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St. Regis Mexico City |
Virtuoso has announced that its next Overseas Symposium will be held in Mexico City on April 15-18. The Overseas Symposium is an annual event that brings together respected executives in the luxury travel industry.
Last year proved to be a tough year for Mexico’s tourism industry. Reflecting a spirited out-of-the-gate effort in 2010 from Mexico’s top tourism players, Virtuoso CEO Matthew D. Upchurch received personal invitations to hold the symposium in Mexico City from a variety of high-ranking government officials, including the country’s president, Felipe Calderón Hinojosa, and Rodolfo Elizondo Torres, Mexico’s Minister of Tourism.
“I am certain that Virtuoso’s distinguished members will confirm the enormous potential that our country offers,” wrote President Calderón in his invitation letter. “We know that Virtuoso, as a leader in luxury travel, will be able to increase its presence in the Mexican market, bring value to the industry and our local economies, and take advantage of what Mexico has to offer to global companies.”
Virtuoso’s Upchurch has a personal connection to Mexico — he was born there and spent much of his childhood in the country.
Furthermore, Upchurch has aid, “The full support of the Mexican government, including their personal expressions of support, has been a major factor in our decision to hold the event in Mexico.”
Virtuoso has 25 member travel agency locations throughout Mexico. Two of Virtuoso’s preferred supplier hotels, the Four Seasons Hotel Mexico, D.F., and The St. Regis Mexico City, will host the conference and its 400 anticipated attendees. In addition to holding a forum that allows its members and preferred suppliers to discuss industry topics, the symposium provides the opportunity to educate attendees about the destination with an eye towards bolstering sales. In addition to meetings and discussions, there will be plenty of opportunities to enjoy the city. While details have yet to be finalized, symposium participants can expect private tours of historic landmarks (including some not open to the public) as well as dinners of authentic Mexican cuisine prepared by top celebrity chefs and entertainment by some of the country’s top performers.
Previous destinations that have hosted Virtuoso’s Overseas Symposium include Sydney, Athens, Hong Kong, and Cairo.
Virtuoso
www.virtuoso.com
