Cancun

02/01/2010The Cancun Convention And Visitors Bureau Announces Winners Of The 2010 International Journalism Awards

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”.

02/01/2010Cancun to Host MPI's MeetDifferent 2010

The Cancun Convention and Visitors Bureau announced the selection of Cancun as host city for a major event organized by MPI

Cancun, Mexico- October 10, 2008- As a result of a joined 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 premier industry event formerly known as MPI PEC. The decision was made by MPI’s board of directors, being that Cancun offers all the conveniences of a meetings destination.

This will be the first time the event is held outside the United States and Canada and will be attended by 2000 visitors including 900 meeting planers. In this memorable ocassion, 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.

According to Fernando Cervantes, Director of Groups and Conventions for the Cancun CVB, “This event promotes the growth of the meetings and conventions industry not only in Cancun, but at the national level, thus resulting in a great opportunity to boost the economic development in the region.” Cervantes is also confident that this kind of events help to positively frame the general perception of Mexico among the groups and conventions sector.

Established in 1972 and with 23,000 members worldwide, Meeting Professionals International (MPI) reunites 50% of meeting planners of the Asociation, Corporate and Incentives Meetings sector. The Dallas- based organization has 68 chapters accross 65 countries including the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Europe and Japan. For more information, visit www.mpiweb.org

This is another historic achievement recently obtained by Cancun, a destination that day after day turns more competitive in the meetings and incentives industry. Earlier this year, Cancun hosted the initial phase of the CASE certification provided by PCMA experts to Cancun sales executives, being the first time that this famed certification is held outside the United States. Also in April, Cancun hosted the 7th Annual Mexico Showcase and Travel Expo and the PCMA Education Foundation Partnership Summit in May. It is worth mentioning that the Cancun Center was named The Best Convention Center in Mexico and Central America by the World Travel Awards. These are some of the reasons why Cancun is the perfect Group Travel Destination.

The meetings and conventions industry attracts about 630,000 tourists a year to Cancun, each one spending about US $1,250 per stay- 30% more than the average individual visitors- and these groups are also willing to pay higher hotel rates. Thus, group tourism represents an attractive and important market to develop. Currently, there are about 100,000 meetings organized in the U.S. each year, but only a small percentage is held in Mexico.

Next year, MeetDifferent will take place in Atlanta Georgia from February 7 to February 10 at the Georgia World Congress Center.

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About Cancun
Cancun is located in the northern part of the southeastern Mexican state of Quintana Roo. The island of Cancun is in the shape of a “7” and is bordered to the north by the Bahia de Mujeres; to the east by the Caribbean Sea; and to the west by the Nichupte Lagoon. Cancun is Mexico’s largest tourist destination and boasts 146 hotels with a total of 28,808 rooms. Opportunities for new experiences abound in Cancun, which offers visitors an ideal setting for interacting with nature and discovering Mayan culture.

The Cancun Convention and Visitors Bureau www.cancun.travel

Contact:
Gina Salazar
gina.salazar@newlink-group.com
786-709-2681

02/17/20102010 Mayakoba Golf Classic

Mark Wilson, winner of the 2009 Mayakoba Golf Classic, will return to defend his title when the fourth edition of Mexico’s PGA TOUR event returns February 17-21 at El Camaleón Golf Club at Mayakoba.

Wilson will attempt to become the first back-to-back champion in tournament history. And, he will try to become the first TOUR player to win the same event two straight years since Zach Johnson completed the feat in 2008 and 2009 at the Valero Texas Open.

Esteban Toledo, a long-time member of the PGA TOUR, has accepted an invitation to compete in his fourth Mayakoba Golf Classic. Jose Trauwitz is scheduled to compete in his first. Trauwitz finished tied for 14th in last year’s Mexican Open.

Tournament officials also announced today that two of golf’s most dynamic personalities, John Daly and Boo Weekley, are scheduled to compete in the 2010 Mayakoba Golf Classic.

Daly, a two-time major champion, has accepted a sponsor exemption and will make his second start at Mayakoba. In 2008, Daly opened with a 66 and was among the top-10 on the leader board before finishing 60th.

Weekley, a two-time winner on the PGA TOUR, also will be competing in Playa del Carmen for the second time. He contended in the inaugural Mayakoba Golf Classic in 2007 and shared the 36-hole lead with eventual champion Fred Funk before finishing solo sixth. A week later, Weekley finished second at the Honda Classic, losing in a playoff to Wilson. Later that spring, Weekley won his first career TOUR event.

It is important to note that players have until Friday before the Mayakoba Golf Classic to express their intentions to compete in the 132-player field coming to Mexico for the four-round $3.6 million USD stroke-play competition.

Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased by visiting the tournament Web site www.MayakobaGolfClassic.com or by calling +52 (984) 877-2380 in Mexico. Local residents can purchase tickets at the Mayakoba Golf Classic tournament office located adjacent to the El Camaleón clubhouse.

The Mayakoba Golf Classic encourages all media to visit www.MayakobaGolfClassic.com. The site has extensive information in English and Spanish for the press under the MEDIA tab including the Media Credential Application for press attending the event. The application is due February 5.

For more information on the Mayakoba Golf Classic please contact the tournament office at Mayakoba at +52 (984) 877-2380 or visit www.MayakobaGolfClassic.com.