Meeting News - November 10, 2008 - (Page 34)

Mexico Incentives Straw Poll of Planners Shows That They Still Favor South of the Border According to a sampling of those who plan programs in Mexico, Cancun and Cabo still top the list of destinations Worldwide Meeting Management’s Shawn M. Quish, CMP (and an accredited cruise counselor by the Cruise Lines International Association), recently held programs in Cabo and Puerto Vallarta, and he just got off a Mexican Riviera cruise program (with visits to Cabo, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta). “Trends for my company and me are cruise programs,” he explained.“I just got back from a seven-day program on Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas, and I have two programs looking at booking on Mexican Riviera cruises next year. I have a client who does Mexico every year, and in 2009 it has decided to offer more than one destination by doing a cruise.” For those determined to have international incentives, Mexico makes a favorable impression. Quish regards Mexico as less expensive than Hawaii.“I have a lot more requests to look at Mexico now than I did last year or early 2008,” he said. Mexico business is also brisk for Elizabeth Campbell Boyd of DMC International; her clients are looking at all-inclusive destinations in Mexico, “as Europe is too expensive.” She recently ran a program in Cabo (“people really enjoyed the option of touring San Lucas and San Jose”), and she is running a program in Acapulco in February, plus she just did a site inspection in Mexico City. “They are doing a huge push to become an up-and-coming destination,” said Boyd.“The city is fantastic, clean, and offers many options, and hotels are building there like crazy.” Boyd currently has a client considering Cabo and Cancun for August 2009. She noted, “What are the hot new destinations in Mexico? Le Blanc in Cancun is getting lots of rave reviews.” Sarah Brand, of SKB Solutions, is about to run an event for a small group in the Yucatan—in Puerto Adventuras, near Playa del Carmen. “While I have yet to visit the site,”she said,“I have high hopes that it will be just as well-received. We have events planned that include golf on a PGA-rated course, swimming with dolphins, and silver shopping.” Many planners, however, are reporting mixed messages from their clients. Jennifer M. Settle, regional vice president at the San Diego office of HelmsBriscoe, said,“There is a bit more caution, and our planners are thinking ‘twice’—the safety issue seems to be coming up a bit more lately.” Settle has held programs in Cabo and Cancun recently, but currently has “nothing on the horizon for Mexico.” Quish had to rebook a program to the Mexican Riviera cruise that had been scheduled for October, “because of the economy and image if the company did the program with the downturn.” Quish said the client is moving it to late 2009, and offering a smaller reward program to not raise any eyebrows, such as AIG did (see cover story). Lisa Meller of Meeting Perspectives recently held a program in Cabo and has an upcoming program there, as well. However, she noted that “a couple of our clients are holding off on plans, waiting to see where the market will be; they’re looking for better deals.” Meller had a fully planned and contracted prgram that was canceled. “We had planned to do a scavenger hunt through the city on Jeep tours and on foot that would collect supplies for schools and neighborhoods,” said Meller. “We planned to see the city, shop, explore, and we were going to make a team event out of providing gifts to the schools.” H From MasExpos Magazine: Tabasco Itineraries ccording to MeetingNews’ colleagues at MasExpos, the state of Tabasco, located in Mexico’s southeast, consists of extensive swamps, mountains, and valleys where there are many activities related to eco-tourism, adventure, culinary surprises, and the experience of Olmecan and Mayan culture. The following is a short list for the incentive planner to consider. A place, groups can get in touch with Mother Nature, see unusual birds and amazing reptiles, take boat rides, and visit the beaches. Cacao Route. Visitors see the haciendas cacaoteras. Once there, the experts instruct on the cultivation and harvest process of the cocoa plant, the seeds of which are converted into chocolate. This route also includes the visit to the Mayan archaeological zone known as Comalcalco. River Routes. Tabasco is located between two rivers—Grijalva and Usumacinta—where groups can canopy climb, raft, and rappel. Incentive winners also can visit the Mayan archaeological zone known as Ponoma. Swamp Route. Amid warm temperatures and high humidity is a natural reserve that captivates with all kinds of flora and fauna. In this Villahermosa Route. Incentive travelers can visit Villahermosa, the capital city of Tabasco, where the state’s history—pre-Columbian, colonial, and contemporary—can be seen at the History Museum of Tabasco, the Cultural Center of Villahermosa, and the Regional Anthropology Museum. At night, groups can visit the Museum Park of la Venta to experience the Olmecan head sculptures (pictured) and a spectacle of light and sound. Mountain Adventure Route. See mountains, forests, sulphurate waters, and caves, as well as the town of Tapijulapa, where the people make handcrafts of wood and wicker. Gastronomic Route. The amazing flavors of Tabasco: chipilin tamales, seafood, and fried bananas are good examples of the regional gastronomy. Incentive travelers also can visit the Mayas-Chontales communities, the San Remo cigar factory, and La Encantada tortoise farm. —Nadia Roldan 34 MeetingNews November 10, 2008 www.meetingnews.com http://www.meetingnews.com

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Meeting News - November 10, 2008 MN Exclusive Research Green & Social Responsibility: The Year that Was in Meetings Incentive Special: Recovering from AIG Perspectives What's Up @ MeetingNews.com Letters to the Editor Inside the Meetings Industry South Africa Supplement Newsmaker Q&A People Making News Hotels & Resorts Starwood Hopes E-Portal is Small Meeting Utopia Intercontinental O'Hare Puts Art at Forefront Convention Centers Dallas and Philadelphia Move on Their Projects CVBs Jacksonville Markets to Medical, Cultural Groups International Jamaica's Rose Hall Area Blossoms with Resorts EIBTM Puts Together an Ambitious Program Transportation & Services Meeting News South Technology Green Beat Destination Insider Fort Lauderdale Cleveland Incentive Report Mexico MN Webcast Report Ad Index Live from the Forum

Meeting News - November 10, 2008

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