SPRING
SPA: The Paraiso de la Bonita Resort and Thalasso near
Cancun, Mexicos newest AAA 5-Diamond property, is offering
first-ever three-night Spa Getaways from April 2 to May 31. Priced
at $1,095 per person, double occupancy, with spa treatments, and at
$895 without, before tax and service fees, the packages --
commissionable to agents at 15% -- include one-bedroom oceanview
suite accommodations; in-room or restaurant breakfast and dinner
daily; three spa or thalasso treatments; luxury airport transfers;
daily fitness program with yoga and Pilates; and daily tea time.
Single-occupancy rate is $1,445, and extra nights cost $450 each per suite. Rates must be booked directly
with the resort by calling (011) 52-998 872-8300. For more
information, visit www.paraisodelabonita.com.
CABO
101: Agents who sell Cabo San Lucas but havent visited in
a while might want to check out CabosBest.com, an encyclopedic
online guide to this increasingly popular destination. Created by
two self-described Cabo junkies to disseminate insider information
on the latest and greatest vis-a-vis dining, fishing, golfing,
nightclubbing and lodging in the destination, CabosBest.com
features advertisements from, and links to, major travel-related
suppliers in the area. Visit www.cabosbest.com.
CAPITAL
IDEA: Mexico City will host the 21st annual Historic
Center Festival from April 16 to 29. The two-week festival includes
opera, dance, concerts, theater, art exhibits and culinary events.
More than 1,300 artists from 20 countries are expected to
participate in the festival, designed to further Latin American
collaboration, foster creativity, and promote the capital citys
historical city center venues. For more
information, contact Maria Beltran at (011) 52-555 277-9697 or via
e-mail at [email protected]. For
an updated list of events, visit www.fchmexico.com.
THE
AGENTS AGENT: Karisma Resorts, with five upscale
all-inclusive properties in Mexico, is zeroing in on the travel
agent community as it looks to grow North American sales. The
5-year-old group has hired travel industry veteran Gordon Tolbert
to supervise six sales managers in Miami, Dallas, Chicago and New
York and oversee retailer outreach efforts. Karismas new travel
agent program will focus on key U.S. retailers selling five-star
travel and will stress education, relationship-building and agent
support. Tolberts sales team also will be expanded in the near
future, with new managers in Atlanta and Houston and on the West
Coast. For more information, call (866)-527-4762 or www.karismahotels.com.
DOUBLE
BOOKING: Mexicana Airlines and American Airlines launched
interline electronic ticketing, enabling customers to use a single
e-ticket for itineraries with travel on both carriers. The airlines
began code-sharing flights between Mexico and the United States in
May 2004. Interline e-tickets can be issued by American and
Mexicana via their reservations centers, and at airports, ticket
offices and travel agencies.