¡Hola Moola! - Notes From Tianguis 2008
Credit: Stephen Fountaine
Among those doing business at Tianguis were reps from NewAir
The always-buzzing Acapulco was busier than ever this spring as the 33rd annual Tianguis Turistico, Latin America’s largest travel trade show & conference, saw the industry’s movers and shakers – and plenty of travel media – converge on the Acapulco Convention Centre for four days of meetings, interviews and fiestas.
Movers & Shakers
Among the attendees were a host of industry movers and shakers from several top Canadian companies, including representatives from NewAir & Tours, the nascent airline and tour operator headed by former WestJet executives, who made the rounds and to drum up future business.
A team from itravel2000.com -- including chairman/CEO Eddie Carroll, and VPs Brad Miron, Rolf Nielsen, Annie Ruiz, Andrew Dawson and Alejandro Gonzalez Molina – held a press conference outlining “Mexico and the Canadian Market: The Next 5 Years and Beyond”.
Credit: Stephen Fountaine
The halls at the Acapulco Convention Centre were hopping during the four days of the annual Tianguis Turistico.
Among the main components of the program: a minimum of 2,500 new hotel rooms built over the next five years; the construction of two new highways; the extension of the runway at Huatulco International Airport, to accommodate the largest jets arriving from Europe and Asia; and the diversification of local attractions – including the development of the Copalita Eco-Archaeological Park and the construction of a golf course.
Several construction projects are already underway, including a tourist complex on La Esperanza Beach, featuring a 200-room hotel to be operated under a not-yet-announced American luxury hotel brand; the construction of a 393-room Secrets property at Conejos Bay, scheduled to start operation for the winter of 2009/2010; and a luxury Mexican village-style complex consisting of 78 eco-friendly condominiums and villas at La Bocana Beach.
In Other News
The Mundo Imperial, a new tourism mega-development in the “most exclusive area in Acapulco – Acapulco Diamante” is set to open in winter 2008. It features five different concepts: The Expo, one of the world’s most advanced convention & exhibition centres; The Forum, a 4,000-spectator facility designed to house concerts and Broadway shows to family events and keynote presentations; The Resort at Mundo Imperial, a luxurious 805-room hotel and beach club; Sol Imperial, a spa and wellness centre encompassing both eastern and western traditions; and The Promenade, a “cultural and gastronomic boardwalk” complete with a wide variety of entertainment and shopping options.
Good news for cruisers: Costa Maya, known as Mexico’s fastest-growing cruise port, announced it will re-open its shores to cruise ship passengers this July, following its unexpected closure in the wake of Hurricane Dean’s direct hit in August 2007.
Hilton Hotels Corporation has 14 hotels planned to open in Mexico by 2010, representing 1,680 new deluxe rooms and suites.
For all the latest tourism news from Mexico, visit www.visitmexico.com.
