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
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VALUABLE PARTNERSHIPS
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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
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/mexico/mmip2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/mexico/mmip2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/mexico/mmip2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/mexico/mmip2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/mexico/mmip2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/mexico/2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/mexico/2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/mexico/2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/mexico/mmip2011
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com