MEXICO'S
FEDERAL COMPETITION COMMISSION said it would not allow
Mexicana to buy Aeromexico, arguing that the combined company would
control too large a share of the domestic airline market. Mexicana
said it disagreed with the commission's decision and vowed to forge
ahead with its bid for rival Aeromexico, the country's largest
airline. Mexicana argued that its $200 million offer for Aeromexico
was by far the largest of the three current offers, including one
for $166 million from two local businessmen. Mexicana also argued
that the combined companies would control less than 50% of the
domestic market by the end of the year due to growing competition
from low-cost carriers within the country. But the anti-monopoly
commission said the combined airlines would have an overwhelming
presence in the country's major gateway, leading to fewer options
and higher prices for customers.
THE FINANCE
COMMITTEE of Mexico's lower house of Congress has
reportedly approved a $5 fee for cruise passengers who visit
Mexican ports. The fee still needs to be approved by the full house
and the Senate. The committee said such a fee would generate
approximately $30 million a year, with some 80% of the money going
towards infrastructure and maintenance in municipalities that
receive cruise ships. In 2006, Mexico received 6.5 million cruise
passengers who spent on average $70 each, according to the Mexico
Tourism Board. Costa Maya's port, meanwhile, does not support the
proposal, according to the port's president, Teofilo Hamui. Hamui,
president of the Port of Costa Maya on Mexico's Southern Yucatan
Peninsula, said he did not approve of the per-passenger cruise tax
that was proposed by the government, noting that "Costa Maya is
committed" to continuing to serve the cruise industry. "Our main
focus right now is rebuilding [following damage from Hurricane Dean
in August] and raising the standards we previously set for
ourselves," Hamui said.
DURING LAST
WEEK'S ANNOUNCEMENT by the Trump Organization of its newly
created Trump Hotel Collection, the company shed some more light on
its previously announced project in the northern Baja peninsula.
The company said the Trump Ocean Resort Baja, which was announced
late last year, would be part of the new Trump Hotel Collection of
luxury properties. The 392-room condominium-hotel is scheduled to
open in 2010 on a cliffside location in Punta Bandera. The
mixed-use property will include the signature Trump Attache service
and the Spa at Trump facilities as well as several restaurants,
pools, a fitness center and a tennis complex. Units in the two
high-rise towers will be priced from the mid-$200,000s to more than
$1 million and will be available for rent when the owners are away.
Trump Ocean Resort Baja will be one of a dozen Trump Hotel
Collection properties with more than 5,400 rooms slated to open
worldwide by the end of 2010. The property is being built in
conjunction with Los Angeles-based Irongate Development.
CONTINENTAL
AIRLINES VACATIONS teamed with Mexico's Palace Resorts on
a new booking incentive that includes 10,000 Continental OnePass
Miles. Under the promotion, customers who book a minimum five-night
stay at a participating Palace property in Mexico by Dec. 5 will
earn the 10,000 OnePass Miles in addition to a Palace Passport with
up to $400 in resort discounts. The promotion is exclusively for
OnePass members, and customers must enter promotion code COV10000
and their OnePass account number when booking. The Palace Passport
includes discounts such as $50 per person toward the purchase of a
round of golf, a $25 car rental credit and $15 off a spa treatment
or massage. Participating properties are the Cancun Palace, Le
Blanc Spa Resort, Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort and Sun Palace
in Cancun; Cozumel Palace; Aventura Spa Palace, Playacar Palace and
Xpu-Ha Palace in the Riviera Maya; and Vallarta Palace in Vallarta
Nayarit. To book, call (800) 634-5555 or visit www.vaxvacationaccess.com.
OASIS
HOTELS & RESORTS is offering discounts of up to 45%
off traditional fall prices at six of its all-inclusive properties
in Mexico. The rates are in effect through Dec. 20. Prices start at
$50 a night per person, double, at the Oasis America in downtown
Cancun. Prices at the Grand Oasis Cancun
start at $99 a night. For information or reservations, call (800)
44OASIS or visit www.oasishotels.com.
Mexico
E-Letter Editor: Jorge Sidron
Phone: (973) 898-0011
[email protected]
For promotional
opportunities in the E-letters, contact [email protected].