DESTINATION VENTURES, the meeting planning firm
based in Bend, Ore., announced dates for its 2003 Mexico Travel
Marketplace program. This year's series of presentations will be
called Mexico Travel Marketplace and will feature "enhanced
interactions with exhibitors," Destination Ventures said. Instead
of the "taco bar tradeshow" format, Mexico Travel Marketplace will
include sit-down dinners designed to give agents more face time
with Mexico suppliers, a company official said. Organizers
implemented new enrollment guidelines, including a pre-event Mexico
sales questionnaire and mandatory IATAN/CLIA/NACOA identification.
There are 12 events planned so far, starting March 17 in Chicago.
For details, dates and registration information, visit www.mexicotravelmarket.com.
LEE KRAFT, executive director of the
Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo (Mexico) Visitors & Conventions Office, will
step down on Jan. 31 when his two-year contract with the
organization expires. Kraft will devote his time to his inbound
tour company, Intermar Ixtapa Viajes, where he is president. A
replacement is expected to be named soon.
MEXICO SPECIALIST Pleasant Holidays joined with
Sheraton and Hilton to make it easier for Pleasant's customers to
fly to their destinations--including Mexico--from Los Angeles and
San Francisco. Pleasant's "Park and Fly" promotion lets its
customers check into the Sheraton Gateway at both Los Angeles and
San Francisco airports, and the Hilton Los Angeles Hotel at LAX at
reduced rates. Guests also receive free 24-hour shuttle service to
the airport the following morning, plus free parking while they're
at the Los Angeles hotels, and 14 days' free parking at the
Sheraton Gateway in San Francisco. Rates at LAX start at $138 a
night per person with parking, while prices in San Francisco start
at $122. For more information or reservations, call Pleasant at
(800) 448-3333 or visit www.pleasantagent.com.
MEXSEASUN, Mexicana's tour arm, is giving
agents a free roundtrip ticket on Mexicana for booking five
air-inclusive packages in January and February. The ticket is good
for any city in Mexico that Mexicana serves. Forms can be obtained
by contacting a Mexicana sales representative or by faxing
MexSeaSun's marketing department at (414) 934-2059. Entries must be
received by May 15.