Vol. 1, No. 175
TEE-OFF PANAMA; The IN LATIN Business Hub of AMERICA’S TOP DESTINATIONS Central America.
Vol. 1, No. 186
DIRECTORY Visionary, Founder and
INDEX
Master Coach: Jose Manuel Garcia, CDS jmgarcia@ividmc.travel President: Jose Manuel (Manolo) Garcia CIS, CMS, CCM, CES manolo@ividmc.travel
Pg.
Vice President of Administration
4-9
Cancun’s most prominent activities and hidden treasures
Leticia Garcia lgarcia@ividmc.travel
Pg.
Vice President of
14-15
A nature’s slice of paradise in Costa Rica
Marketing: Raquel Mijares, CIS, DMCP rmijares@ividmc.travel Corporate Quality Director: Julia ORTIZ, CES, CMS
16-17
jortiz@ividmc.travel
Pg.
IT Director:
Panama’s scenic treasures
Alejandro Pech apech@ividmc.travel Content & Editing: Omar Delgadillo corp.news@ividmc.travel
Destination offices
Cover subject: Meetings and Incentives in Latin America’s Summer flair
Mexico:
Caribbean:
Central America:
IVI DMC² Los Cabos
IVI DMC² Cuba
IVI DMC² Costa Rica
Yazmin ELOSEGUI, DMCP, CIS, CMS
Alejandro DEBASA, CMS
Ligia VARGAS, CIS
Destination Managing Director
Regional Managing Director
Regional Managing Director
yelosegui@ividmc.travel
adebasa@ividmc.travel
lvargas@ividmc.travel
IVI DMC² Puerto Vallarta & Riviera Nayarit
IVI DMC² Dominican Republic
IVI DMC² Panama
Jaime NELO, DMCP, CMS, CES
Ramón RIJO, CIS
David JOHNSON, CIS, DMCP
Destination Managing Director
Regional Managing Director
Associate Regional Managing
jnelo@ividmc.travel
rrijo@ividmc.travel
Director djohnson@ividmc.travel
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IVI DMC² Cancun & Riviera Maya Ximena LOPEZ, CMS Marketing & Planning Director cun.planning2@ividmc.travel
© Copyright 2019. All Rights Reserved.
A WORD FROM OUR PRESIDENT. Dear reader, Blessed with fine venues for events, meetings, and conferences, Latin America has rapidly developed into one of the top MICE destinations. Combined with the wondrous weather of the Summer season and a guarantee leading quality thanks to our constant training and, internationally recognized certifications, and the countless hours served by our human resources and hard-working executives. This accomplishment and enthusiastic attitude are what upholds up our motto, in your business, “We make YOU look GREAT”!
Sincerely,
Jose Manuel (Manolo) GARCIA, CIS, CMS, CCM, CES President IVI DMC² Enterprises
Our Objective: Always aim for 100% overall customer satisfaction.
Our Vision: Associates: Keep the ideal place to work, where our multicultural staff give their best, every day Customers: Offer an innovative high-quality service that exceeds expectations Partners: Consolidate our network of honest and successful partners Utilities: Maximize the return of investment to shareholders Planet: Inspire responsible resource management by means of our work
Our Mission: Serve customers through our international certifications ISO 9001 and ADMC; ensuring 100% customer satisfaction of incentives, conventions, and special events; providing memorable experiences in each of the destinations in which we operate; maximizing the return of investment to shareholders.
Cancun Whale Sharks The Whale Shark is the largest existent fish in the world, with an approximate length of 18.8 m (62 ft). It is thought to be on this Earth for 60 million years, and it is found in the open waters of the tropical oceans. In particular seasons they migrate prolonged distances to coastal areas, such as the Ningaloo Reef in Western
Australia, Utila in Honduras, Donso nes, Holbox Island in the state of Qu Yucatán and Baja California, Mexico re de la Costa,) the islands of the Zan Unguja), on the Tanzanian coast, Ce in Panama.
It feeds on plankton including copep Island red crab larvae and small nekton Feeding occurs either by ram filtrati its mouth and swims forward, pus mouth or by active suction feeding and closes its mouth, sucking in vo expelled through its gills. In both ca food from the water. Despite its si pose any danger to humans, that i Maya we have the whale shark swi to September 16th every year, betw ment allows you to visit them and sw species. To protect these wonderfu this activity regulated by the autho red from Cancun and Riviera May It is an option that can not b
Bioluminescence (Holb
At the northern end of the state of Q municipality of Lázaro Cárdenas, 1 northeast coast of the Yucatan pen ded Holbox Island. This magical pl ters long is divided by a deep lago creatures like flamingos and pelican means “black hole” in Mayan. Thi ven is the perfect retreat to unwind of its virgin beaches is less than tw tants, dedicated to tourism and fish ple are fascinated by the natural p luminescence that illuminates the The bioluminescence signifies the c light—this is since there are no plac ver in the sea, and as the depth incr decreases until it disappears.
ol and Batangas in the Philippiuintana Roo, the peninsulas of o, coasts of Venezuela (ocumanzibar archipelago (Pemba and eiba and the Perlas archipelago
pods, krill, fish eggs, Christmas nic life, such as small squid or fish. ion, in which the species opens shing water and food into its g, in which the species opens olumes of water that are then ases, its filter pads separate the ize, the whale shark does not is why in Cancun and Riviera imming season from June 1st ween these dates the governwim alongside these wondrous ul sharks, and their wellbeing orities meaning the tours offeya are usually in small groups. be missed in the summer!
Sun is shining. Weather is sweet. Thousands of organisms become illuminated due to the light serving as their shield. Many living creatures emit light, but when thousands of plankton glow in the crystal-clear waters of Holbox and illuminate the entire island with a hypnotic blue, it is a remarkable display. You can drive from Cancun or Riviera Maya to the town of Chiquila and then a boat will steer you to the paradise of Holbox. The high season for enjoying this phenomenon is from July to January. An unforgettable Summer experience!
These landmarks are key destinations for any incentive, group or special event, your team at IVI DMC² is always here to assist.
box Island)
Quintana Roo, in the 10 kilometers off the ninsula, is the secluplace just 42 kilomeoon, home to exotic ns. The word Holbox is little slice of head, as the population wo thousand inhabihing. Moreover, peophenomenon of bioisland every night. capability to produce ces or corners to coreases—the sunlight
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Rio Lagartos & Las Coloradas
Yucatan, Quintana Roo On the northern coast of Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, you’ll discover the magical pink lakes of Las Coloradas. The area is a private salt mine adjacent to the biosphere of Rio Lagartos. The spectacular pink color of Las Coloradas is due to its high concentration of salt, microorganisms and the sun—its intensity varies depending on the position of the sun’s rays—allowing for the admiration of various colors ranging from yellow, orange to its signature pink.
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Nature at its finest The town has a little more than a thousand inhabitants, dedicated to fishing as well as the salt industry, crucial to the society. Its virgin beaches, fauna and flora, marine birds such as pelicans and seagulls and abundant mangroves, are the main attractions. Near this nature’s spectacle is Rio Lagartos, where one of its main attractions is the flamingos that arrive to feed and nest in the Biosphere, appearing in large flocks that the sky pink. The favored food by the local flamingos is algae, which have developed to be able to hoover up and digest the otherwise toxic substance—; the side-effect—their magnificent pink plumage. In addition to flamingos, you can observe white herons, pelicans, cormorants, ospreys, and storks. Its spectaculars sceneries are well worth the 3-hour drive from Cancún or Playa del Carmen!
The Mexican Caribbean i Fishing in Cancun and Rivi riety of large fish such as Sa xico is closeness to the coas in the world.
Fortunate to be part of the Quintana Roo a preferred si jigging, fly fishing though m thusiasts consisting of drag speeds.
Cancun and Riviera Maya a target species as the blue m dorado, bonito, and barracu tion and conservation of eac capture mode and releases ( Page 8
Deep sea fishing
is a paradise for sports lovers linked to the sea, one of them being sport fishing. iera Maya can be carried all year round however from April to August you’ll encounter a vaailfish, Tuna, Marlin, Mahi-Mahi and Wahoo. The great benefit of fishing in this part of MÊst, without having to navigate as many miles as compared to other sportfishing destinations
Atlantic that serves with ocean currents loaded with plankton, making the northern part of ite for Sailfish, Marlin Blanco and other species. There are different types of fishing; trolling, mode trolling is among the most popular. This embodiment is preferred for large fishing engging various lines, by a small vessel or even a large luxury fishing yacht sailing at moderate
are characterized by performing fishing tournaments competitions, addressing the favorite marlin, white marlin, sailfish, spearfish (imperial needle), hatchet marlin, wahoo, saw, tuna, uda. Nonetheless, we must also be aware of the care of our marine environment, the preservach species, that is why Quintana Roo has adopted the great task of promoting the application (catch and release), a method allowed by professional sportfishing conservations worldwide. Page 9
Quick Hits! North Beach (Playa Norte) of Isla Mujeres receives Blue Flag recognition for the first time The mayor of the city of Isla Mujeres, Juan Carrillo Soberanis, joined by executives and members of the City Council and the general public, received the Blue Flag certificate for Playa Centro, Playa Albatros, and Playa Norte. At Playa Norte, he raised the blue flag, an award granted by the European Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) to beaches and marinas that meet the 33 mandatory normative criteria. Juan Carrillo Soberanis suggest that the reason for this award is mainly due to its extraordinary natural wealth, always clean beaches, free of sargassum, safety at all times and most importantly, the warmth of local women and men. Various international magazines such as Travel + Leisure and TripAdvisor are labeling this Magic Town as the “eyes of the world,” which - definitely benefits local families. Kerem Pinto Aguilar, director of the Zofemat, stressed that with work and dedication significant achievements have been obtained and, therefore, the beaches have the approval of excellence from environmental management, safety, services, activities of environmental education and water quality. “We have various services and one of the main ones is the so-called“ amphibious chairs ”with Playa Centro and Playa Norte that allows guests with reduced
mobility to enjoy the beaches more comfortable, ”he said. He thanked the group of his dependence who have done a fundamental job to preserve the good image that characterizes the beaches of Isla Mujeres since they start their workday very early. “For each beach we have 15 people on schedule from 5:00 to 10:00 am working to collect garbage, sand casting, raking and removing sargassum, ”he concluded.
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UNICO 20°87° Hotel at Riviera Maya bestowed with two distinguished awards In less than three years after the hotel opened, UNICO 20 ° 87 ° Hotel Riviera Maya has earned two prestigious awards from the tourism industry, AAA Five Diamond Award and a Top 15 position in the Travel + Leisure magazine rating. UNICO 20 ° 87 ° Hotel Riviera Maya has been defined as one of the best hotels in the AAA guide, having obtained five diamonds in such rating. This guide is used by its members for consultation and decision making on travel matters. The hotels and restaurants have been evaluated and accredited by AAA, this indicates that they offer excellent service, luxury amenities, ease of access, 24-hour room service, architectural design, among others. On the other hand, Travel + Leisure, one of the most prominent travel magazines in the world that extends suggestions for all aspects of travel, including airlines, frequent flyer programs, hotels, listed UNICO 20 ° 87 °
spas, Hotel
resorts, restaurants, shopping, and Riviera Maya in the Top 15 “Mexico´s
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entertainment, Resort Hotels”.
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Costa Rica Summer in the Caribbean Many people are unaware that the weather on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica is quite different than on the Pacific coast. While other regions of Costa Rica have seasonal rains, the rain is spread out considerably on the Caribbean side. On any given day, rain may be very brief or otherwise overflowing, producing a breathtaking rainforest experience. Thankfully, showers usually occur at night or late in the afternoon, allowing for the sun to shine about every day. During summer, you’ll encounter Caribbean rainforests at their peak and lushest state, exotic flowers are blooming, monkeys and sloth friends out playing. It’s truly one of the best times to visit for wildlife sightings. The warm and sunny mornings are an ideal time to head to the beach or take a tour. Nature lovers will be thrilled to know that during this time of year, endangered green sea turtles come to nest on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. Tortuguero National Park is a great place to visit for turtle hatching season from July to October.
The Caribbean coast of Costa Ric However, there are plenty of charm luxurious accommodations, awe-in involved in environmental conserv
Hotel Banana Azul
Hotel Banana Azul is an adult-onl ces at Hotel Banana Azul, includin kitchens and private plunge pools. wireless internet. If you are lookin
• Almonds and Corals • Le Camaleon Page 14
Where to stay?
ca isn’t nearly as developed as the Pacific side. Here you won’t spot any big resorts like the Four Seasons or The Springs. ming high-end boutiques that dot the coastline or are nestled in the rainforest. All of these boutiques offer their guests nspiring settings, and the opportunity to soak up the Caribbean vibes. Several of the following boutiques are also actively vation efforts and eco-friendly hospitality practices.
ly luxury beachfront boutique on Costa Rica’s picturesque Caribbean coast. There are a variety of accommodation choing 14 guest rooms that are attached to the main hotel, a treehouse apartment, and four two-story guesthouses with full . The grounds are lush with vegetation. There’s a restaurant, a pool, a beach club, several outdoor spaces to explore, and ng for a luxury tropical escape, this is your place.
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Panama’s scenic treasures
Summertime in the Caribbean
Much like every other country that shares a coastline on this sea, Pan tine turquoise-blue beaches that hug its shores. From the San Blas isl Bocas del Toro.
Guna yala ( San Blas)
Tranquility at the End of Eden, there are more than them with nothing but palm trees, a fisherman’s hut or The place enti or rest. This re the water trasts with th tors will also are among t tic Coast Bi
Portobe
Relive the pa the province Portobelo, de 1980. It is a t civil and cultu the prestige o traditional fa place retains t asures and bl and the essen
Snorkel at so in the beauti Portobelo is Ocean with sponge coral riety of other explore the e
Bocas d
Located on the magical d the mainland land chains, travel destina cays, and tho Page 16
nama’s portion has well over 1,000 miles of prislands to Isla Grande, Isla Escudo de Veraguas to
360 islands In the archipelago, most of r two and rings of tropical green water. ices visitors seeking a different option to walk is a site in the Atlantic side of Panama, wheis clear and the white sand of the island conhe green palms. There, in the archipelago, visio find coral reefs, which according to UNESCO, the best preserved in the Northwest Atlaniographical Bioregion Caribbean and Central.
Heritage Site and Panama’s first National Marine Park, Bocas del Toro is also one of Panama’s most visited eco-tourism destinations. Considered the ‘Galapagos of the Caribbean’ Bocas del Toro is also one of the most biologically diverse places on earth.
San San Pond Sak Considered one of the most important wetlands of the Caribbean Mesoamerican coast, San San Pond Sack holds an immense biological diversity. It is home to a wide variety of migratory birds that travel during most of the year as well as the manatee and four species of sea turtles that nest on its beaches. Its channels and coastal lagoons offer a great variety of landscapes that you have not seen in other areas of the country.
ello
ast through one of the most emblematic sites in of Colon, the Historic Monumental Complex of eclared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since town that will captivate visitors with its military, ural buildings. Religious make it unique and have of securing the center of world trade through the airs of the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries. This the history of attacks by pirates and corsairs, trelack slaves that left as a legacy rich gastronomy nce of the colonist culture “the Congo dance.”
ome of the best spots near Portobelo, and bask iful scenery both above and below the water. home to clear blue waters of the Caribbean masses of colorful tropical fish traversing the reefs. Sea horses, sea sponges, and a wide var fish are often seen. Don’t miss the chance to exciting underwater world of the Caribbean Sea.
del toro
the northern Caribbean coast of Panama is destination of Bocas del Toro. Extending from d cloud forest mountains to the tropical isBocas del Toro is considered Panama’s top ation. The archipelago has 9 main islands, 52 ousands of islets. Home to a UNESCO World Page 17
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Serving the meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions industry since 1986. Find us in over 31 destinations throughout: • Mexico • Cuba • Dominican Republic • Costa Rica & • Panama
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CONTACT:
Dear reader! Thanks for reading Communiquest Incentive Travel Digest I hope you find in this newsletter a useful tool that will help you make decisions for your successful business.We would be delighted to know if there anything else you’d like to see or experience in this monthly newsletter. Your suggestions are more than welcome. We wish you the best in your endeavors and business adventures, and please, don’t forget, working with us “Will make YOU look GREAT”.
IVI DMC² Corporate office: Ave. Acanceh #1-01, SM 15 Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mx Phone: +52 (998) 287-1700 Email:ivicorp@ividmc. travel
Sincerely,
For further information on the finest hotels, deals, activities, and group packages mentioned in this travel digest, please contact:
José-Manuel GARCÍA, CDS Visionary, Founder and Master Coach
Raquel MIJARES rmijares@ividmc.travel
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© Copyright 2019. All Rights Reserved.
OUR STATE-OF-THE ART CREED (A company with a soul) We promise you to be those people neatly dressed in white and turquoise blue uniforms, many people call us “The Smurfs”, we perform as an extension of your own business. We are knowledgeable, witty, fun to have around, and beautiful or handsome (not necessarily in that order). We can run faster than “Speedy Gonzalez”, we can be in two or three different places at once, we are also commited to do everything in a legal and personalized way for our clients. You can find us popping up at airports, historical and archaeological sites, deluxe resorts, charming hotels, golf courses, scenic beaches, and even at the best restaurants in town. We enjoy “Smurf Team-work” because it’s fun and having fun doing our job is our passion. We can do the impossible right away – miracles may take a little bit longer”. Ever since 1986 we’ve been working passionately with the sole mission to Make YOU look GREAT!
CORPORATE OFFICE José Manuel (Manolo) GARCÍA, CIS, CMS, CCM, CES President of IVI DMC² Enterprises manolo@ividmc.travel Av. Acanceh 1-01 Sm. 15 Cancún, Quintana Roo 77505 México Tel. +52 (998) 2871700
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