By: MP News Staff

MEXICO TOURISM BOARD AND PCMA SIGN A STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP IN SEATTLE

Washignton D.C.– With the city of Seattle as a backdrop, the Mexico Tourism Board and the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) are consolidating its strategic partnership for 2008.

This strategic partnership has as a main objective to create a top-of-mind brand awareness for Mexico with PCMA members. “This is an important step for increasing the visibility of Mexico as a premium meeting destination among the members of PCMA” says Oscar Fitch , CEO of the Mexico Tourism Board.

“Over the past few years, Mexico has worked diligently in modernizing our infrastructure, professionalizing the industry and enhancing our sites to offer a business friendly environment. We are ready to host meetings of any size, on any specialty, matching the needs of the meeting planners and associations; the strategic partnership with PCMA is only the beginning”, concludes Fitch.

According to the most recent statistics, 50% of PCMA members hold meetings outside the U.S. and 30% of them will consider holding a meeting in Mexico. Currently only 12.5% of the meetings and conventions organized by American associations and companies are held in Mexico, proving that the meetings and conventions industry has a promising future in Mexico.

During the PCMA Annual Meeting being held in Seattle, WA, executives from the Mexico Tourism Board and PCMA will strengthen their already successful business relationship. With the strategic partnership, PCMA members will have a rainbow of possibilities at their disposal in terms of destinations, venues, sites and cultural settings for their coming meetings. At the same time, the Mexico Tourism Board will gain access to valuable information that will better help them to serve their meetings and conventions sector. “For us, it is important to have access to data bases on trends and perceptions of meeting planners in order to present them the advantages that Mexico has to offer”, adds Eduardo Chaillo, Director of the Strategic Business Unit of the Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) in Washington, DC.

Mexico has infrastructure and facilities capable for hosting large conventions as well board meetings with the invaluable difference of the hospitality and warmth of its people. Mexico is becoming “the place to be” for this industry segment because of its wonderful meeting space, the attractiveness of tax incentives and the diversity offered by exclusive venues in magical sites.