Mexico Meeting & Incentive Planner 2014 - (Page 26)

VALUABLE PARTNERSHIPS With plenty of resources that help to create the perfect meeting in Mexico one thing's for sure: Planners don't have to go it alone. Whether you're organizing a world gathering such as the G-20 Summit in Los Cabos, an incentive program for 250 high-performers or an elite board of directors meeting, Mexico's impressive network of talented industry professionals can help planners every step of the way to create the perfect event for every agenda and size group. The Mexico Tourism Board acts as the connector to link planners with Mexico's CVBs, PCOs, DMCs and the Mexico MPI, SITE and PCMA chapters, to provide the information and resources to create exceptional conventions, meetings and incentives. "Because of these great resources, I know Mexico can pull off what ever ideas we come up with," said Brad Williams, Carlson Wagonlit senior director of operations, meetings and events. Mexico Tourism Board Mexico's meetings expertise begins with the Mexico Tourism Board. In each of Mexico's U.S., Canadian and European offices, meeting professionals are on hand to work with planners. These experts work one-on-one with planners to give them an inside understanding of the geography, infrastructure and differences between the resorts, cultural cities and metropolises that allows them to make the best booking choices. "I have knowledge of Mexico now, that I would not have if I had not worked with the Mexico Tourism Board," commented Bridget Chisholm, North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) conference manager and president of BCC Planning, Inc. "I contacted the Mexico Tourism Board's Washington D.C. office. They introduced me to CVB and convention center contacts in a range of destinations and arranged site inspections to candidate cities including Mexico City, Merida, Guadalajara and Cancun." It doesn't matter if your program is large or small. In planning the 12-member International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) board of directors meeting in Mexico City, John Tanzella, association president/CEO, was very pleased with the help he received. "The Mexico Tourism Board was extremely knowledgeable. They worked closely with us and put us in contact with the local LGBT leaders in Mexico City, who knew what our group liked and advised us on what to see and do." Convention & Visitor Bureaus Once the destination is chosen, on-staff meeting professionals at local CVBs are ready to assist with site-specific advice, and if needed, hands-on help in program implementation. All of Mexico's 26 VALUABLE PARTNERSHIPS 24-26-2014_ConventionListingsPOC.indd 26 major cities and destinations have CVBs. "The Cancun CVB and Riviera Maya CVB were fantastic," recalled Amelia Q. Ballinger of Precision Meetings & Events and planner for the CMP Conclave held in Cancun. "The Cancun CVB worked very closely with us and anticipated our needs very well. Everyone was so responsive. If I emailed a question, I had an answer that day, or at the very latest, the next." Ballinger was also impressed at how the Cancun CVB took the lead in helping the Conclave to partner with local Mexican vendors (including a local printer) and organized a community service outreach program. Professional Conference Organizers For large conventions, summits and trade shows, Mexico's Professional Conference Organizers (PCOs) provide the expertise to assist in making the event smooth sailing. "PCOs are very important for large conventions because of how challenging today's event management can be," explained Patricia Farias-Barlow, CEO of the Puerto Vallarta International Convention Center. "A good PCO is a one-stop shop that guarantees a successful event." Planners can rely on Mexico's PCOs to provide full service management including registration, venue selection and contracts, accommodation booking, conference design and room set-up, program development, audiovisuals, IT support, public relations, event promotion, funding, sponsorship, food and beverage, financial management, off-site events and activities, and often airline reservations. Farias-Barlow believes PCOs are especially valuable when using a convention center because the PCO knows the rules and business protocols. Destination Management Companies For smaller meetings and incentives, Mexico's Destination Management Companies (DMCs) are extremely important. "They know how to get things done," stated Katherine Christensen, CMP, DMCP, owner of KCA, Inc., an Arizona-based meeting and events company. Experienced DMCs are experts at getting the best deals and can recommend and orchestrate the best activities and services to match your group's likes and needs, handle transportation, airline changes, assist with pre-program site visits and "troubleshoot before you even know there is a problem," said Manuel Lamadrid, commercial director of Cancun-based Tropical Incentives DMC. n | 2014 www.visitmexico.com 12/5/13 2:10 PM http://www.visitmexico.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Mexico Meeting & Incentive Planner 2014

Here and There
Centers of Attention
Meetings That Matter
Valuable Partnerships
Meeting Resources
What to Do
Spa Days
Industry Destinations
Going Green
Baja California
North
Central
Mundo Maya
Mexican Caribbean
Gulf/Isthmus
Pacific Coast
Mexico Meetings Hotels

Mexico Meeting & Incentive Planner 2014

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