Los Cabos in alliance with the World Meetings Forum is ready to set an example of how it is possible to organize face-to-face events to reactivate the sector.
After the break in the tourism sector in March of this year, the reopening of some of the most important tourist destinations, such as Los Cabos, marks the first stage of this “new normal”.
From August 31 to September 2, the World Meeting Forum was held at the Hotel Paradisus Los Cabos, the business platform that brings together highly qualified buyers and sellers from the global meetings industry.
The uncertainty about how to hold face-to-face events again is one of the current challenges. In this regard, Rafael Hernández, Chairman of the Forum commented that the event this year consisted of a hybrid between digital meetings and in-person attendees with the participation of more than 200 attendees, including 70 event organizers and 70 service providers with great influence in the market. as well as online speakers and meetings.
Likewise, the inclusion of people with disabilities in the event was highlighted, through the World Meetings Forum Foundation. This with the aim of sensitizing the industry about how important it is to accommodate this group of society.
“Leading by example is the best way to send strong messages to other industries, in order to confirm that it is possible to organize events. With the purpose of generating tangible arguments that support the reactivation of the industry, and exploring the adaptation of the sector to the new reality. Added the implementation of sanitation and hygiene protocols to what we have called 360 ° and Beyond, which will mark the baseline from now on”.
The rigorous 360 ° and Beyond biosecurity scheme was articulated with the different protocols of the strategic allies, in addition to having the scientific and medical supervision of Azumed, advisers to the organization and those who will facilitate services such as identification of the population at risk and the taking of rapid tests before the activity program.
As part of the academic program, the content highlighted the DNA of the event (Culture, Connection, Closing and Purpose) with case studies and guests from companies such as: Grupo Imex, Hugo Boss, Nissan, Banco Santander, Aeroméxico, among others.
“Events like the World Meetings Forum help us to consolidate Los Cabos as a reliable and safe destination for the reactivation of the meetings segment, which leaves a spill of more than 7 billion pesos and is a trigger for thousands of jobs. By hosting these types of conventions, we reinforce the quality and commitment to reopening the tourist activity ”. Luis Humberto Araiza López, Secretary of Tourism, Economy and Sustainability of Baja California Sur.
Similarly, Rodrigo Esponda, General Director of the Los Cabos Tourism Board commented on the importance of the destination as one of the main places for business conventions in the world.
“For us it is of great importance to give voice to the efforts that have been made in the tourism industry, showing that the destination is prepared to continue receiving world-class conventions and events, among other things, due to its incredible infrastructure and constant innovation of the offer, characteristics that have allowed us to reinvent processes to meet new health needs. We continue to offer spaces and experiences of the highest quality, at the same time providing the certainty that we have specialized personnel to guarantee the safety of attendees.”
Finally, Paradisus Los Cabos, as the host hotel for the event, also joins this strategic commitment by highlighting the protocols under the Stay Safe With Melia program. In this way it aligns efforts so that the segment resurfaces with more force.
It should be noted that the opening ceremony was attended by Jaime Salazar, President of the Mexican Council of the Meetings Industry (COMIR); Francisco Cachafeiro, President Meetings Professional International (MPI Mexico Chapter); Jesús Aguilar, President Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA Mexico Chapter); Alfredo Gutiérrez, President PCO Meetings Mexico, and the Secretary of Tourism of Baja California Sur, Luis Araiza, with his position as President of the Association of State Secretaries of Tourism (ASETUR), with the aim of signing the alliance “Join and Meet Mexico” that outlines the commitments of the sector for the reactivation of the industry.
