Rocio Gonzalez Jonguitud, a member of the Cancun Convention and Visitors Bureau for more than six years (four of them as a product club manager) has been promoted to meetings industry director. Successful Meetings caught up with her to get her thoughts regarding Cancun as a meeting and incentive destination.
What's new in Cancun for groups?
The Cancun Hotel Zone has become segmented into different areas to provide some of the best facilities for meetings and ease logistics of events, conferences, and conventions. These areas include: Punta Cancun with six hotels for meetings; Fashion Harbour with four hotels for meetings; Heart of Cancun with seven hotels for meetings; and Punta Nizuc with four hotels for meetings.
What's a "hidden gem" for visiting groups?
Some of the hidden gems for meetings include the new Hyatt Ziva Cancun, Secrets Playa Mujeres, and the luxurious NIZUC Resort & Spa.
What's a good outing for a group looking to get a sense of Cancun's culture or history?
A visit to Tulum. It is one of the closest archeological zones to Cancun and is a gorgeous backdrop as it is by the water. Also, Travelfuture, a globally focused corporate social responsibility and volunteer travel activity provider, offers some great outings for groups that focus on voluntourism.
Where should a group go to get a truly local culinary experience?
In Puerto Morelos, groups can try their hand at cooking local Yucatecan/Mexican cuisine at Mexico Lindo, a traditional kitchen workshop and school.
What else makes Cancun a great destination for groups?
Cancun is a phenomenal destination for groups due to its air connectivity, and value, especially given the strength of the U.S. dollar and the tax rebate benefits for meetings as well as individuals. An added bonus is the proximity of the destination; it is no more than three and a half hours away from 70 percent of the U.S. population. There are hotels of all types (EP and All Inclusive) and all major brands (U.S., European and Mexican) at all types of price ranges. Cancun is also one of the safest destinations in Mexico and has some of the best DMC services in Mexico and the Caribbean.