New Maya Museum in Mérida

In about a month the Great Maya Museum is scheduled to open in Mérida, one more reason for visiting the capital of Yucatan. The museo is housed in an oval tower 40 meters high and will contain five halls filled with exhibits. Also on site will be an IMAX cinema.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Mexicana

Two years have gone by since the last Mexicana jet took to the skies. And nearly two years have passed since the airline sought protection under the bankruptcy laws. Technically, by now Mexicana either should have been reorganized or its assets sold to satisfy those seeking satisfaction. Recently, a new judge was assigned to the case, but there is no indication of when it will be settled.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Mexico City Trade Show

The third edition of Mexico City’s International Tourism Show of the Americas opens on Sept. 20 in the glittering Santa Fe subdivision. The event has been caught up in a political turmoil and is seen by some as a challenge to the Tianguis tourism trade show now being held in different venues. Invitations to attend have gone out to journalists abroad, but those accepting are told they will be expected to attend and write about what they see. Favorable comments will be preferred.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Cabo Pulmo in Baja

What had been called Cabo Cortés, near the Cabo Pulmo national park near Los Cabos in Baja California, is now Proyecto Pericués. Government environmentalists halted development of Cabo Cortés, which would have included 3,000 hotel rooms, a marina, golf courses and more. Proyecto Pericués would be about the same. Environmental concerns are many, but there are fears that, with a new federal administration taking over in December, departing bureaucrats may be susceptible to bribes.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Nikon D5100 16.2MP Digital SLR Camera with AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3. (Google Affiliate Ad)

Interjet

Low-fare carrier Interjet is requesting authorization to open routes from Mexico City International, from Guadalajara and from Los Cabos to Orange County in California and from Mexico City Toluca to Houston, Chicago and Las Vegas. Interjet jet currently flies from Mexico City to Miami, San Antonio and New York City as well to 24 airports in Mexico.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Google features ruins

Some 30 archaeological sites, including Chichen Itza in Yucatan, the Teotihuacan Pyramids near Mexico City and Oaxaca’s  Monte Alban now can be seen on Google’s Street View. The project was carried out with the cooperation of the National Institute of Anthropology and History. Eventually, 90 sites are to become available.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Summer Ends

Children return to school today, meaning that most vacationing families are back home and resort hotels no longer are full. Business was good, and can be expected to pick up briefly over Independence Day (Sept. 16) weekend. After that, hoteliers are hoping that meetings and conventions will keep them busy.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Award for Tourism Board

In recognition of its work and achievements in promotion strategies, market diversification, advertising campaigns and relationships with key international travel agents, the Mexican Tourist Promotional Council (Mexico Tourism Board) has been recognized by luxury travel provider Virtuoso as being the best institution in tourism promotion. The award was presented in the Virtuoso Travel Week, a fair specializing in the promotion of luxury travel, held in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event attracted more than 4,000 industry specialists from 85 countries and hosted roughly 350,000 business meetings, setting a 24-year attendance record.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Mexico City seeks the sick

Last year, 1.2 million American citizens visited Mexico City. Nearly two thirds of those were in town on business. According to Carlos Mackinley, plans are underway to convince these business travelers to linger longer, invite spouses and friends to join them and enjoy the capital. Another potential market is medical tourism. Four private hospitals, airlines and ground operators have joined in fashioning programs for Americans attracting by sharply lower prices charged in Mexico by physicians and dentists, many of whom have trained in the United States.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Eco-Park at Xochicalco

Adventure tourism is being promoted at the new ecological park by the Xochicalco ruins outside Cuernavaca. Xochicalco is where the inhabitants of Teotihuacan (near Mexico City) fled after their city was destroyed. Teotihuacan, famous for its pyramids, may have been the largest city on earth 1,500 years ago. Among the attractions at the new park are 23 zip lines zig-zagging over nearly 10 miles of forest.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

AakBal

This is the new name for “Campeche Playa, Golf y Spa, a development long in the planning stage that finally has opened. About 40 miles up the coast from Campeche City, AakBal is the biggest tourism project on the Mexican Gulf Coast. After Spain’s Grupo Mall ran into financial difficulties, the project was taken over by Mexico’s ICA (Associated Civil Engineers). Partners include Nicklaus Design, ResortCom International, LaTour Hotels,RCI and others. AakBal includes a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course and almost unlimited watersports. Until the first hotel is ready, guests will be accommodated in apartments that later will be sold as vacation properties. AakBal in Maya means “the source of new things.” 

--Jimm Budd
Reporting From Mexico City
Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

More from Oaxaca

Peter Kaiser announces that his Hacienda Los Laureles in Oaxaca has received Four Diamonds from AAA plus the Tesoro (Treasure) Award from the Oaxaca State Government and an “M” from the Tourism Ministry presented by Gloria Guevarra herself. The “M” is for “Modern,” but obtaining it requires exhaustive training and inspection. The Hacienda, which also has a spa, is on the outskirts of Oaxaca City, far from the protest marches that often trouble the peace of one of Mexico’s most beautiful cities.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Oaxaca Camino Real to be Quinta Real

First change, now that Camino Real Hotels has taken over the Quinta Real Group, will be the upgrading of the Camino Real in Oaxaca to something better. That hotel was built as a convent during the vice regal era and served as a stable and prison before its conversion into a hotel. Camino Real operates what in Mexico are rated as five-star hotels while Quinta Real properties hold the gran turismo rank, which is better.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Mexico City

With 3,500 restaurants, 160 museums, 120 art galleries and 1,400 historic buildings, Mexico City is ready to start promoting itself as an international tourism destination. The metropolis leads in the number of international visitors arriving by air, but vacationers usually merely pass through the airport en route to a beach. Of those that stay, 70 percent are business travelers.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers