What's happening
in Cancun?

The International Bank of Development will celebrate their 51st annual meeting on March 19th through the 23rd, 2010 in Cancun, Mexico.

The event will host high authority BID members from 48 countries, including the minister of finances and presidents of different central banks. These members will discuss topics of great importance such as the future of institutional operations and the challenges faced by Caribbean and Latin American countries. The event is designed for delegates from multilateral financial institutions, developmental organizations and private banks to participate in foreseeing government sessions. Visit BID at www.iab.org

As a result of a joint effort between the Cancun CVB and the Mexico Tourism Board, the city of Cancun has been selected among 12 other destinations to host Meeting Professionals International’s (MPI) 2010 edition of MeetDifferent, a premiere industry event formerly known as MPI PEC.

The Moon Palace Golf & Spa will host the Meet Different Conference on February 20th through the 23rd. This will be the first time the event is held outside the United States and Canada and will be attended by 2,000 visitors including 900 meeting planners. In this memorable occasion, MPI brings to Cancun its diverse network of planners and suppliers to share innovative ideas and expertise to make fruitful connections with the industry community. An event of this magnitude enables Cancun to showcase its superb infrastructure, resources and business potential in the meetings and conventions industry.

Tax Back, began operations in June 2008, has a great experience within the tourism industry, led by its’ CEO Hannan Zanzuri and Danielle van der Kwartel, Country Director, who have over 20 years of experience in Mexico and internationally.

Tax Back’ main objective is to promote Mexico as a shopping destination, to promote shopping in stores and shopping centers affiliated to its’ network in Mexico, which are visited by all tourists’, giving them the benefit of tax refund on most purchases made in Mexico.
Tax Back has offices in Mexico City, Los Cabos, Cancún and Puerto Vallarta, Monterrey; Tax Back has a major expansion plan. By the year 2010 in: Guadalajara, Cozumel, Merida, Loreto, Acapulco, Ixtapa, La Paz.

Tax Back has planned an advertising & promotion campaign, in order to promote their affiliated shops in Cancun. Therefore, TAXBACK’S shopping special, is a shopping catalogue that offers great discounts to tourists, internet website with valuable information, www.taxback.com.mx, and other materials, will be distributed in stores, airports, major hotels & restaurants, shopping malls, shops and other interesting tourist sites.

The modus operandi of Tax Back is easy for tourists. Since VAT (Value Added Tax) can only be returned on products, you just ask for an official invoice at the affiliated stores and afterwards you go to one of the Tax Back service offices at the airport, along with the documentation to support your purchases and get your tax back.

Among our major stores are Armani, Hugo Boss, Swarovski, Ivonne, Kenneth Cole, Gucci Sunglasses, BMW Motors, Harley Davison, Sergio Bustamante, Quick Silver, DC Shoes, Roxy, Bulgary at Berger Jewelers, Tumy, Lacoste, Tommy Hilfiger, Coach, DKNY, United Colors of Benetton, Puma, Sergio Bustamante, Pineda Covalin, Max Mara, and many more.

The basic rules of operation that The Secretary of Finance (SAT) provides for tax refunds are as follows:

- Purchases must be greater than $1,200.00 MX pesos including tax, and up to $ 3,000.00 MX pesos if paid in cash, or without limit if you pay with a credit or debit card.
You can also accumulate receipts from the same shop during your trip.

- Tax Reimbursement can be 50% in cash and 50% via a transfer to your debit, services or credit card, (if the reimbursement is above $10,000 MX pesos, this can only be done via an electronic transfer) and this amount will be deposited 40 days after the presentation of the Tax Reimbursement Form.

- If the purchase of goods exceeds the amount of $ 5,000 MX pesos, Tax Back service executives will ask you to show the goods at the airport.

CANCUN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT:

Terminal 2:
Passing customs, to your right, pass the shops and to the right go up stairs and turn around, TAXBACK in front of the VIP lounges near by the T.G.I. Friday’s restaurant on the 2nd. floor.

Terminal 3:
Passing customs, passing all shops, on your way to the gates, in front of gate 21.

Tax Back has a special customer service available though its’ 01 800 00 NO TAX number, as well as their website www.taxback.com.mx.

Tax Back believes in the professional and personal capacity of each of its members to provide care and service with absolute quality, competitiveness, creativity and honesty, therefore achieving preference and loyalty on a daily basis.

“Adios taxes, buy in Cancun and get your money back”

Contacto Cancún
Samuel Rovero
E.mail: samuelr@taxback.com.mx
Tel. +52.998. 892 3846 y 044 998 845 3463

Contacto Cd. De México:
Hannan Zanzuri – CEO y Danielle van der Kwartel - Directora de País.
E.mail: hzanzuri@taxback.com.mx y dvdk@taxback.com.mx
Tel. +52.55 - 52.02.62.62 y 55.20.07.96
Reforma 115 Piso 15 Col. Lomas de Chapultepec, México D.F.

Enjoy your Sunday Comida in Downtown While 20 VAROS KIDS keeps your little ones occupied with Stimulating and Creative Art Workshops

For a one-of-a-kind experience that the whole family will enjoy, Chef John Gray invites your family to spend Sundays in John Gray’s Downtown. Beginning Sunday, February 14, from 12-8pm, the stylish and intimate restaurant located in the heart of Cancun, will offer guests – both big and small - a variety of timeless favorites from his “Domingos Familares” menu; and more importantly, Downtown’s younger clientele will be treated to 20 VAROS KIDS Arts program on Downtown’s outside terrace.

The fully supervised 20 VAROS KIDS program, primarily for children 3-11years old, was developed to stimulate children’s creativity and imagination. Examples of the workshops include mask making, storytelling, art with recyclables, bracelet making, children’s introduction to theatre, painting and Sensorama, a unique activity developed by 20 VAROS KIDS to stimulate children’s senses of smell, taste and touch. Our littlest guests are encouraged to choose an item from the Children’s Menu (Macaroni and Cheese, Chicken Tenders with French fries, Linguini with Tomato sauce) and then head out to the patio to join the ongoing afternoon’s activities. And for the young diner who may be less than patiently waiting to be fed, they may create an instant art space by drawing on Downtown’s butcher block paper covers.

Grown-up food is equally scrumptious, and more in line with John Gray’s straight-forward ingredient-driven classic fare. Downtown’s “Domingos Familares” menu features Sunday classics such as Eggs and Bacon, Oyster Shots, Steak Tartar, Pate with an Onion Marmelade; as well as unique offerings including Austrian Tostada with Smoked Salmon, Mixed Lettuce and topped with a Basil and Kalamata Olive cream; Roquefort Souffle with a Roast Beef and Grilled Tomato Argula Salad, Lamb with a Sun Dried Tomato Rissoto, Fresh grilled fish, Ceviche, Whole Roasted Pig, all of which may be complemented with John Gray’s signature drinks: Mimosa; Peach Bellini; “La Frambuesa” prosecco, vanilla and fresh raspberries; “El Tomatio” green tomato, celery, cucumber, cilantro, habanero chile pepper, lemon and vodka; Mint Capirinha; La Suegra’s Bloody Mary; among other Downtown drink specialities.

John Gray’s Downtown is located on Avenida Xpuhil in downtown Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico. The restaurant is open Tuesday-Saturday from 12 noon to 12 midnight and Sunday from 12 noon to 8pm. For more information, please contact the restaurant at (998) 883-9800.

20 VAROS KIDS
Since 1999, this independent art collective has created dynamic performances which combine theatre, dance, puppetry, live music and elements of circus artistry (stilt walking, fire shows, acrobatics) and beginning in 2010, the collective formed 20 VAROS KIDS.

“Our objective in forming 20 VAROS KIDS, is to offer children the necessary tools to grow into well rounded human beings via the arts (plastics, painting, music, theatre, dance), as well as through specialized sensory activities like the Sensorama, recyclable art and permaculture,” said 20 VAROS KIDS co-founder Melissa Aguierre.

JOHN GRAY RESTAURANT GROUP
As the sole chef representing Mexico in the 2010 Food Network South Beach Wine and Food Festival; John Gray is the owner of four highly successful restaurants and one bar/lounge located throughout Cancun and the Riviera Maya, Mexico. John Gray Restaurant Group is renowned for offering patrons high quality, seasonal American cuisine that has been influenced by Gray’s more than 20 years of experience in kitchen’s across the globe. John Gray’s Kitchen in Puerto Morelos opened in 2002; John Gray’s Place in Playa del Carmen opened in 2004; was named one of Conde Nast Traveler’s “Hot Tables” and reopened in December 2008 across the street from its original location with an exceptional redesign; La Suegra de John Gray in Puerto Morelos opened in February 2008; John Gray’s Downtown, opened in downtown Cancun in June 2008 and The Den at John Gray’s Place, is a quaint bar which offers an extensive wine list and appetizers. The Den, which opened in February 2009, is adjacent to John Gray’s Place in Playa del Carmen.

For more information, please contact Karena Black at karenaeb@hotmail.com or via phone at 984-879-0359.

Cancun, Quintana Roo- February 1st, 2010; After a tough deliberation by judges of the 2010 International Journalism Awards, the Cancun CVB has announced the results of this year’s competitive contest:

Magazines:
• First Place: Fabian Cataldo (Argentina) from Caras magazine, Argentina edition, for the article titled “Exclusive: Catherine Fulop, in Cancun, Faces Rumors of Separation”.
• Second Place: Maribeth Mellin (United States) from the Alaska Airlines Magazine for her work “Cancun Renaissance; rejuvenation and adventure of the Yucatán Peninsula”.

Newspapers:
• First Place, Von Renate Scheiper (Germany) from the Frankfurter newspaper
• Second Place, Edgar Rogelio Reyes (Mexico) from the Milenio Newspaper for the article: “Cancun: A Good Place to Start Golf”.

Internet
• First Place, Max Hartshorne (United States and Canada) from the www.gonomad.com portal for the work “Ecotourism in Cancun: Wilder Than We Expected!”
• Second Place, Howard Hian (United States and Canada) from the www.travels-with-hian.com portal for “Quintessential Quintana Roo”
• Honorable Mention goes to Swimming with the Whale Sharks from Deirdre Mullins (Ireland) from the portal www.rte.ie

Radio and Television
• First Place: Javier Alatorre (Mexico) from Azteca 13 for Reporting on the Whale Sharks (Cancun).
• Second Place: is for the production of Mary Murray (United States and Canada) from the Today Show NBC News for the production of “Up close with the world’s largest fish in Cancun”.

These recognitions will be presented to the winners at the seventh edition of the National Tourism Roundtable Forum, taking place in Cancun on February 10th through the 12th, 2010.

About Cancun:

Cancun, the gateway to Mexico and the Mayan world, offers luxurious hotel infrastructure with more than 28,000 rooms, and is Mexico’s most beautiful and stylish destination. Opportunities for new experiences are everywhere, as the setting brings you into contact with both nature and Mayan culture like nowhere else.

Top-level gastronomy and nightlife; warm beaches with soft, white sand; crystal-clear, turquoise seas; and a location opposite the Great Mesoamerican Reef System, in tandem with Mexico’s world-famous hospitality, make Cancun an entirely unique tourist destination.

Cancun Convention and Visitors Bureau: www.cancun.travel.