THE STATE OF MEXICO’S MEETINGS DESTINATION PRESENTATION October 15th 2014 THE THREE MEXICOS “First, there was THE STATE OF MEXICO, then MEXICO CITY and at last MEXICO COUNTRY”. THE STATE OF MEXICO, the first formal political entity in Mexico country (Hence it’s name), has a very rich heritage within the meeting industry. Four different clusters: TOLUCA, VALLE DE BRAVO, IXTAPAN DE LA SAL and TEOTIHUACAN, offer an eclectic array of experiences for Congresses, Conventions, Incentives and Corporative Events. THE STATE OF MEXICO’S MEETING INDUSTRY IMPACT • It was the first state in México Country with a Meeting Industry Economic Impact Study • 4,488 Meetings statewide in 2013 40% Corporative Events 28% Trade Show & Exhibitions 16% Congress & Conventions 9% Seminars 7% Incentive Events • 248 Million USD annual revenue • Represents 0.4% of the State’s GDP • 60% of revenue generated by Non Touristic Services and Products • 302,856 Participants • 357,672 Room Nigts • 3,084 Direct Jobs • 2,392 Indirect Jobs THE ECONOMIC STRENGTHS AND POTENTIAL OF THE STATE OF MEXICO FOR THE MEETING INDUSTRY The strategic industrial sectors in the State allowing for congresses, conventions, corporate events and ex- hibitions are: CHEMICAL, AGROINDUSTRY, AUTOMOTIVE, MINING, RESEARCH TOURISM, LOGISTICS, AEROSPACE, TEXTILE, POLITICS, SPORTS AND CULTURE. In the State of Mexico 23 laboratories are in existence, where pharmacological research is performed, attracting professionals in this area and, therefore, they mean an opportunity for events. Nowadays, the Tourism Ministry in the State of Mexico is fully dedicated to developing a structure to expand the events industry, which will enable expertise to be attained at local level, so that people might be attracted to events carried out in specific destinations like the cities of Toluca/Metepec, the nautical resort at Valle de Bravo and the spas in Ixtapan de la Sal. The productive infrastructure of The State of Mexico boasts 14 either industrial or technological parks. All these industrial parks are equipped with training centers, sports facilities, halls for business meetings and special events Highways in the State are 13,222 km [8,216 miles] long, its railway tracks reach 1,304 km [810 miles] and its international airport is deemed to be one of the most modern and safe in Latin America. We are also collaborating with international leaders in the industry as those of the stature of Gary Grimmer, Bruce MacMillan and Eduardo Chaillo, in order to receive, from the start, a technical backing and to function under the rules and metrics of certifications like the DMAP (Destination Marketing Accreditation Program) and DMAI (Destination Marketing Association International). THE STATE OF MEXICO’S CLUSTERS FOR THE MEETING INDUSTRY: TOLUCA, VALLE DE BRAVO, IXTAPAN DE LA SAL and TEOTIHUACAN TOLUCA. Toluca’s municipality is considered to possess the highest industrialization level in Mexico and it is all around the wide and vast Toluca’s Valley. It is also the venue for numerous business meetings that have become decisive for Mexico, and even for other countries. Fidel Castro and Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara gathered here. Nowadays, Toluca has twenty two 4-5 star hotels, that add up 2,710 rooms altogether. Their capacity accommodates well from small corporate groups to 5,000 persons. Toluca generates 9.13 percent of the country’s GDP. The air arrivals are through Toluca’s International Airport, that has an availability for 8 million passengers daily. The airport has a very important private aviation system, that holds 10 FBO’s (Fixed Based Operation) Centers, where all the national e international CEO’s, Business Persons, Politicians & Celebrities that travel to The State of Mexico and to Mexico City arrive Toluca is also known by its industry. Along Tollocan avenue one can see factories, who make up the industrial park, where big corporations are set up, like Nestlé, Bosch, Chrysler, General Motors, Roche, etcetera. The Cosmovitral or Toluca’s Botanical Garden is where North-America Leader Summit, between the Presidents of Mexico, Enrique Peña Nieto; United Sates’ Barack Obama and Canada’s Premier Stephen Harper recently took place. Curiously enough, in olden times it was Toluca-city marketplace that was named ‘September the 16th’ or Independence Day Market. Toluca’s Profile for the Meeting Industry: Conventions Corporate meetings Conferences Congresses Fairs and Exhibitions Seminaries VALLE DE BRAVO. One of the loveliest Magical Villages of Mexico, it is surrounded by mountains, within the Balsas river basin, southwards of the State of Mexico It is a meeting point for many personalities and Jet Set celebs, both national and international, who have established their country houses in this place they come here in the holidays and during summer. It has twelve 4-5 star hotels, with a total of 346 rooms. Its cuisine boasts a broad range of fare, Mexican and international. The outstanding tours are: the Presa (dam) and its dock, Pino Park, Cascada Río del Molino (Mill’s River waterfall); cascada Velo de Novia (Bridal Veil waterfall), the Parish church of Saint Francis of Assisi, the Peña (the Cliff) and the Archeological Museum Its healthy and friendly climate allows for sports and pleasure activities, like water-ski, sailboat, kayak, sailing, motocross, zip or Tyrolean line, trekking, camping, hang-gliding, para-gliding, golfing, ultralight aviation, etcetera. It is a synonym for culture. Throughout the year, different events take place, like the Fifth-Sun Festival, the International Short Movie Festival ‘Valle de Bravo in Short’, the Music and Ecology International Festival and the Souls International Festival (Festival Internacional de las Almas). In the vicinity of Valle de Bravo one can visit the Great Stupa for Worldwide Peace, a monument symbolizing the spiritual process and a revered location for Buddhists. It is the biggest stupa in the West. Valle de Bravo’s Profile for the Meeting Industry: Conventions Corporate meetings Conferences Congresses Incentives Seminaries IXTAPAN DE LA SAL. One of the most important touristic destinations in the State of Mexico, due to the curative properties attributed to the springs in the region, Ixtapan is a synonym for rest and health, furthermore it is a place for meditation, healing and, above all, relaxing. It also has a peculiar vintage flavor that today mixes up with a vanguard infrastructure designed for the well- to-do tourist, so that it has become a leisure place and a meeting spot for the Presidents of Mexico. It is fitted with five 4-5 star hotels, as well as a boutique one, rendering a total of 575 rooms. Its main tourist attractions are: the Grutas de la Estrella (Star caves), the Assumption Church, the Gran Reserva country club, Saint Anna Xochuca Church, and Ixtapa spa. It is renowned for excellent medicinal services, for the expert hands of masseuses and masseurs and for physiotherapy. Hotels like Marriott and Misión San José offer their highly qualified spa experience that fits in well with the baths in Roman tubs. One can easily surmise that Ixtapan is becoming a sybarite pole of highly styled gastronomy and Grand Tourism sustainable accommodation. Ixtapan de la Sal’s Profile for the Meeting Industry: Conventions Corporate meetings Conferences Congresses Incentives Seminaries TEOTIHUACAN (PLACE WHERE MEN BECOME GODS). The Teotihuacan culture dissapeared over 800 years prior to the existance of the Aztec culture. The city covered over 20 kilometers radius. Nowdays the most visited archeological site in the world. It has a very particular gastronomy, that dates from this culture’s origins, including a 105 year old restaurant over in a cave, that can hold groups up to 300 persons. There’s a convention center for up to 500 persons to participate in congress, conventions and incentives. The grupal visit to the archeologial site, hot air balloon rides over the pyramids and the Sky Dinner experience, are extensibly used by corporations for team building, kick offs, incentives and high end dinners. Prehispanic weddings take place constantly in the surrounding hotels, halls, patios and restaurants. Eco Tourism is an important part of the collateral events for conventions and corporative groups. “THE STATE OF MEXICO A DESTINATION FOR MEETINGS THAT CHANGE MEXICO AND THE WORLD” .