MEXICOS TOURISM
BOARD said both foreign arrivals and tourism earnings were
up for the first nine months of this year compared to the same
period in 2004. International visitors generated $9.2 billion
between January and September, up 15% from the same nine months
last year, the tourism board said. Arrivals were up 10.4%, to 16.6
million visitors. The number of tourists arriving by cruise ship
during the first nine months of this year rose almost 9%, to 4.4
million cruise passengers. The tourism board did not comment on how
Hurricane Wilma would affect year-over-year fourth quarter tourism
arrivals and earnings.
AEROMEXICO, hoping to boost business,
launched a Pay Coach and Fly First Class promotion that the airline
says offers up to 60% off the usual ticket price for its first
class cabin. The promotion is only available through travel agents
and the airlines reservations center, (800) 237-6639. Under the
promotion, a roundtrip ticket from New York (Kennedy) to Mexico
City that would normally cost $2,856 costs $1,428 under the
promotion, a savings of 50%. Customers who purchase first class
tickets on Aeromexico can use the carriers Salon Premier airport
lounge free of charge.
PALACE
RESORTS reopened the North section of its Aventura Spa
Palace resort in the Riviera Maya following Hurricane Wilma, and
several of its other properties are scheduled to come back online.
The North section of the Aventura Spa Palace features some 900 of
the resorts 1,266 rooms, as well as the spa. The rest of the resort
is scheduled to open Nov. 30. Although the Aventura Spa Palace is
normally an adults-only property, the company said it will allow
children through Jan. 8 in order to accommodate guests with prior
bookings at other Palace properties that welcome children but are
currently closed.
AS FOR
OTHER Palace Resorts properties affected by the hurricane,
the company said it will reopen Moon Palace Golf and Spa Resort on
Dec. 15, five days earlier than originally planned. The golf course
is slated to open Nov. 30. The Sun Palace, Cancun Palace and Beach
Palace, all in Cancun, will reopen next summer after extensive
renovations. Palaces newest property, the Playacar Palace, will
open Dec. 15, while the Cozumel Palace will reopen next summer. For
more information, call (800) 635-1836 or visit www.palaceresorts.com.
IDAHO-BASED SEA
KAYAK ADVENTURES created a trip for yoga enthusiasts in
mind. Its Yoga, Whales and Kayaking package combines daily yoga
sessions on the beach with sea kayaking in the Sea of Cortez and
excursions to view migrating whales in Magdalena Bay. Five-night
packages range from $1,095 to $1,295 per person, double, including
two nights in Loreto, all meals, use of camping and kayaking
equipment and airport and ground transfers. Airfare to Loreto is
extra. Departures are Jan. 8 and 29 and April 30. Call Sea Kayak
Adventures at (800) 616-1943 or visit the company Web site at
www.seakayakadventures.com.