The 31st Cancun Travel Mart Mexico concluded after two full days of face-to-face meetings between international buyers and suppliers.
This year's "Strictly Business" event included the participation of 313 buyers and 325 suppliers, for a total of 638 delegates visiting 93 stands total.
The expectation for sales this year hit $35 million-similar to last year's revenue-generated from some 3,500 business meetings to discuss existing contracts, develop new packages, and more. The meetings tally does not include the numerous off-site meetings that took place before, during, and after the event, which ran from October 8-10.
Buyers included tour operators, wholesalers, meeting planners and incentive companies from Mexico, the USA, Canada, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, India, Ukraine, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Australia, Russia, and, of particular interest, the United Arab Emirates, in light of the recently announced Istanbul-Cancun direct flight on Turkish Airlines, which opens up possibilities in the Middle East and Asia.
Top tourism service providers from the Mexican Caribbean were joined by suppliers from the USA, Latin America, and Europe, as well as hotel chains with hotels in different Mexican states and the Caribbean.
According to Roberto Cintrón Gómez, president of the Cancun and Puerto Morelos Hotel Association, this is a strong indication that the trade show is evolving to become more inclusive of other parts of the country. This dovetails with the hotel association's interest in growing the show to become a sort of "second Tianguis Turístico," offering another venue for international buyers to see what the entire country has to offer.
"The Travel Mart has grown year after year," stated Cintrón Gómez, "and we should be thinking on a global level. We don't want to eclipse any other major trade show taking place in the country, such as the Tianguis, but we feel it's possible to have two major trade shows held at two different times of the year. If the Cancun Travel Mart can spearhead that movement, we're all for it." The destination's airport-the second-largest in the country with a connectivity that spans the world-would be a key factor in the success of this possible venture.
Gómez also stated hoteliers were feeling optimistic about their occupancy rate during the upcoming winter season, which is expected to be 85%+ o average for the first trimester of the season.
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