Plan Meetings & Events in Mexico

With pristine shores, ancient ruins, stunning resorts and exhilarating outdoor adventures, it's not surprising that Mexico welcomes a staggering 22 million visitors per year. Also skyrocketing in popularity as an international meetings destination, Mexico was recently ranked 9th in the world in number of conference attendees. The country's $2.4 billion meetings and conventions industry has seen enormous growth over the last several years, certainly thanks in part to its zero value added tax for international meetings. In fact, the country is now ranked 23rd worldwide in terms of number of hosted events.

Easily accessible, Mexico is right at the doorstep of the United States, sharing a border with California, Arizona and Texas. When it comes to air travel, Mexico's convenience can't be beat. Hundreds of direct flights connect U.S. visitors with destinations across the country each day. Visitors from Chicago can arrive in Cancún in less than four hours, while New Yorkers can arrive in Mexico City in fewer than five. Top destinations across Mexico are fewer than two hours by plane from the U.S. cities of Phoenix, Houston, Miami, San Diego and Los Angeles. At the same time, residents of California, Arizona and Texas can also easily opt for ground travel on one of the many large vans or limos that travel south of the border. Once in Mexico, government-regulated taxis are fast, plentiful and inexpensive.

When it comes to meeting venues in Mexico, versatility is the name of the game. High-tech facilities, luxury resorts, historic haciendas and cultural attractions stand side-by-side in the country's top destinations. For large expositions and conferences, Mexico has more than 50 state-of-the-art convention centers, from Mexico City's Centro Banamex to Cintermex in Monterrey, which has space for up to 10,000 people. Meanwhile, Expo Guadalajara is one of Latin America's largest convention centers with over 50,000 square meters of space. The Puerto Vallarta International Convention Center is one of the country's newest, opened in 2009 with over 15,500 square meters of space.

Complementing such sprawling convention facilities, Mexico's world-class hotels offer posh accommodations and unique amenities, not to mention plenty of sophisticated business space of their own. Catering to all tastes and budgets, boutique properties such as the 33-room Casa de Sierra Nevada in San Miguel de Allende can easily be found along with popular brands such as Starwood and Marriott, which plans to trip its presence in the country over the next four years. Expansion plans across multiple brands have made Mexico home to a crop of new properties. The all-inclusive Barceló Los Cabos Palace Deluxe in San José del Cabo, the Grand Velas All Suites & Spa Resort Riveiera Maya in Playa del Carmen and The St. Regis Mexico City are among the most recent additions.

No meeting in Mexico would be complete without experiencing its colorful heritage and culture. Luckily, beyond the high-tech convention centers and luxurious hotels, Mexico offers a number of alternative venues to give meeting attendees an exciting vantage point. From a sumptuous feast in a private room of one of Mexico's many fine dining establishments to the artistic atmosphere in one of its many vibrant galleries, Mexico is brimming with unique experiences. In addition, groups can enjoy the incomparable weather and beautiful vistas on tour excursions. Try a day trip to the Mayan ruins in the Yucatán, a whale watching tour off the coast of Baja California, or a paragliding adventure through Valle de Bravo, an alpine lake and valley about 150 kilometers from Mexico City.

Mexico is home to the 11th largest economy in the world, with a rapidly developing industrial sector. The automotive industry is among the most important industrial manufacturers, with many prominent companies such as General Motors, Ford and Chrysler operating out of the country. Additionally, Mexico has one of the largest tourism industries in the world. Mexico is home to several colleges and universities including the National Autonomous University of Mexico, Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education, and Mexico's Autonomous Technological Institute.

HPM Associates is pleased to
partner with the following hotels
and resorts in Mexico:

About Mexico / Additional Info

Spanning nearly two million square kilometers across the southern portion of North America, Mexico is the 5th largest country in the Americas and the 14th largest independent nation in the world. A federal constitutional republic comprised of 31 states and a federal district, Mexico is the world's 11th most populous country with a staggering 111 million residents. With a history that dates back 20,000 years and includes sophisticated indigenous civilizations, Spanish conquests and struggles for independence, Mexico is now a diverse destination rich in historic relics, cultural attractions and a vibrant landscape.

To begin to explore the vast array of attractions Mexico has to offer, guests should start at the beginning in the form of the historical ruins from pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures such as the Olmec, the Teotihuacan and the Toltec. Guests can see the striking artwork and colossal stone heads of the Olmecs around the Gulf lowlands, including at the La Venta Museum Park in Villahermosa. The impressive structures of the dynamic Mayans can be found throughout the Yucatán in cities such as Tulum, Palenque, Cobá and Chichén Itza, considered one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Guests can still experience other wonders of Mexico's past among the streets and museums of its present-day cities. In fact, more than five of its intriguing destinations have secured spots on the UNESCO World Heritage List for their historic zones. Explore Mexico City's Centro Histórico, home to the Metropolitan Cathedral, National Palace National Palace and Zócalo, the world's 2nd largest public square. In Puebla, guests can see breathtaking Spanish/Moorish architecture, the Puebla Cathedral and the Biblioteca Palafox, the oldest library in the Americas. Oaxaca, Campeche and Zacatecas are among the other locations to explore Mexico's colonial legacy.

Just as captivating as the historic attractions and towns themselves is the landscape that surrounds them. Mexico's scenery, from pristine beaches to rugged peaks, appeals to visitors young and old. Sun worshippers flock to fine sands and turquoise waters of the Mexican Caribbean, while surfing fanatics can ride the world-class breaks off Playa Costa Azul in Baja California. Guests can get up close with the marine life that inhabits these waters at attractions such as Puerto Vallarta's Dolphin Discovery Sea Life Park or Riviera Maya's Xcaret. Back on land, enjoy adrenaline-pumping outdoor adventures with a rafting trip through the jungles of Veracruz, ATV excursion through Los Cabos or hiking trek at Pico de Orizaba, the 3rd highest peak in North America.

For a more casual but no less challenging time under the sun, guests can enjoy the stunning expanses of green that make up Mexico's best golf courses. Big names such as Robert Trent Jones, Jack Nicklaus and Pete Dye have contributed to the nation's top golfing venues, including the impressive 27-hole Palmilla Golf Club at the One & Only Resort in Los Cabos, the 18-hole course at the Hilton Cancún Golf & Spa Resort, and the 27-hole El Cid Golf & Country Club in Mazatlán. Shoppers can also get outdoors at Mexico's craft markets, brimming with handmade goods and one-of-a-kind treasures. Black pottery at Oaxaca's Mercado de Artesanías, beaded figurines at the Mercado in Puerto Vallarta and quality jewelry in Taxco, the nation's silver capital, are just a few of the treasures to find.

The final – or even first – stop for any visitor in Mexico should be at one of its culinary establishments, be it a local street vendor, authentic diner or fine dining restaurant by the water. A unique blend of pre-Hispanic and Spanish tastes and centuries of tradition, Mexico's cuisine presents a wide range of flavors and ingredients that vary greatly by region. Enjoy chiles en nogada (stuffed poblano chiles topped with a walnut cream sauce) in Puebla, cochinita pibil (slow-roasted pork) in the Yucatán, and chilpachole (a spicy seafood soup) in Veracruz. International fare is also increasingly popular in Mexico, with restaurants such as Au Pied de Cochon in Mexico City and Zibu in Acapulco offering the best of French, Asian and other global flavors. Any meal is made even better by washing it down with some mezcal, tequila or one of Mexico's other national beverages.