ConventionPlanit.com Visits the Mexico Showcase & Travel Expo

Jun 07

Ashley ChalmersTrade Shows Event Industry Networking, overseas meetings, Tips for Meeting Planners, Trade Shows, upcoming meetings industry events No Comments

ConventionPlanit.com saleswoman extraordinare Julie Roberts has returned home to Florida after a whirlwind month of travel and sales calls, including attending the Mexico Showcase & Travel Expo. She has shared the below show recap with us:

If you have not had the opportunity to attend this terrific event in the past, do plan to do so for the future. Organized by the Cancun Convention & Visitors Bureau, Mexico Tourism Board and Global Incentive Management Mexico – DMC, the 3 day schedule offers a terrific opportunity to experience Mexico, research venues and evaluate services while reviewing your program details on a one-on-one basis with knowledgeable hospitality professionals.

There was plenty to digest this year, and we’re talking about more than just the wonderful cuisine. A warm welcome greeted guests at every turn. Professionals representing hotels, audio-visual/technology companies, decorators, restaurants, caterers, off-site venues, transportation, eco-tourism, were on hand to enthusiastically share the enjoyment and fun while providing their “know how” for every aspect of hosting a group, special event or congress. Charlie Moore, with Faith Christian Fellowship, has attended Showcase every year and uses it to evaluate and gather new ideas for his clients. He has run 3 successful programs in Cancun and finds “the event does what it says: it ‘showcases’ the tremendous variety available for events and really cements my relationship with hoteliers.”

The tradeshow is organized with an efficient appointment schedule. With the show being in Cancun, the destination was well represented, as were other zones of Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America. Everyone got down to the business of doing business in the atmosphere created by the Cancun Convention Center staff and decorator.

You need never be concerned with the delivery of service for detailed programs. Omega World Travel’s Alonzo Duncan commented, “Mexico Showcase has opened my eyes to some wonderful meeting alternatives in Cancun for my clients. The tradeshow networking appointments were very worthwhile, allowing us planners to focus our attention on specific products, maximizing the time available during the exhibition. I would definitely attend again.”

These folks are at the top of their game.

The Q & A game (Oh, the fun of “were you paying attention!”) at Saturday’s luncheon only added to the program touting Re-Evaluate, Re-Invent, Re-Investment and Re-Silient for updating planners, agents and brokers on the MICE business climate of Mexico today. Mexico is experiencing media sensationalism, just as any number of global destinations. Adding the economic climate and other challenges from the past few years, representatives did not shy away from acknowledging tough issues and then demonstrated how your price-points will get great value with flexible or no attrition clauses, expanded emergency management, additional airline service and competitive rates. Some surcharges are even disappearing! The luncheon panel gave an excellent “walk through” of master account management in regards to the VAT tax refund as well.

Another program presentation covered the ease with which larger groups can bring in exhibits, materials etc. through customs by working with local freight carriers at a most reasonable cost. The National Onion Association’s Wayne Mininger commented that he has done programs on both the Caribbean and Pacific sides of Mexico and what he finds most impressive is the “service, service, service” with a “can do” attitude of everyone involved (including the story of a gardener building an easel for him!) “The most extraordinary things are done just to make sure things work and run smoothly by this industry in Mexico,” says Mininger.

In planning for the future, Andy Ortiz with Global Incentive Management reflects on how 9 years ago a small ‘Showcase’ was organized solely for Cancun. Now, all of Mexico provides support.

“The wonderful participation and support of Mexico Showcase comes from a group of professionals who understand what this business is about and they want people to know we can deliver. They know having professional planners and organizers coming to actually experience our service, is what has produced the twenty million in revenue directly attributable to this show for our country,” Ortiz said.

Yes, Mexico is fun and always will be, given the warmth of its citizens, but know that the country plays on a global stage when it comes to group business, whether it’s a wedding party or an international congress.

You can learn for yourself at next year’s 10th Anniversary, April 28 – May 2, 2011!