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Great Offers from Leading Mexico Resorts

We had the pleasure to meet with representatives of some high-end properties in Mexico. There are great deals to be had for meetings through 2011. Just to give a few highlights we heard:

Several years ago Mexico implemented a 0% VAT on international conventions organized through foreign meeting planners. Be forewarned – incentive meetings do not qualify for the 0% VAT. The VAT varies in cities; Cancun and Los Cabos have a 10% VAT, Puerto Vallarta, 15%. The VAT exemption is regulated by the Mexican government, the rules are clearly stated. The meeting must have daily sessions running from at least 9am to 12pm, and be one of the following:

Congress: Any professional meeting where the main objective is to discuss and exchange cultural, sports, religious, social, governmental or academic ideas, centered on a common topic.
Convention: Any industry or company meeting where the main objective for participants is to address commercial matters regarding markets, products or brands.
Exposition: Any commercial or cultural event that gathers members of the business, professional or social sectors, with the purpose of presenting products and services.
Fair/Trade Show: Any exhibition of products and services within a specific area where the purpose is to generate sales and promote business.

NOTE: Incentives, under Mexican law, are defined as trips awarded to persons for their performance at work or for any other reason. Under NO circumstances will incentive meeting qualify for 0% VAT law. This rule applies regardless of the “name” given to the meeting or group.

Due to the economy, room rates are down by 50% percent on average. Sleeping rooms can start as low at $100 US in Puerto Vallarta in the off season, May through December. You’ll also find:

Meeting room rental fees waived
1/35 complimentary rooms
1/35 suite /Club room upgrade
2009 banquet menu pricing will be guaranteed for 2010, 2010 banquet menu pricing guaranteed for 2011.
10% off of audio visual
1 complimentary coffee break for each one purchased
Group pre-registration and private group check-in area if group arrives together
Complimentary wireless Internet connection
Guaranteed group rate three (3) days before and three (3) days after the official meeting dates, subject to availability
1 complimentary luxury spa day
Complimentary fitness center

More concessions kick in based on total room nights, these include discounts of 25% on catered food and beverages, 50% banquet bar charges; complimentary presidential suite; suite and club room upgrades, etc.

The properties are four and five star properties in Cancun, Los Cabos, and Puerto Vallarta. The program offers flexible concessions and three ways to purchase a group meeting or recognition program. Traditional European Plan Group Rates, Group Inclusive Package Rates and Group Unlimited Package Rates will give you choices to meet your program planning and financial objectives. The hotels can accommodate meetings as small as 10 people and as large as 1000. In Cancun, Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach with 602 guest rooms can accommodate meetings from 10 – 1000 people, Live AQUA with 271 guest rooms meetings from 10 – 600; Fiesta Americana Condesa with 502 guest rooms meetings from 10 – 800; In Los Cabos the Fiesta Americana Grand with 250 guest rooms meetings from 10 – 500; and in Puerto Vallarta the Fiesta Americana with 291 guest rooms meetings from 10 – 400 people, so you can choose a hotel that fits your need for size and ambiance.

If you are concerned about the recent violence, all of these properties are located a thousand miles from it, in safe tourist zones.

Let us know if you would like to consider a meeting in a luxury hotel in a beautiful setting with historically low sleeping room rates and meeting costs. Mexico has been hit hard by the global recession and is offering incredible deals to lure meetings back to Mexico. The properties discussed include Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach Cancun; Fiesta Americana Grand Los Cabos; Live AQUA Cancun; Fiesta Americana Condesa Cancun and Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta.