The Riviera Nayarit concluded its very successful participation in IMEX América 2019, the most important fair on the continent dedicated to the MICE industry (Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing, and Exhibitions). The event takes place in Las Vegas, where top companies promoted their destinations, products, and services.
From September 10 – 12, the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas hosted 11 thousand buyers and 3,500 exhibitors from 150 countries and all sectors in the industry. The goal was to plan and book everything from high-end incentives to major conventions.
A growing segment
At the event, the Riviera Nayarit—the only destination from the Bahía de Banderas region that assisted this important event—promoted its offer for this segment, which is growing in the region and generates an important economic spillover.
The destination held over 27 business meetings and three destination presentations with more than 35 meeting planners from their main markets of origin: United States, Canada, Europe, and South America. They contacted over 62 professional event organizers.
Lucero Guerrero, representing the Bahía de Banderas Hotel and Motel Association (AHMBB) and the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), said the fair was very productive as the CVB had the opportunity to focus its appointments on potential markets of origin for groups to the region. This included meeting planners from California, Chicago, Wisconsin, Washington, and New York in the US; Quebec and Vancouver, Canada; and Manchester and London, England. The team also held business meetings with domestic meeting planners, a growing market in the destination that will continue to receive attention.
“IMEX is an excellent platform thanks to its highly effective business meetings,” said Guerrero. “Most of the Riviera Nayarit’s meetings resulted in a possible group booking or were related to one that’s already been confirmed. New interested markets also came about from the destination’s presentations including Australia, a market with great potential thanks to its connectivity via California.”
The Riviera Nayarit participated within the Mexico Pavilion and was accompanied by representatives from several destination hotels including W Punta de Mita, The St. Regis Punta Mita, Vidanta, and Paradise Village; several DMCs; and other destinations including Quintana Roo, Guanajuato, Mexico City, and Yucatán. Twenty-eight participants completed over 700 business meetings over the event’s three days.
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The Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) and the Bahía de Banderas Hotel and Motel Association (AHMBB) continue to work together to advance the region, strengthening its promotion and helping position Mexico’s Pacific Treasure on the world map with the support of the Government of the State of Nayarit via the Tourism Promotion Trust (Fiprotur).