many others, with more limited Mediterranean Bellboys and baggage handlers: $1 to $2 US capacities, that can handle smaller groups. Space Scant rainfall Credit cards, especially Visa, Master Card dollars per bag limitations, however, make it impossible to include Steppe and American Express, are accepted Maids: $1 US dollar per room them all here, but local CVBs and other state Desert throughout Mexico. Guides and drivers: open, in accordance with passenger satisfaction with the services entities will be happy to provide information for High Mountain There are fifty-eight international airports received. 8 organizers who are interested in smaller venues. and 28 domestic airports in Mexico. The 9 major airports with connections to other The prevailing Federal Tourism Law does not cities in Mexico and abroad are located in give the Ministry of Tourism the authority to Mexico City, Cancún and Monterrey. classify hotels. The information contained in this planner was provided by the Mexico offers a tax incentive for congresses, establishments themselves for marketing conventions, fairs and expositions that are purposes. held in this country. This activity is classified as an export, which means that foreign tourists who travel to Mexico expressly to participate in congresses, conventions s or fairs held are exempt from paying IVA (Value Added Tax) for hotels and for related services provided by the hotels. In order to qualify for this exemption, participants are required to produce documentation that confirms their migratory status, pay for the services with a credit card issued in a foreign country, and make the arrangements for their hotel and related services through the organizers of the event. Among the services that are exempt from the payment of IVA are: accommodations, Tiempo del pacífico local transfers (hotel to airport, bus, railroad, Tiempo de las montañas Tiempo del Centro Introduction Local support services are mentioned Fax (33) 3122-7544 Chile Miami specifically in each section of this Planner. International Congress and Convention Bucarest No. 162, Providencia Santiago de 5975 Sunset Dr., Suite 305, South Miami FL However, there are also organizations at a Association (ICCA) Chile 33143 national level, both public and private, that Campos Elíseos 100 Bis Tel (562) 234-5899 Tel (786) 621-2909 can help to plan a meeting or convention in Col. Polanco, CP 11580 México DF Fax (562) 234-5898 Fax (786) 621-2907 Mexican destinations. Tel (55) 5255-2266 [email protected] [email protected] Fax (55) 5531-8716 Ministry of Tourism England Houston Secretaría de Turismo de México Meeting Professionals International 41 Trinity Square Wakerfield House, London 4507 San Jacinto, Ste. 308, Houston TX Office of Business Tourism Affairs (MPI) EC3N 4DI England 77004 Mariano Escobedo 726 – 1er Piso Casa Reforma No. 1 Tel 44 (207) 488-9392 / 265-0705 Tel (713) 772-2581 Col. Anzures, CP 11590 México DF Col. Tabacalera, CP 06030 México DF Fax 44 (207) 265-0704 Fax (713) 772-6058 Tel (55) 2581-6928 / 2581-6300, ext. 6308 Tel (55) 5520-7403 [email protected] [email protected] Fax (55) 2581-6300, ext. 6303 Fax (55) 5520-7427 [email protected] [email protected] France Chicago www.mpiweb.org 4 Rue Notre-Dame Des Victories 75002 Paris, 300 N. Michigan Ave., 4th Floor, Chicago IL Mexico Tourism Board France 60601 Consejo de Promoción Turística de México Society of Incentive & Travel Executives Tel (331) 4286-9612 / 4286-9213 Tel (312) 606-0327 Mariano Escobedo 550 – 6º Piso (SITE) Fax (331) 4201-4293 Fax (312) 606 9012 Col. Anzures, CP 11590 México DF Río Tiber 100 – 4º Piso [email protected] [email protected] Tel (55) 2581-0900 Col Cuauhtémoc, CP 06500 México DF Fax (55) 2581-0900 Tel (55) 5148-2250 Germany [email protected] Fax (55) 5148-2251 Taunusanlage No. 21, 60325 Frankfurt, [email protected] Germany Mexican Association of Fair Venues Tel 4 (969) 253 509 Asociación Mexicana de Recintos Feriales Mexico Tourism Board Offices Abroad Fax 4 (969) 253 755 10 (AMEREF) Argentina [email protected] 11 Av. Mariano Otero 1499, CP 44550 Av. Santa Fe No. 920, 559 Buenos Aires, Guadalajara, Jal Argentina Italy Tel (33) 3343-3000 Tel (5411) 4393-7070 / 4393-6253 / 4393- Vía Barberini No. 3, 7th Floor, 00187, Rome, Fax (33) 3343-3030 6634 / 4301-8764 Italy [email protected] Fax 005 (5411) 4393-6607 Tel 3 (906) 487-4698 www.ameref.com.mx Fax 3 (906) 4201-4293 Canada [email protected] Mexican Association of Fair, Exposition Montreal and Convention Professionals 1 Place Ville-Marie, Ste.