The Incentives & Meetings Expo (TIME) welcomed MICE segment professionals from the U.S., Canada and Mexico for educational sessions and insights from AMResorts’ seven resort brands and a keynote address from Mexico’s Secretary of Tourism Enrique de la Madrid
NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA. – November 15, 2018 – AMResorts®, an Apple Leisure Group (ALG) company, welcomed more than 125 travel industry insiders and corporate meeting and incentive planners at The Incentives & Meetings Expo (TIME) from Nov. 8-11, 2018, hosted atSecrets Playa Mujeres Golf & Spa Resort by the AMResorts Meetings & Incentives team and Amstar DMC. During the conference, more than $7.5 million in business meetings and conventions through 2021 were negotiated, with Mexico being a preferred destination, and totaling a potential global impact of $159 million.
Gonzalo del Peón, President of AMResorts, kicked off the event, along with Enrique de la Madrid, Mexico’s Secretary of Tourism (SECTUR), who delivered the keynote address and interacted with participants on opportunities in Mexico for the MICE segment over the next few years.
“AMResorts remains committed to Mexico and its thriving tourism for both business and leisure travelers, as evidenced by its 20 hotels across seven brands in the Mexican Caribbean, which provide Endless Privileges®, Unlimited-Luxury® and Unlimited-Fun® concepts, dedicated event space for groups of all sizes, world-class activities and entertainment, and more,” said del Peón. “The host resort, adults-only Secrets Playa Mujeres and its neighboring family-friendly Dreams Playa Mujeres are proof of the superior product offered.”
During remarks, del Peón and de la Madrid also noted Mexico’s rise in the World Tourism ranking for highest inflow of international tourists, moving up to the sixth position with 39.3 million international travelers in 2017. Del Peón attributed the historic success to the local government’s collaboration with the private sector to develop marketing and promotion strategies for all markets.
From January to August 2018, Mexico has received a record 27.8 million tourist arrivals, representing a 7 percent increase compared to the same period in 2017, as well as an increase in airlift averaging 28 percent for international and domestic routes. Arrivals to Mexico total the equivalent of foreign tourists in countries like Argentina, Brazil and Costa Rica combined.
“Mexico continues to be a popular travel destination, and the number of tourists from European and Asian countries has increased by record levels in the last two years,” de la Madrid added.
Encouraging participants to trust, promote and continue to sell Mexico, the TIME program highlighted several tourism trends and guidelines, including increased funding, a strong private sector, improved airlift, rich cultural and gastronomic offers, natural attractions, and high-quality hospitality services.
“TIME seeks to recreate the attention, quality and benefits that AMResorts provides to business meetings and conventions organizers and their guests, while fostering healthy competitiveness and tourism development in Mexican Caribbean and Pacific destinations,” del Peón added.
For more information on AMResorts, its collection of luxury resort destinations, and corporate values, visit AMResorts.com and its resort sites.
About AMResorts
AMResorts collectively provide sales, marketing and brand management services to seven individually unique resort brands including Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts, Secrets, Breathless, Dreams, Now, Reflect and Sunscape Resorts & Spas. The Newtown Square-based company is continuously raising the all-inclusive concept to a new level of luxury with its signature Endless Privileges®, Unlimited-Luxury®, Defined Delights™ and Unlimited-Fun® programs. Located throughout Mexico, Jamaica, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, and Panama, AMResorts’ 55 award-winning properties treat every guest to premium accommodations, desirable locations and extraordinary inclusions. The brands in the collection include:boutique Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts (zoetryresorts.com; 1-888-4-ZOËTRY); adults-only Secrets Resorts & Spas (secretsresorts.com; 1-866-GO SECRETS); high-energy Breathless Resorts & Spas (breathlessresorts.com; 1-855-65-BREATHE); family-friendly Dreams Resorts & Spas (dreamsresorts.com; 1-866-2-DREAMS); vibrant Now Resorts & Spas (nowresorts.com; 1-877-NOW-9953); spirited Reflect Resorts & Spas (reflectresorts.com; 1-855-4REFLECT); and fun-filled Sunscape Resorts & Spas (sunscaperesorts.com; 1-866-SUNSCAPE). Images, logos and informational material about the AMResorts Collection of brands and properties are available at amresorts.com/mediasite/media.