ON THE
ROAD: Starting Feb. 28, the Mexico Travel Marketplace
takes to the road, bringing the latest Mexican travel product news
to retailers in a dozen U.S. cities. Major sponsors exhibiting at
the event include Cozumel, Loreto Bay, Puerto Vallarta and
Vallarta-Nayarit; the Mexico Tourism Board; and airlines
Aeromexico, Alaska Airlines and Mexicana. The five-hour event will
be held from 3:30 p.m to 8:30 p.m. on the following dates: Feb. 28,
Chicago; March 1, Milwaukee, Wis.; March 2, Dallas; March 3,
Houston; April 25, Denver; April 26, Phoenix; April 27, San Diego;
April 28, Los Angeles; May 9, Sacramento, Calif.; May 10, San
Francisco; May 11, Portland, Ore.; May 12, Seattle. Admission and
registration is $10. For more information about the marketplace or
to register, call (800) 950-3035 or visit www.mexicotravelmarket.com.
PAMPERED: Marquis Los Cabos Beach, Golf,
Spa and Casitas Resort is offering a Sense of Pampering package
that features oceanview Junior Suite or Private Pool Casita
accommodations; daily in-room breakfast; dinner for two at the
gourmet Canto Del Mar restaurant; and perks at the on-site Spa
Marquis. Spa deals include a massage
for two, manicure or pedicure, private health consultations, 20%
off any treatment for two, and a $50 spa credit per person, per
day. Package guests also enjoy VIP airport transfers, late (4 p.m.)
checkouts, and a 20% discount at Budget Rent a Car. Sense of
Pampering is offered for three to seven nights, starting at $1,280
per person, double, through May 31; $1,125 from June 1 to Oct. 10;
and $1,170 from Oct. 11 to Dec. 18. Agent pay is 10%. For
information or reservations, call (877) 238-9399 or visit www.marquisloscabos.com.
FORE,
GOLFERS: The two-month-old, 432-suite Iberostar Paraiso
Maya resort -- on Playa Paraiso near Cancun and Playa del Carmen --
will take the wraps off of an 18-hole P.B. Dye golf course this
May. In addition, come August the
resort -- the top of the Iberostar line in Mexico -- adds new
shopping and fitness/spa centers. The resort, which features
personalized sit-down check-in with no front desk, joins sister
properties Iberostar Paraiso Beach, Iberostar Paraiso del Mar and
Iberostar Paraiso Lindo. Iberostar pays 10% commission to travel
agents. Visit www.iberostar.com for more information.
EXPERIENCES: The 30-villa Ikal del Mar
Resort and Spa in Playa del Carmen is offering five-night Poetic
Experience or seven-night Timeless Experience deals through Dec.
20. Both packages include luxury villa accommodations with private
pool, daily in-room breakfast and roundtrip airport transfers.
Poetic Experience costs $2,839, per villa, (double occupancy),
before taxes and service fees, through April 30, and again from
Nov. 1 to Dec. 20; and $2,399 from May 1 to Oct. 31. Similarly,
Timeless Experience is priced $3,805 and $3,209, respectively, in
those same periods. Agent commission is 10%. For more information,
call (888) 230-7330 or visit www.ikaldelmar.com.
GROUP
PLUGS: The 56-suite Casa del Mar Beach Golf and Spa Resort
along Cabo San Lucas hotel corridor is wooing small groups with a
30% discount for travel between March 1 and May 31. Rates start at
just $289 per standard room, per night, based on double occupancy,
and $339 per one-bedroom suite, per night. Groups enjoy a welcome
drink for all; a one-hour margaritas-and-hors doeuvres reception;
one upgrade for each 11 rooms paid per night; one complimentary
room for each 15 rooms paid per night (non-cumulative); free use of
tennis courts and spa facilities (except treatments); 25% off
rounds at Cabo Real Golf Course booked with concierge; and no extra
charge for use of meetings rooms or outdoor areas. Group rates are
commissionable at 10%. For more, send an e-mail to [email protected] or call (888)
227-9621.