Airline Capacity is Fueling Mexico's Meetings Boom

When the world’s top aviation officials met during the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Annual General Meeting in early June, the media reported such hot-button issues as the electronics ban, an explosive rift in Middle East relations, the development of sustainable fuels and equipment modernization.

Less remarked upon, however, was that the elite aviation industry event was being held along the golden shores of Mexico’s famed resort destination, Cancun.

During the event, IATA’s Director General and CEO, Alexandre de Juniac called Cancun the "capital of air transportation,” 

MORE Impacting Travel

NYC Mayor Advises New York Residents to Skip Holiday Travel

Latest Updates on Hurricane Zeta’s Impact on Travel

Tropical Storm Zeta Impacting Travel in Mexico, United...

While de Juniac’s remarks were specific to the IATA gathering, it is also true that the city, and Mexico in general, are experiencing a significant boom in aviation traffic.

“Mexico's strong commitment to increasing air connectivity [now] encompasses more than 2 million new seats in direct flights to the country in 2017 [and] allows us to facilitate travel from all corners of the world,” said Hector Flores, CEO of the Mexico Tourism Board.

That strong surge is seat capacity is also, at least partially, helping fuel a booming meeting and event industry.

While the IATA AGM may have been the most high-profile international meeting to unfold in Mexico recently, it is by no means the only one to be held there.

In the coming months, Mexico will welcome such international congresses as the World Meetings Forum, Cruise Planners’ annual convention and the annual Cruise Conference and Trade Show hosted by the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA). Beyond 2017, the Destination Wedding Planners Congress (2018; Los Cabos) and the 11th World Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery Meeting (2021; Cancun) will also bring their global delegations to Mexico.

READ MORE: Mexico Tourism Board Rolls Out New Slogan

In 2016, the nation hosted 182 world congresses and more than 300,000 meetings, including such events as the World Congress of Ophthalmology (Guadalajara), the World Congress of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Health (Mexico City) and the Formula 1 Grand Prix in (Mexico City.)

Those numbers, according to the International Association of Congresses and Conventions (ICCA), put Mexico in fifth place among all North and South American countries, in terms of hosted events.

There seems to be no end in sight for the industry, which continues to welcome an ever-increasing number of bookings. For the first two months of 2017, Mexico reported a 10.4 percent growth in meetings and events bookings as compared to the same period last year. During March and April, activity increased 4.9 percent over the previous year. Both figures are according to PEIIR (Mexico's Meetings Industry Strategic Information Portal.)

These events are a key contributor to Mexico’s economy. Collectively, they account for about 1.5 percent of the nation’s entire GDP, with a total economic impact of more than $25 billion.

In response to the increase in interest in Mexico, the nation’s top cities are responding with a host of new and expanded infrastructure projects.

In Baja California Sur, the Ministry of Tourism recently announced that the Los Cabos and La Paz convention centers would be jointly managed by a new vendor, which was retained, in part, to “stimulate the meetings and events industry in the state.”

In Yucatan, construction is underway at the International Convention Center of Yucatan, which is scheduled to open late next year. The center, which will accommodate up to 22,000 attendees, already has 10 conventions and meetings on the books.

In Mazatlan, tourism officials are planning to expand the convention center to meet the demands of an incoming delegation of nearly 1,000 international delegates slated to attend Tianguis, Mexico’s top tourism fair next year.

Event planners considering Mexico will find a variety of destinations at their disposal, from gleaming metropolises to bustling seaside resorts to Colonial hideaways. Among them are:

Mexico City, the nation’s capital has more than 50,000 hotel rooms, 3,500 restaurants and five convention centers, while the airport has a capacity of 32 million passengers per year. Connectivity to the capital increased by more than 7 percent last year.

Known as Mexico's Silicon Valley, Guadalajara is home to Latin America’s largest convention center, Expo Guadalajara. With more than 1.2 million square feet, the facility can accommodate up to 50,000 people. For specialty programs, Guadalajara is also home to Mundo Cuervo, the largest tequila producer in Mexico. The airport increased connectivity by more than 8 percent in 2016.

Northerly city Monterrey is known for its higher education institutions and leading medical centers. Two major convention centers make their home here and the city also supports 14,000 hotel rooms. Aerial connectivity to Monterrey increased by more than 14 percent last year.

READ MORE: Mexico Fines Airlines Over Checked Bag Fees

Mexico’s famed beach destination, Cancun has more than 70,000 rooms in 150 hotels and resorts. The city also hosts 700,000 square feet of convention and exhibition space and it is also an excellent jumping off point for pre- and post-convention trips.

Los Cabos' meeting facilities are ideal for science-based programs, especially those focused marine biology. With a number of remote hotels dotting the region, many of which implement advanced desalinization techniques, sustainability and water development programs are also a key focus of the region. More than two dozen airlines fly to Los Cabos, including numerous direct flights from the U.S. and Canada.

For meeting professionals looking to explore Mexico’s famed coast in a more historic setting, Mazatlan is perfect for meetings of a slightly more intimate nature. The convention center has more than 60,000 square feet of meeting space and is within easy access of more than 1,000 hotel rooms.

Merida, the heart of the Yucatan peninsula and a gateway to magnificent Mayan archeology, is home to two convention centers and more than 10,000 hotel rooms. The region’s dramatic increase in popularity is evidenced by a 37 percent jump in air connectivity last year.

Puebla, Latin America's largest automaker is located just a few hours from Mexico City. The recently inaugurated Expo Center Puebla offers 430,500 square feet, complete with high-tech facilities. Some 9,000 hotel rooms are located in Puebla.

For more information, click to www.visitmexico.com.

Follow @MonicaPoling