THE NUMBER
OF TOURISTS who visited Mexico during the first quarter of
this year was up compared with the same period in 2006, and those
visitors also spent more, according to the Mexico Tourism Board.
Some 3.6 million tourists visited Mexico between January and March
of this year, up 8.3% from the year-ago period, while tourism
spending for the period reached $3.7 billion, an increase of 14.6%,
the tourism board said. Meanwhile, despite fears that the new
passport requirements imposed on travelers entering the U.S. from
Mexico would lead to a decrease in the number of Americans visiting
Mexico, the tourism board reported that 15% more Americans traveled
to Mexico during the first quarter of this year compared with 2006.
Meanwhile, the number of cruise ship visitors increased by 78,000
passengers, and spending by cruise ship passengers climbed nearly
20% to $173.8 million.
WYNDHAM
HOTEL GROUP signed an agreement with Mexico's Grupo Mayan
to represent nine of the company's Mexican hotels. Under the
alliance, Wyndham will provide marketing and reservations services
for Grupo Mayan's hotels, which include four Grand Mayan properties
and five Mayan Palace resorts. Eight of the resorts, with a
combined inventory of more than 3,000 rooms, are in the Riviera
Maya, Acapulco, Puerto Penasco, Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta.
A ninth resort is under development in Los Cabos. Steven Rudnitsky,
president and CEO of Wyndham Hotel Group, said the agreement will
"significantly increase our footprint in Mexico" and represents a
major commitment to the country. Grupo Mayan has had a longtime
relationship with Wyndham Worldwide's RCI Global Vacation Network
to handle reservations for its timeshare properties.
BARCELO
HOTELS & RESORTS said it is enhancing its
all-inclusive product with the addition of Premium Club services
and amenities at its resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean. In
Mexico, the service is available for booking now at the all-suite
Barcelo La Jolla de Mismaloya in Puerto Vallarta and will be added
to other properties throughout the year. By 2008, the service will
be available at the Barcelo Maya Beach Resort's new Barcelo Maya
Palace Hotel. Among other things, Premium Club services and
amenities will include priority seating and reservations at all
a-la-carte restaurants; reserved seating in buffet restaurants;
complimentary early check-in and late checkout; use of a dedicated
lounge with free Internet access, refreshments, continental
breakfast and large-screen TV; tour discounts; and enhanced
concierge services. For information or to book, call (800) BARCELO
or visit www.barcelo.com.
CORRECTION: An item the May 2 Mexico
E-letter about a free passport promotion involving Carlson Wagonlit
Travel Associates and Gogo Worldwide Vacations should have only
included a phone number for locating participating Carlson Wagonlit
Travel locations. The number to call is (800) CARLSON. The Web site
is http://www.carlsontravel.com.
Mexico
E-Letter Editor: Jorge Sidron
Phone: (973) 898-0011
[email protected]
For promotional
opportunities in the E-letters, contact [email protected].