Event Destinations | PlannerWire

Queretaro Teaser Trailer

July 6, 2012 By Keith Johnston Leave a Comment

Site Chicago Educational Retreat Queretaro

Getting the Shot

While we were in Mexico for the Site Chicago educational retreat, we were fortunate to be trailed by the wonderful team from A Cuadro Productions who are producing a movie for later this year. They put together this little piece about our journey which is absolutely amazing.

One thing to note – These guys work with companies worldwide and do amazing event work so the next time you need video and image services, think about dropping them a line because they are good and get the job done. I also got a serious case of equipment envy because they use some great stuff!

Filed Under: Event Destinations Tagged With: Mexico, Queretaro, Site Chicago

Queretaro Gets It – Too Bad for other Destinations

July 2, 2012 By Keith Johnston 2 Comments

Photo: Keith Johnston

I have just returned from Queretaro, Mexico and the annual Site Chicago Retreat and Educational Event. We spent 5 days learning about the destination and all it has to offer meeting, event and incentive planners. We also had a session from the amazing Christine Corelli, but that is for after the holiday.

Queretaro is an amazing place with amazing people located just a couple of hours outside of Mexico City and within easy reach of two, count-em two, international airports that serve the United States.

Queretaro is a destination to watch because they want to become a global player in meetings, events and incentives. To make this happen, they are working overtime to improve their product and this is very good for them, very good for you and really bad for other destinations that will start to lose programs to Queretaro because they are not learning the same lessons.

Here are some of the reasons why Queretaro will be on your radar in the coming months and years:

They have a clear sense of self and what they want to accomplish.
They have buy-in from everyone from the government and hotels to restaurants and transportation companies. They are all working together for the greater good.
They have been working on their events and meetings infrastructure and are succeeding at creating a great product.
They understand that they need to improve their skills and are listening and reacting to meeting and incentive planner feedback.
They understand the power of the internet and social media.
They have all of the above plus natural beauty, amazing architecture, good internet connectivity and multiple UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Antonio Arelle, Owner, Casa del Atrio

One night, A few of us were sitting with Antonio Arelle, one half of the awesome ownership at La Casa del Atrio, talking about what was great about Queretaro and what needs improvement. We all were a little shy about criticizing and he said “tell us please, we need to know“. It was said with such passion and such conviction that right then and there I knew that they were taking their mission seriously and not just telling us what we wanted to hear.

Over the next couple of weeks I will share images and experiences about the destination, what to see and what to do. In this post, I just wanted to tell your “right brain” why you need to look at this destination that your attendees will love. Once you see the practical side, the left brain will will seal the deal.

You should look at Queretaro because they want to do a great job, you should look because they will listen to your needs and you should look because they learn from their mistakes. Add affordability to the mix and you have a meetings and incentives cocktail that is hard to beat.

Before anyone says anything about safety, just shut up.

The crime rate in Queretaro is lower than many American cities so just give it a rest. I would much rather stagger drunk through the streets of Queretaro at 2 am than walk down many American streets sober at 2 pm.

Queretaro is for meeting and incentive planners that are serious about giving their attendees an experience that they will never forget. Those that want the bland and the ordinary need not apply.

Download a PDF Presentation about Meetings and Events in Queretaro. The PDF contains a ton of great information and amazing images.

For some more information about Mexico, here are a couple of PlannerWire posts that may come in handy:

Filed Under: Event Destinations Tagged With: Mexico, Queretaro

FAM Trip to Riviera Maya

September 19, 2011 By Keith Johnston Leave a Comment

I am still on my Mexico kick, I have a soft spot for great destinations that are getting unfair treatment. Over the next couple of days I am going to be featuring a couple of FAM Trips that are taking place in Mexico.

A friend and fellow Site Chicago Board Member asked if I could spread the word and I am more than happy to shout from the roof tops, especially for amazing destinations that really need the support of the Meetings and Events Industry.

Here is the first FAM that I would like to clue you in on, this trip takes place November 12-16, 2011:

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Event Destinations Tagged With: Mexico

Mexico’s Meeting and Conventions Industry Growing as Tourism Surges

June 8, 2011 By Keith Johnston Leave a Comment

I do not normally run press releases anymore, just not something I am that cool with doing since PlannerWire has moved to a more blog/commentary site. This one was brought to my attention by my fellow Site Chicago Board member Teresa Matamoros of Visit Mexico (many of you know her!) and I thought it was worth a mention because I still have some Mexico posts to come in the next couple weeks.

So, here it is!

ICCA ranks Mexico 22nd worldwide for international association meetings
MEXICO CITY, June 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Mexico’s Meeting, Incentives, Congress, and Exhibitions business continues to grow, and has been ranked 22nd worldwide in the latest rankings by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA). Mexico moved up five (5) places in the 2010 rankings from its 2009 ranking of 27th, in the number of events with a nearly 31 percent increase in meetings held in Mexico.
This comes to no surprise, as visitor arrivals to Mexico have been on the rise. Most recently, the Secretariat of Tourism (SECTUR) announced that in 2010 Mexico was the main destination for tourists from the United States by capturing 14.7 percent of overseas US tourism. This represents the highest number of U.S. travelers to Mexico since 2005, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.
“Destinations and entities continue to invest in infrastructure, equipment and services… But Mexico has much more to offer,” said Gloria Guevara Manzo, Mexico’s Secretary of Tourism, in a press release. “In order to continue our competitiveness, we will also promote less well-known destinations that can be of interest for international conventions.”
And international convention planners have clearly taken notice. In 2010, Mexico was host to 140 international conventions, many of them taking place in Mexico City. ICCA ranked Mexico City 15th on the international list of top cities for congresses and conventions, with more than 36,000 annual participants. Mexico City clinched the 5th spot in the Americas category, having hosted 43 conventions. International meetings are defined as those organized by international associations which take place on a regular basis and rotate between a minimum of three countries.
The conventions and meetings industry and tourism growth may be in part due to increased levels of investment in tourism projects. During the first trimester of 2011, more than US $900 million were spent on tourism projects in Mexico, according to the Secretary of Tourism. The investments represent a 127 percent increase from 2010. The Secretary of Tourism, has stated that “the resources were primarily allocated to projects relating to the areas of accommodations, real estate tourism, and the food and beverage industry.”

SOURCE Ministry of the Economy of Mexico

If you have taken the time to read this, take the time to share it, Mexico could really use a boost from the US right now!

Filed Under: Event Destinations Tagged With: ICCA, Mexico

Meetings and Events In Mexico – What You Need to Know

May 23, 2011 By Keith Johnston 3 Comments

Opening Day, Site Chicago Event

The problem with Americans is that we are stupid … Really.

In the world we are laughed at because of our ignorance, it is both funny (in a sick way) and frustrating for those of us that try and be good world travelers and although I was just talking some big shit, I too sometimes fall victim to my inner American but at least I give it a go and eat local foods and try and speak the language without butchering it and I will go off the beaten path to see how the locals live, work and play.

One of the things that has been truly frustrating over the past couple of years is the American Media and their treatment of Mexico. If you were to believe everything that they are saying about Mexico, you would think that it is a lawless land with gunslingers, hangings in the square and 12 year old kids carrying AK-47s to school and diseased people staggering through the streets spreading swine flu on purpose.

This is simply not the truth, Mexico is safe.

Because of the bad press, meeting, event and incentive programs are not going to Mexico which is hurting their local economies, impacting people in their daily lives and actually could make the situation worse and yes, I am not an idiot, there is a “situation”.

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Filed Under: Event Destinations Tagged With: Guadalajara, Mexico, Site Inspection