Puerto Vallarta’s Convention and Visitors Bureau Shakes Things Up

The entity will be headed by Executive Director Miguel Andres Hernandez, who served as President of the Puerto Vallarta’s Hotel Association Tourism Board from 2010 to 2012, and GM of Puerto Vallarta’s Garza Blanca Preserve, Resort & Spa from 2009 to 2012. The CVB will promote tourism development in the region and act as a liaison between international and local businesses and governments as a way to facilitate and attract international meetings, conferences, events and incentive travel to the city.

The Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board has been promoting the city’s infrastructure in the business travel market as part of its promotions and public relations campaigns. As a result, Puerto Vallarta is currently in an alliance with the Mexico Tourism Board, participating in conferences and events such as AIBTM, IMEX and MPI in 2013 and this year and becoming an MPI Preferred Partner in April.

The CVB will take these initiatives further by providing meeting planners a direct contact to work with when bringing events and programs to Puerto Vallarta. Hernandez and his team will be able to offer presentations on the destination’s infrastructure and offerings, support and answer RFP’s, provide welcoming collateral and assist in obtaining permits within the city and support from local, State and Federal governments for bigger conferences or events.

This year the destination will once again be holding Vallarta Meetings, Puerto Vallarta’s special educational trip for US and Canadian meeting planners, from November 10-15.

Located on Mexico’s Pacific Coast in the state of Jalisco, Puerto Vallarta turned 96 this year; while it has grown to be a world-class destination, at its center it still remains a charming Mexican pueblo with colonial architecture and cobblestone streets. Its 120 miles are surrounded by the Bay of Banderas and the Sierra Madre, making it Mexico’s most diverse and most Mexican destination. The sea port where the Charros (Mexican cowboys) play, adventure seekers zipline and foodies taste one of over 360 restaurants.

The city of Puerto Vallarta started a series of remodeling projects six years ago, and in the past two years has re-opened its iconic Malecon, or boardwalk, the historic Los Muertos Pier was refurbished and the streets of the downtown area were widened, making it one of the few tourist zones in Mexico to be pedestrian friendly and wheelchair accessible.

In the past 6 months, two hotels have opened in Puerto Vallarta – Hotel One, with 125 rooms & Holiday Inn Express, with 115 rooms – both are conveniently located less than 10 minutes away from Puerto Vallarta’s a state-of-the-art International Convention Center, airport (PVR) and downtown. By the end of 2015 three other hotels will have opened, the Hyatt Ziva and Hotel Mousai in the Mismaloya area and the Altamar in the Romantic Zone. In addition, the Puerto Vallarta Fiesta Americana will be converting to an All-Inclusive in October.

As of 2013, the Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board has been proactively working on its connectivity and increasing flights to the destination from the United States and Canada as well as Europe and South America. This includes direct flights from St. Louis, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Vancouver, Chicago and Oregon, resulting in a 17% increase in international arrivals for the first 6 months of this year.