White-sand beaches, blue skies, and pulsating nightlife are what Cancun is known for, but there is so much more. It is home to three distinct cultures: Caribbean, Mayan, and Mexican among them. Ecological preserves and unique historical sites also add to its allure. Great accessibility by air, unique activities like ziplining or underground river tours, and exceeding value for groups make Cancun an attractive meeting and incentive destination.
Cancun has 150 world-class hotels, 80 percent of which are five-star properties, with more than 34,000 guest rooms and more than 700,000 square feet of meeting space. Last year, HelmsBriscoe, the highest volume purchaser in the meetings and event industry, named Cancun one of its top 10 group destinations outside the U.S. and the only one in Mexico and Latin America to make its list.
In May of this year, an incentive group of 1,900 employees from a major home furnishings manufacturer gathered at Cancun's Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort. The group occupied more than 900 of the resort's 2,457 rooms.
"We chose Moon Palace because of its accessibility and the fact that it could easily accommodate a group of this size," says Julia Vetsikas, CMP, operations account manager at Philadelphia, PA-based United Incentives, a full-service incentive marketing and meeting planning company. "Having an incentive or meeting in Mexico provides the best of both worlds. There is the necessary infrastructure that includes meeting space, technology, and a service culture, plus fun, sun, pools, and good food."
Moon Palace, nestled on 123 acres on Cancun's famous shores, completed a $55-million renovation in April, and the group took advantage of the resort's seven outdoor pools, Jacuzzis, a dolphinarium, and a wave simulator. The program included a gala dinner for 1,900 people with a four-course plated dinner and international dance band; a VIP beach party; and an outdoor nightclub created for the group with dessert buffet, a DJ, and dancing. There was also a product showcase; a business meeting for 1,200 attendees; a golf tournament; and a number of optional excursions that included a jungle tour and a jaunt to Rio Secreto, a nearby underground river with thousands of dramatic stalactites and stalagmites.
Vetsikas has found Cancun to be an economical destination. Many planners agree that Cancun's many all-inclusive resorts are the way to go.
Vetsikas says it greatly simplifies the experience for attendees when they know they can get a snack, meal, or cocktail when they want one without having to dig deep into their pockets or have to track their spending. The all-inclusive nature of such a program is a huge motivator for employees, she adds. Not only is Moon Palace all-inclusive, but so are all Palace Resorts properties. Attendees can leave their wallets in their rooms and planners know exactly what the program will cost upfront. "That is convenience," says Vetsikas.