It’s kind of an awkward term, perhaps, but the concept of bleisure travel — the idea of mixing business with leisure — is a goal for more travelers than ever. Mexico, with its wide array of business-popular destinations, well-equipped hotels and enticing leisure activities to please every taste, is positioned to help road warriors blend productivity with pleasure. Here are a few of the best places to do it.
Cancun
Since it’s home to one of Mexico’s best-connected airports, Cancun has long been a favorite for travelers looking to stage business meetings in paradise. And its range of hotels that can fit every taste and budget — not to mention its gorgeous beaches, crystal-clear waters and exciting nightlife — also makes it great for leisure travelers.
Bleisure travelers can easily make use of extensive meeting facilities and business centers at hotels such as the recently renovated Live Aqua Beach Resort Cancun, which has ample meeting space as well as seven inviting swimming pools. Another great choice is the new Renaissance Cancun Resort & Marina, which opened this year and is conveniently close to downtown offices.
Guadalajara
Mexico’s second-largest city can be a rewarding place to do business and enjoy free-time options. Hotels such as InterContinental Presidente Guadalajara offer sophisticated business services and plenty of meeting space, as well as proximity to myriad ways for immersion in the region’s fascinating culture, as well.
A visit to the city’s historic downtown can provide a scenic introduction to the region’s storied past, while attending a traditional rodeo or even a lucha libre wrestling match can inject extra excitement into a trip that’s been weighed down with too much time in the boardroom. And, of course, the nearby town of Tequila is a perfect place to toast to a successful day of work.
Los Cabos
West Coast movers and shakers find it especially easy to meet at this well-placed Baja California hot spot, which excels at offering upscale settings for business gatherings. New hotels include Montage Los Cabos, which features more than 30,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event and meeting space, with easy access to two tennis courts and the new, 19-hole Twin Dolphin golf course, designed by golf pro Fred Couples.
Golf, indeed, can provide the setting for many a business deal, as well as a way to work off the stress of a hard day. At Grand Fiesta Americana Los Cabos All Inclusive Golf & Spa, guests can enjoy access to two adjacent 18-hole courses; refuel at 15 food and beverage venues; and make use of meeting space that can accommodate anywhere between 20 and 1,100 people.
Mexico City
As Mexico’s largest metropolis and the nation’s capital, Mexico City is square one for international business trips. It’s home to countless corporate offices, as well as multiple large-scale convention centers such as the 65,000-square-foot World Trade Center and Centro Citibanamex, which offers more than 100,000 square feet of meeting and event space. It also happens to have more museums than almost any other city on the planet, and the concierges at business-minded hotels such as The St. Regis Mexico City are especially adept at connecting travelers with unique experiences including world-class shopping and dining.
In the sleekly modern — and very business-oriented — neighborhood called Santa Fe, harried corporate travelers can check into properties such as JW Marriott Hotel Mexico City Santa Fe, which has a posh spa, or Sheraton Mexico City Santa Fe, which has 10 meeting rooms as well as convenient proximity to one of the nation’s largest shopping malls.
Puerto Vallarta
Its sun-soaked coast and charmingly artsy downtown may forever attract vacationers, but Puerto Vallarta has carved out an increasingly prominent reputation as a great place to do business, thanks in no small part to the 47,000-square-foot Puerto Vallarta International Convention Center, which was built in 2009.
Individual hotels make it easy to stay focused on business while also having some fun. Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta, for example, is home to Grand Vidanta Convention Center, and offers leisure activities such as live entertainment and golf on two courses.
In Mexico, there’s no reason to stress out while working.
