Despite there no longer being a unified Mexico tourism board, a number of local Mexican representatives banded together for a Meet México Road Shot in Toronto with some 80 travel advisors in attendance.
Held at the downtown Toronto Hilton, the evening showcased 10 very different destinations and travel suppliers across Mexico. As we learned, the country is seeing a growing number Canadians: between January and April this year, there was a 6.6% bump in visitors from Canada.
Participating destinations included Huatulco, Puerto Escondido, Riviera Nayarit, Sinaloa, Chihuahua, as well as online booking platform HotelDO, Aeromexico and trade show specialist Creaturismo. The diversity ensured that advisors could not only update their knowledge, but alsogain insights into “new” product for their clients.
The evening comprised a brief overview of each destination followed by a series of 8 minute roundtables hosted by each participant.
During the event, advisors learned that we are the 2nd largest tourism market to the country after the US. And that 12 cities across Mexico are served with flights from across Canada, with a choice of 6 carriers.
And though we tend to think of Mexico as the land of beaches and tequila, there’s something for just about every client. Anyone who loves European history, for example, will be fascinated by the 35 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Train enthusiasts will be interested to learn about the Tren Maya, a 1500 km rail network in the country’s southeast with 34 stations in cities as varied as Cancun, Merida and Chichen Itza.
Director of Sales/Canada for Aeromexico Michele Martinson explained to Open Jaw that the carrier flies from YVR, YYZ and YUL on B737 Max 9s to MEX with connections from there to 50 cities across the country. “People love our on-board service, including hot meals in both B and Y classes, and complimentary beverages,” she added.
Elite Travel Services staffers attending told Open Jaw that they found the educational sessions very informative – including learning that 60% of Mexico City is parkland. Barb Tudino of Barb Tudino Travel said she loves to sell Mexico thanks to the huge array of options available to Canadians, the easy air access and the fact that accommodation can be as budget or as 5* as her clients wish.
But perhaps the happiest attendee was TTAND’s Jeffrey Lewis-Matthews, winner of 2 round trip tickets with Aeromexico from Canada to Mexico.
The Toronto Meet México was just one of 5 across North America, with the next Canadian one slated for Montreal in November.
