CommuniQuest Incentive Travel Digest - Year 10 Vol. 1, 199

Vol. 1, No. 199

DIRECTORY

INDEX

Visionary, Founder and Dream Seller: Jose Manuel GARCIA, CDS jmgarcia@ividmc.travel

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President: Jose Manuel (Manolo) GARCIA CIS, CMS, CCM, CES

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Flying Along with the I-Bee Squad - Expanding our knowledge at home & meetings with our allies!

manolo@ividmc.travel Vice President of Marketing: Raquel MIJARES, CIS, DMCP rmijares@ividmc.travel

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Corporate Quality Director:

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jortiz@ividmc.travel IT Manager: Angel PEREZ cun.sistemas2@ividmc.travel

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Puerto Vallarta & Riviera Nayarit; Las Caletas and Marietas Islands

Content & Editing: Omar DELGADILLO corp.news@ividmc.travel

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Snorkeling and scuba diving hub’s in Costa Rica’s paradise islands

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A natur al won derlan d i n Me x i co´s B aja; Lo s C abos

Julia ORTIZ, CES, CMS

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A humming metropolis in Panama’s distinguished islands

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Scattered gems in the Dominican Republic that demand a visit

The lustrous islands of the Mexican Caribbean

Destination offices

Cover subject: Haven islands in Latin America Follow us on:

Mexico:

Caribbean:

Central America:

South America:

IVI DMC Los Cabos

IVI DMC Cuba

IVI DMC Costa Rica

IVI DMC Colombia

Yazmin ELOSEGUI, DMCP, CIS,

Alejandro DEBASA, CMS

Jeremy ZUÑIGA

Alexandra MONTAÑEZ

CMS

Regional Managing Director

Regional Managing Director

Regional Managing Director

Destination Managing Director

adebasa@ividmc.travel

jzuniga@ividmc.travel

amontanez@ividmc.travel

IVI DMC Dominican Republic

IVI DMC Panama

yelosegui@ividmc.travel IVI DMC Puerto Vallarta & Riviera

Bidia BISSUMBHAR, CIS, CES, CMM Malek ALMAINI

Nayarit

Destination Manager

Destination Manager

Jaime NELO, DMCP, CMS, CES

bidia@ividmc.travel

malek@ividmc.travel

Destination Managing Director jnelo@ividmc.travel IVI DMC Cancun & Riviera Maya Ximena LOPEZ, CMS Marketing & Planning Director cun.planning2@ividmc.travel

© Copyright 2020. All Rights Reserved.

A WORD FROM OUR PRESIDENT. Dear reader, With crystalline beaches, breathtaking sunsets, and a combination of adventure travel and memorable surroundings, the Caribbean’s natural charm has redefined the ultimate personal and professional getaways. In the last years, several island destinations have become more than just a few moments in paradise but rather key destinations for meeting planners to discover how these spots can double as the perfect meeting and event setting. Plan your extraordinary event with our leading quality of service. Our accomplishments 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 DMC 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 loyal, honest and successful partners maximizing the return on 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 to incentives, corporate meetings, conventions, congresses, special events and VIP vacations, providing memorable experiences that leave a mark in each of the destinations in which we operate; maximizing the return on investment to shareholders.

Another month goes by, and although this year has been challenging, we believe there’s always a bright side. We’re expanding our knowledge on how to improve our jobs from home, and we’re developing new online skills that we may never have been developed if it wasn’t for this circumstance.

This month we welcomed Mr. Israel Garces to our hive! He is now our Regional Director in Mexico City for DQuest.travel by IVI DMC Enterprises.

In other news, we had an online meeting with the “Los Cabos’ Tourism Board”. We had a very good time, and can’t wait to start working together on the strategies discussed!

Also, we were invited to visit Fiesta Americana-Mérida by Grupo Posadas! We participated in this event with our great allies; Aeromexico, Latinamerica Meetings, Sololoy Network, and Grupo Posadas. We had a wonderful time and learned more about their new safety and hygiene protocols for your upcoming meetings and incentives.

Click here to learn more about our mutual protocols!

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On that regard, our associate Jorge Celis (Destination Manager IVI DMC Yucatan) visited Hacienda Xcanatun where he met with Eva Lรณpez & Julio Landa! This beautiful hacienda is located in Yucatan, just 12 km away from Merida.

We make YOU look GREAT!

Flying along with the

I-Bee Squad And last but not least, our associates Raquel MIJARES & Mariana LEON participated in the WITMEX (Women in Tourism Mexico), which is an exclusive conference for the leading women in tourism from Mexico and Latin America. This event was brought to us by Northstar Meetings Group in partnership with AFEET Quintana Roo!

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A natural wonder that demands to be on your next travel getaway The World-renowned Peninsula of Baja California is distinguished by its stunning beaches, islands, islets, gorgeous views, and fascinating desert sceneries.

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Los Cabos

Jet-skiing, banana-boating, parasailing, snorkeling, kitesurfing, diving, and horseback riding are just a few of its endless plethora of activities

In addition to these amazing natural sites, there are several oases well hidden and close to one of the most gorgeous Biosphere Reserve. Sierra La Laguna is home to some of these jewels that feature little canyons and particularly the Fox Canyon where you can practice hiking for a truly sensational experience.

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Todos Santos Enjoy the magic of Todos Santos, a place hailed as “Pueblo Mágico” by the Secretary of Tourism of Mexico in 2006.

Founded in 1723, Todos Santos which means All Saints was colonized by the Jesuit Missionaries. It holds a rich history of being inhabited and becoming a ghost town throughout this time. Nowadays, this town and its beaches are playing an essential cultural, sport, and artistic role in Baja California Sur.

Cerritos This place has been an ideal surfing spot as it is only 45 min from Cabo San Lucas.

If you are looking for a great swimming experience or simply unwind and enjoy the stunning pacific sunsets, Cerritos is the perfect place.

El Sargento El Sargento is a small village that belongs to La Paz municipality, and is located in 44km of the Federal Highway. In this wonderful place you can find restaurants, bars, markets and a huge camping site ideal to accomodate loved ones.

Enjoy any of your favorite sport or water activity in this fascinating site.

La Ventana This magical place is only 40 minutes away from La Paz City. It enchants with an intense blue tone from the sea coupled with its deserts surrounded by the mountains behind it, as well as Cerralvo Island, all part of the natural beauty of this spot. It has become one of the best destinations in the world to practice kitesurf, all thanks to a group of windsurfers in the 80’s that discovered that the wind that hits the shore, creates a tunnel that makes easier to enjoy this activity.

Puerto Vallarta & Riviera Nayarit The ideal holiday destination!

Las Caletas

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Marietas Islands

Marietas Islands

Las Caletas

With crystal clear waters and white sands, The Marietas Islands are just a piece of the puzzle to Puerto Vallarta’s extraordinary destination. These islands are 900 meters from each other and date back some 60,000 years as a result of volcanic activity. The smallest called Round Island is about 1000 meters long and 500 meters at its widest point, it is also the closest to shore and offers a hidden underground beach. Isla Larga, the largest island is located west with 900 meters in length and 400 meters in width.

These islands are a true a natural treasure, at least what remains of them since at the beginning of the 1900´s they were used as a practice target for military bombing, something that would have continued had it not been for the intervention of Jaches-Yves Cousteau in the 1960s. It has since been protected by the government against the depredation of their resources and human activities.

Las Caletas, technically speaking, is not an Island, it is part of the shore of Bahia de Banderas; however, once spotted in the horizon, the sensation of arriving at an island is absolute.

A paradisiacal bay covered with a green and lush jungle and a sweeping beach that can only be reached from the sea. Today this magnificent beach hideaway in the middle of the jungle is ranked amongst the Top 4 in the category of Isolated Beach Destinations in the world. Here you can unwind in hammocks next to the sea while savoring a delicious cocktail in the perfect tropical climate. John Huston was the first foreigner to enjoy this place, he loved Puerto Vallarta but he wanted an even more insolated place and far from the daily bustle. Las Caletas was home of choice and he was conceded with this property in the 1970s by the Chacala Indians, who managed the land. He lived there for almost two decades until his health forced him back to the USA with this daughter, the famous Oscar-winning actress Anjelica Huston. She said “he found a lot of happiness there in his last years of life’’…in the jungle, by the star-lit sea.

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Sand, Sun and Vitamin Sea in the...

Mexican Caribbean Contoy Island The official name of this site is Isla Contoy National Park and it is a Protected Natural Area that permits the visit of a maximum of 200 people per day and shelters 152 species of birds. Its located 30 kilometers north of Isla Mujeres where the waters of the Caribbean Sea meet those of the Gulf of Mexico.

The activities allowed in Contoy are eco-touristic, monitorization, and scientific research, and two types of commercial fishing, all of them supervised and regulated by the park management.

The park’s infrastructure in the eco-tourist zone includes a pier, anchor buoys, a visitor center with a museum exhibition, an observation tower 20 meters high, two interpretive trails where you can see the flora and fauna of the island, a bird-watching gazebo, two large dining palapas for visitors, and a field station equipped with wind generators and solar panels.

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A world of wonder a boatride away

Isla Mujeres Known for its beautiful white-sand beaches and crystal clear turquoise waters, Isla Mujeres is located in the exotic Caribbean Sea, very close to the well-known Yucatan Peninsula, just southwest of Mexico. In pre-Hispanic times the island was dedicated to Ixchel, the Mayan goddess of the moon, love, and fertility, which received offerings with feminine forms that believers deposited on its beaches. When the Spanish conquerors arrived and observed the figures, they named it Isla Mujeres.

Visitors can traverse this island on a bicycle, a golf cart, or even on foot as it is quite small. Playa Norte is considered one of the best beaches in Mexico. The soft white sand, palm trees, and water so blue that the sky looks pale, make it the perfect place to relax and get away from the rigors of life. Punta Sur is the Cliff of the Dawn that, according to geographical coordinates, receives the first rays of the sun in our country.

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Cozumel Cozumel is one of the largest and most populated islands in Mexico. This Mesoamerican reef system stretches twenty-two kilometers along the white beaches that surround it. Thanks to its great marine biodiversity, it is considered an ideal place for diving, the large coral banks that form live underwater gardens are home to a rich and varied marine fauna. In addition to its beautiful landscapes, the island has a wide variety of ecotourism activities such as zip lines, rappelling, kitesurfing, surfing, swimming with dolphins, snorkeling, fishing, golf, motorcycle rides, bicycles, canoes, kayaks, etc.

Places like Chankanaab National Park, the San Gervasio Archaeological Zone, or the Atlantis submarine (which will take you through the sea) are some of the things you will love about Cozumel.

Holbox Island Holbox is part of the Yum Balam Biosphere Reserve, and among its wonders are bird sanctuaries where you can observe ospreys, cormorants, pelicans, pink flamingos, herons, and other species. This island has 36 kilometers of virgin beaches with coral sand and is surrounded by lush mangrove vegetation. It is famous for being the sanctuary of the whale shark, the largest fish in the world that reaches up to 15 meters in length.

This shark prefers warm surface water and visits Holbox between May - September to feed on plankton. As if that were not enough, from March to November when the water temperature is warmer, you can appreciate the bioluminescence.

It has a wide range of lodging and gastronomy options to choose from, although Lobster pizza is considered one of the most distinguished dishes on the island.

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Costa Rica Coco Island This Natural World Heritage Site is the most prominent island in Costa Rica. A former refuge for pirates, and treasured legends, it was considered by the French researcher Jacques Cousteau as the “most beautiful island in the world”, today it is recognized for its maritime wealth.

However, for Costa Ricans, it is not easy to visit Coco Island, as it is located 532 kilometers from the national Pacific coast. A tour of 10 days and 9 nights to the island includes all diving means and other provisions for the entire stay.

San Lucas Island Located 5.4 miles from the province of Puntarenas with an area of ​​500 acres, this island constitutes the 11th district of the Canton of Puntarenas. It is one of the largest islands in the Gulf of Nicoya. In addition to maintaining the facilities that housed the most famous criminal in Costa Rica - and that inspired the famous novel “The Island of Lonely Men”, it has nine beaches, four of which are recommended for tourist and recreational use. On the island, you can observe bats, congo monkeys, squirrels and iguanas among other species. Some tours to this island include the passage through the Jesuit Island.

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Costa Rica has beautiful beac tionally recognized. Additional islan

Turtle Island

Located 12 nautical miles from the province of Puntarenas, named after the Tolinga Indians, this preserved forest has an area of ​​120 acres, and proudly bears the Ecological Blue Flag. This distinction is given to the country’s beaches, which have pollution-free ches and national parks, which are interna- waters. Due to its geographical characteristic, its waters lly, the country is also home to paradisiacal are turquoise color and are optimal for swimming and nds that are a must for any time of the year. unwinding.

Caño Island It has an area of approximately ​​ 200 acres and is 15 kilometers from Drake Bay on the Osa Peninsula. It was declared a Biological Reserve in 1976, just before the last private owner built an airport and a casino. The waters surrounding the Caño Island are full of hidden treasures and are perfect for diving and snorkeling. The fantastic blue water that surrounds the island is the home of many fish that inhabit the tropical reef. It is an ideal destination to relax and enjoy a tropical paradise.

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PANAMA A humming metropolis in the midst of the Caribbean

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W

ith just a quick look at the map of Panama, you can understand the geography of this Central American country. With 80 kilometers wide at its narrowest part - is a love story between the seas, a contoured dance with two of the most powerful oceans of the planet, with profiles that blur over and over again in many islands, cays and islets. Panama has a total of 1,500 Islands.

Taboga Island The largest in the Taboga archipelago is known as the Isla de las Flores due to the jasmine and bougainvillea flowers that embellish its colonial old town. It is just an hour by ferry from the port of Balboa and offers beautiful beaches, lush forests, and fascinating views of the busy naval station of the Bay of Panama.

Grande Island On the Caribbean side, just 15 kilometers from Portobelo, Isla Grande - belonging to the province of Colon - lives from fishing and coconut cultivation, which makes it one of the best places to savor the rich Afro-Caribbean cuisine, which uses coconut milk and seafood as base ingredients. Another characteristic of the Panamanian seas is the ease with which they provide nature sanctuaries at a short distance by flight or boat.

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Iguana & Caña Islands Isla Iguana and Isla Caña act as wildlife shelters settled in the southern province of Los Santos, in the Pacific.

While the first, protected by coral reefs, allows visitors to observe whales between June and November, the second will delight from the end of August to November with the thousands of sea turtles that come to spawn along the beaches.

Coiba The largest of all, Coiba Island -also called Devil’s Island- with almost 500 square kilometers are part of the Coiba Marine National Park, recognized

by UNESCO as a World Heritage of Humanity. This is the ideal snorkeling, scuba diving or fishing site as the reef protects a large number of marine species of all sizes such as dolphins, humpback whales, sperm whales, killer whales, whale sharks, manta rays, sea turtles, hammerhead sharks, white tip reef sharks, and tiger sharks.

Here 760 species of fish have been documented, including barracudas, snappers, amberjack, and three species of marlin.

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Boca Brava Island Located on the province of ChiriquĂ­-, Boca Brava Island which is home to many wandering turtles, with 3,000 hectares of jungles populated by monkeys and hundreds of birds, and which is the only one with accommodation and restaurant on the Gulf of ChiriquĂ­ National Marine Park.

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Dominican Republic In addition to the mainland’s sparkling beaches, the Dominican Republic boasts multiple offshore sandbanks and islands with stunning sea and sand environments.

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Saona Island Located 19 kilometers (12 miles) south of the mainland, Saona Island’s picture-perfect beaches attract more visitors than all of the country’s national parks combined. A protected site spanning 110 sq km (42-square miles) and part of Cotubanamá National Park, Saona is a dream tropical getaway, where long stretches of brilliant white sand and their giant coconut trees seem to melt into iridescent turquoise waters. Visitors can take day trips to enjoy the beaches, through a myriad of options ranging from speedboats to catamarans. Riding along Saona’s stunning coastline scenery alone is worthwhile. Most trips depart from Bayahíbe village, from its small waterfront area. Stops in Saona include a swim at Palmilla, a white stretch with a wide natural pool, and at Mano Juan, the only inhabited portion of the island. Saona Island is also the DR’s most important turtle-nesting site.

Cayo Arena Cayo Arena, also known as Cayo Paraíso, located 25 minutes by boat from Punta Rucia, northwest of Puerto Plata. This sandbar is nestled in the middle of the bright blue ocean, with fine white sand and shallow waters. This area boasts some of the most abundant marine life in the DR, a paradise spot for snorkelers and divers.

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Cayos

Cayos Siete Hermanos Sitting 10 kilometers (6 miles) northwest of the Bay of Montecristi, Los Siete Hermanos consists of seven sandy cays–Toruru, Muertos, Ratas, Terrero, Monte Grande, Monte Chico, and Arenas. Formed by coral sands, they offer a plethora of beaches, underwater exploration, and wildlife. Around the cays’ shores, you’ll spot cacti, iguanas, and crabs.

Underwater, submerged forests, sandy bottoms, and large rocky walls make this area a one-stop site for snorkeling, day or night diving–at just three meters (10 feet), making it accessible to beginners. And unlike other diving spots in Montecristi, you can explore on windy days. The seven cays are also the DR’s primary nesting site for boobie bird species–the season runs from late May to early September–and are an ideal spot for watching migratory and native birds.

Catalinita Some of the smallest islands are located off the shore of Bayahíbe, much like Catalinita which sits in the Catuano Channel. Its popularity is due to its crystal clear waters all-year-round, and its abundance of marine life and coral reefs. Eagle rays, sharks, and sea turtles are just a handful of species found in its shallow waters. It is also part of Parque Nacional Cotubanamá, which can be combined on a dive or snorkel trip to Saona Island.

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Catalina Island Near La Romana’s shores, Catalina Island is popular for its water sports, particularly diving and snorkeling. Portions of the beach are used for cruise ship excursions, but the entire stretch is open for the public to enjoy. It’s a stunner with its powder-fine white sand, calm waters, and lack of development. Catalina’s waters are abundant in coral reefs, including a “Living Museum of the Sea” following the discovery—after three centuries—of Captain Kidd’s shipwreck at 70 feet (21 meters), right off the island. Popular dive sites include the over 100 ft. Catalina Wall, and the Aquarium.

Isla Cabra This small white sandy island lies across the corner from El Morro, just a couple of minutes off the coast of Montecristi, easily accessible by boat for a day out where you can relish in its fine sand, calm turquoise seas, and secluded town. There’s no development here, except for a small lighthouse tower, and that’s the beauty of it. You can bring snacks, swim among small fish scurrying around your feet in clear waters, and pretend you’re on your very own private island. Excursions to Isla Cabra are often included on tours of Montecristi’s coastline.

Cayo Levantado Also known as Bacardi Island because of a Bacardi commercial filmed here in the 1970s, the small, picturesque island of Cayo Levantado sits just five kilometers (three miles) from Samaná Bay and boasts brilliant white sand and palm-fringed beaches. Boat taxis depart regularly from the Samaná port on Avenida Marina, bringing visitors daily to this small island. Spend the day swimming, sunbathing, kayaking or paddleboarding, and enjoy fresh fish on the public side of Cayo Levantado. You can also spend the night at an on-site luxury hotel, occupying the other half of the island. Note that there may be restrictions for visits on days when large cruise ships dock off the island.

What our client’s have to say.

“

We appreciated the initial help with the venue when they were not responsive to us. Jaime was AWESOME the whole way through! I want to hire him to come to Texas! The team was excellent onsite assembling our gifts so we didn’t have to do it:) very perky and professional onsite helpers.

“

Lisa Journagan | President & Founder

“

Mary Dews |​Sr. Account Manager

“

“

“

Jaime, thank you and your team for a fantastic inaugural Leaders Circle! We truly could not have done it without partners like you! Jose-Manuel, you have built an incredible organization. Your team is talented and dedicated to the business.

Thank you very much for your continued support of Creative Group and of our recent Leaders Circle event!

Excellent assistance throughout the entire program. Fernando and the entire IVI staff were excellent, so professional and great to work with!

Mallory Huff |​Program Manager - Event Operations

Doctor Travel’s cure for the common trip Don´t rush through your trip You should not try to pack 5-10 tours during a 1-2 week travel. All the good stuff happens when you take the time to explore each spot. You’ll learn about places that aren’t in your guidebook and meet people who are eager to show you around, not to mention the new cuisine you’ll try.

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People are our top priority at Posadas: both our guests and clients as well as our staff. We always want what is best for you. That’s why we are ready to welcome you with our new, extensive “Travel with Confidence: the safety, hygiene, and flexibility you need to stay with us again.”.

Travel with Confidence This program consists of a series of cleaning and sanitizing protocols.

It follows guidelines provided by official organizations such as the Mexican Government, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) with whom we participated in the creation of the initiative Safe Travels: Global Protocols for the New Normal, that seek to provide tools for the public and private sectors that guarantee safety in the face of COVID-19.

The program, in partnership with 3M, involves the use of its products in each stage of the cleaning processes in all hotel spaces. here!

Learn more about this program

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GET MORE BENEFITS BY BOOKING GROUPS WITH A MINIMUM OF 15 ROOMS PER NIGHT FOR 3 NIGHTS ADDITIONAL CONCESSIONS •

One (1) complimentary upgrade to the next available category for every fifteen (15) rooms paid per night. Subject to availability at time of contracting.

•

One (1) complimentary room (single or double occupancy) for every fifteen (15) rooms paid per night (maximum of 5 rooms per night).

•

One (1) staff room at 25% off group rate per every fifteen (15) rooms fully paid per night, non-cumulative (maximum of 5 rooms per night).

•

Complimentary canape service (of Hotel’s choice) for the Welcome Reception (up to 3 canapes per person).

•

25% discount on upgraded Banquet Menu items that are not included in the standard all-inclusive banquet menus.

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Complimentary coffee break (of Hotel’s choice) for 4 hours.

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$1000 resort credit redeemable for AV and decoration with our in-house suppliers. (Resort Credit is subject to minimum of group of 50 rooms per night)

•

One resort certificate valid 3days/2nights for the meeting planner to be redeemed 6 months after the contracted program.

The above concessions are not combinable with other promotions, with the exception of the Revival Group Promotion and apply to all new quoted groups signed before September 30, 2020

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Click here to receive more information

Serving the meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions industry since 1986.

Find us in over 41 destinations throughout: • Mexico • Cuba • Dominican Republic • Costa Rica & • Panama • Colombia

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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 Dream Seller

Raquel MIJARES rmijares@ividmc.travel

Follow us on:

© Copyright 2020. All Rights Reserved.

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