New Slogan for Mexico

Once a new advertising agency for Mexico is named, it will find it already has a slogan to work with. “Live it to believe it” will substitute “The place you thought you knew.” Tourism Minister Claudia Ruiz Massieu revealed it in Washington on a trip that also will take her to New York City and Toronto. One goal in the months ahead will be to promote areas that need promotion, such as Mexico City. Although statistics reveal it is one of the prime destinations in the country, most foreigners arrive on business trips or simply to change planes.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Hunt for promoters to start soon

Within the next few weeks, the Mexican Tourism Board will be sending requests for proposals to advertising and public relations agencies. Some could argue that the campaigns hardly are necessary. The U.S. Commerce Department reports that flights abroad by U.S. citizens increased only 1.5 percent last year, but the number of those traveling to Mexico was up by 5.2 percent. This reflects well on the Tourism Board, whose chief, Rodolfo López Negrete, held the same position during the previous administration.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Mwmber of the Society of American Travel Writers

Tourism minister on tour

Claudia Ruiz Massieu leaves today (Wednesday) for Washington, New York City and Toronto to meet with government officials and hospitality industry leaders in those cities. The United States and Canada are home to about 90 percent of all travelers who visit Mexico. Ruiz Massieu has expressed interest in broadening Mexico’s market in Europe, Latin America and Asia. Next month she is scheduled to visit China with this in mind.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Tourism earnings increase

While the number of foreign travelers arriving in Mexico during the first quarter of 2013 declined slightly, those who did come spent more money. According to the country’s central bank, tourism earnings amounted to nearly $4.2 billion, an increase of 6.6 percent over the same period in 2012.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Volaris plans IPO at NYSE

One of the new, rapidly expanding low-fare airlines, Volaris has filed for authorization to issue an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange. With a fleet of 41 Airbus jets, Volaris now flies to 10 cities in the United States and to almost all airports in Mexico.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

More Hotels

Misión, one of Mexico’s fastest expanding chains, has opened properties in Xalapa — capital of Veracruz — and in handsomely restored Campeche. Trying to keep up, Quinta Inns — an immigrant from Texas — has announced plans for two hotels in Monterrey and another in Chetumal, the Quintana Roo capital city bordering Belize. And Posadas de México has just opened one of its economic One hotels in Oaxaca.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Mexico City Four Seasons Sold

Spain’s Mérida Capital has sold the building occupied by the Four Seasons Hotel in Mexico City to RLD, BK Partners’ real estate fund and Vertex Real Estate Investors through its fund Vertex Real Estate Fund I. RLD provided two-thirds of the equity while Vertex provided one-third under a shared control structure. The 240 room hotel is located on Reforma Boulevard and is the only hotel in Mexico City to hold the prestigious Five Diamond Award from the AAA. It will continue to be operated by Four Seasons.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Tourism arrivals up

The number of international visitors arriving in Mexico increased by 6.3 percent according to the National Immigration Institute. Biggest increases were for travelers arriving from Russia, China, Korea and South America, but travel from the United States also was up by 6 percent, or more than half-a-million tourists. Another 153,000 came from Canada.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Aeroméxico talks continue

Although the threatened strike never materialized, management at Aeroméxico still is negotiating with the flight attendants’ union over what is being referred to as Contract B, under which new recruits would accept considerably less benefits than those enjoyed by current employees. The airline insists that it cannot offer newcomers better terms than those provided by rival, low-fare airlines. Aeroméxico argues that it has been losing market share to its competitors. The union, however, notes that Aeroméxico doubled its market share when financially troubled Mexicana Airlines stopped flying nearly three years ago. Talks continue.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Aeroméxico still flying

It was after midnight when management and labor finally reached an agreement. The flight attendants union agreed not to strike after Aeroméxico met some, but not all, of labor’s demands. The strike had been scheduled to begin the first minute of June 1, but the deadline was pushed back as negotiations continued.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers