Whether it’s sun-soaked beach resorts, historic towns or sophisticated cities, Mexico abounds with options for creating vacation memories. Travel advisors who specialize in Mexico are well-versed in qualifying clients and matching them with the ideal experiences that fit their personality, style and budget.
But where do travel agents turn when they need even more insight for their Mexico-bound clients?
The answer, in many cases, is a destination management company (DMC). As travel businesses with local offices in many of Mexico’s top destinations, DMCs can serve as advisors’ allies, connecting them with a range of experiences and services. It’s like having access to a local expert.
And local expertise can be especially helpful when selling travel to a nation as vast and diverse as Mexico. Some vacationers go for the sun and sand. Others dive into the history and culture. Or the cuisine. Or the shopping. Or the nightlife. The list goes on and on.
Most DMCs in Mexico provide basic services such as private airport transportation and tours, to be sure. But there are many other ways to make a client feel special when they visit Mexico, from VIP museum access to private, multiday excursions and boat charters. In addition, some DMCs specialize in meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE), while others provide services to both leisure and corporate groups as well as individuals.
Here's a roundup of some of the largest DMCs in Mexico, with a description of each company’s specialties.
Condor Verde
Condor Verde — which has offices in Mexico City as well as in Costa Rica, Guatemala and Venezuela — offers services for free independent travelers, groups and MICE. The company’s services are available in the Mexican coastal destinations of Cancun, the Riviera Maya, Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta, as well as inland regions including Merida, Mexico City, Guadalajara and San Miguel de Allende. Condor Verde has created customized itineraries for everything from religious pilgrimage groups to school classes, clubs and even coffee producers.
Connect Travel Services
Operating from offices in Los Cabos, Cancun and Puerto Vallarta, Connect Travel Services specializes in private events, team-building and entertainment. The company describes itself as the first DMC worldwide to adopt the United Nations’ Climate Neutral Now pledge, which aims to promote greater sustainability in event planning.
Destination Mexico
With its focus on incentive and group travel, Destination Mexico is yet another expert at planning private events, group tours and other experiences. The company arranges tailored tour programs and special events in destinations including Cancun, the Riviera Maya, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, Punta Mita and Mexico City.
DMS Mexico
Based in Mexico City, DMS Mexico specializes in custom group programs for clients that include MICE, religious, culinary and academic groups, to name a few. Specialty tours focus on an array of topics depending on the destination and the interests of each group, with options such as art, architecture, gastronomy, archaeology, folklore, nature and adventure.
Epic
With a presence in all of Mexico’s largest tourism destinations, Epic offers services ranging from leisure travel planning to destination weddings and MICE programs. In Los Cabos, for example, the company can arrange activities that include whale and camel safaris, deep-sea fishing excursions and cooking classes.
Maritur DMC
With offices in multiple locations around Mexico, Maritur DMC can arranges special events such as theme parties, as well as activities including deep-sea fishing in Los Cabos, hot-air balloon rides over the Teotihuacan pyramids, ziplining through the tropical jungle and swimming with whale sharks in the Mexican Caribbean.
Ovation Global DMC
The high-profile Ovation Global DMC, which operates on multiple continents, maintains a presence in Mexico through Amstar, its local partner. Together, the companies offer everything from event theme planning to decorations, corporate gifts, accommodations and social activities for private group trips. In addition, Amstar offers individual excursions ranging from guided tours of Mexico City to ATV and zipline adventures on the Caribbean coast.
SAT Mexico
This company’s recently launched tour and travel site highlights a variety of offerings around the country, including one-day tours departing from various parts of the Yucatan peninsula, as well as Puerto Vallarta, Oaxaca, Mexico City and Guadalajara. SAT Mexico also offers private tours in destinations such as Mexico City, Isla Mujeres, Chiapas and Chichen Itza.
Tropical Incentives
Based in Cancun, Tropical Incentives also operates in the Riviera Maya, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit, Mexico City and San Miguel de Allende (as well as the Dominican Republic). While focused largely on corporate groups and incentives, this DMC can also arrange private events for groups of at least 20, with options to add water-based and land-based activities and excursions to any program.
