Convention and Hotel Meeting Facilities at Cancun

Become a Meeting Convention Trade show Incentive travel specialist

Over the past ten years, our attractions, shopping centres, restaurants,  and resorts have expandedtheir offerings to include the Caribbean's mos timaginative array of activities and amenities.There are over 140 separate tours available  on a daily basis

Your clients will thank you for providing these options,and come to appreciate the value of a professionally planned holiday.Perhaps Cancún's biggest challenge in attract Selling international travel .

The problem in any pricedriven service industry is that  distinguish your self from your competition you have two basic options: undercut the competitionin terms of price (very difficultunless you have huge volume) offer something others don't have  in a word, SPECIALIZE!
With so many agencies trying to sell the same product to thesame customers, specialization is ameans of standing apart from your competition. It can be a very effec-tive strategy.

The key is tobecome an expert without equaland then get the word out! And remember, when you specialize it'seasy to spend all your time researching, coun selling, administering and NOT selling. You're not running a library, you're running abusiness! Steps towards specializing might flow as follows:a Research an area of specialization Develop a sound business plan with realistic revenue andexpense projections
Establish solid  relationships with needed airlines, hoteliers, local ground operators, tourism

Becoming a Specialist  Customized Holidaysing more "special interest" holidaymakers isdislodging long held images of Cancún as a"beach-only" destination. To broaden consumerand travel agent awareness of Cancún's holidayoptions, the Cancún CVB has developed ten tar-getted "product clubs." Each club is comprisedof local tourism professionals with a dedicatedinterest and background in the intricacies oftheir field. Currently, our product clubs arefocussed on the following 10 areas:S Cuisine & EntertainmentS Eco-AdventureS GolfS Mayan Culture & ArchaeologyS ShoppingS SpasS Value LodgingS Water SportsS Weddings & RomanceS Meetings, Incentives & GroupsAs you study this chapter, you'll find the back-ground knowledge, local contacts, and salesinformation to capitalize on these growingspecialized travel products. Remember, spe-cialization can be both lucrative and fun!You'll be earning commissions on added pro-grammes and services, while enjoying immer-sion in a field of interest for which you have areal passion.Value Symbol  Throughout this course, look for this symbol. It signals added commission for you and the chance to expand your agency's Cancún tripplanning services.

Mexico has beenthe site of important meetings of indige-nous peoples, gathered in such awe-inspir-ing locations as Teotihuacan, Xochicalco, andTulúm to exchange ideas and get inspirationfrom their gods. Nowadays, those magnifi-cent ancient places are surrounded by resortareas that provide the modern conveniencesrequired to hold outstanding meetings, con-ventions, and incentive trips.Cancún has world-class hotels and resortsas well as the state-of-the-art Cancún Cen-tre, located in the heart of the Hotel Zone.The Centre has 13 meeting rooms which canbe divided into 37 breakout rooms totalling75,350 sq.ft. of meeting space. Able to accom-modate approximately 8,000 attendees, Can-cun Centre offers 77,900 sq.ft. of exhibitionspace divided in two levels. The scope of Cancún's attractions providessomething for every meeting planner's"wish list": fabulous beaches, the impressiveart and architecture of the Mayan culture,beautiful 16th-century colonial cities nearby,and a fascinating blend of pre-Hispanic andEuropean traditions.Other appeals such as the weather, the hos-pitality of the people, easy access and fre-quent air service, make Cancún one of the mostpopular destinations in the world.A Little Help From Your FriendsIn order to facilitate meetings and conventions,the Cancún CVB provides promotional material,specialized information on hotels, assistance incoordinating site inspections, and guidance onimmigration procedures.When selecting Cancún as a destination, do your-self a favour and work with an incentive house, aconvention management company, or a destina-tion management company (DMC) that has hadyears of experience organizing group travel toMexico.
What you will save in time, effort, andenergy is well worth the expenditure.Whether you're bringing in a small incentivegroup or a large convention, you will want to workwith someone who can help with the logistics,negotiate hotel contracts, get discounted meetingfares, and secure concessions from other serviceproviders.Meetings, Incentives & Groups

AMSTAR specializes in high quality products and ser-vices for meeting planners, incentive and conferenceorganizers, group organizers and tour operators. Theyhave more than 14 years experience providing unparal-leled hospitality services, events organization, theme par-ties, team building, tours, adventure activities, ground ser-vices, fam trips and site inspection. Over 3 million custom-ers have passed through their expert hands.dmc.amstarmexico.com or www.amstarmexico.comTel. 998-881-9590 Fax. 998- 881-959
4BEST DAY DMC Ground handling, incentive travel,groups & conventions, hotel reservations, FIT, charters. BestDay strives to be your "complete solution" for Cancún.www.bestday.com Tel. 998-881-1390 Fax. 998-881-1398
CANCUN TRAVEL ADVISORSQualified and dedicated destination management com-pany in the Mexican Caribbean, specialized in VIP, incentive,and corporate groups.sales@cancuncta.com | www.cancuncta.com Tel. 998-848-0010 Fax. 998-849-2423

retirement homes at belize caribbean retire

Retire to the Tropics

Establishing a new, permanent comfort zone can be sometime a hasstle, but it's easy in Belize. Gentle breezes, swaying palm trees and a relaxing lifestyle are only a part of what makes the country alluring to retirees. Belize is growing in popularity with those who want modern amenities, good transportation, safe environment and little extras like water sports and outdoor adventures. It's a world full of splendor less than two hours plain from Miami. With English as the official language and a strong Belize dollar, it's the perfect destination to enjoy your golden years. Discerning pensioners soon discover how much Belize has to offer, like a temper year-round climate, an abundance of natural resources, magnificent natural attractions, numerous recreational activities and friendly people. Health care is relatively inexpensive, and many doctors and US-trained. Another advantage is the county's proximity to Mexico and Guatemala, which provide more opportunity for travel.

Retirees enjoy easy access to land for construction for a retirement home. Picture yourself laying languidly in a hammock under the shade of a coconut palm. Sun soaked shores and the soothing turquoise sea are your new backyard. If a more rustic setting strikes your fancy, you can always build you own magical retreat in a secluded wooden forest or jungle habitat. And this time around, it's Mother Nature who welcomes you to the neighborhood. Belize City offers an additional option for those pensioners who still want a little of that "big city" ambience without all of the pressures. Retiring to Belize is relatively easy to prepare. Anyone 45 years or older can apply for the Qualifies Retirement program set up by the Belizean Government. Qualified retirees are eligible for benefits including specific tax exceptions and incentives. They don't have to pay tax on retirement income in Belize, and are entitled to import a motor vehicle, boat, aircraft, personal effects and household items within one-year limit; some restrictions may apply. Belize is peaceful nation that boast a stable government and a good educational system for those retirees who bring children under 18 years old.

Think of retiring to Belize as one continuous vacation; the best you've ever had. Take advantage of what the country has to offer. You can do as little or as much as you want. Retirement may come late in life, but in Belize, it's only the beginning of really living.

Belize Punta Rock african music

Grooving to Punta Rock

Former centers of African slave trade, Salvador de Bahia in Brazil, Port-au-Prince in Haiti, or Havana, Cuba are among the destinations for travelers on musical pilgrimages. Belize, too, is a place where villages and towns are alive with the sounds of African music – large wooden drums; turtle shell percussions and acoustic guitarists with booming voices. Along with their own culture, language and religion, the Garinagu brought these unique rhythms to Belize.

Visiting the Belizean Garinagu coastal villages feels like you are in Africa. In the evening, the local bars are filled with Punta Rock, a mix of traditional rhythms and pop music. Punta Rock has become so popular that it is the country's national music, despite the fact that Garinagu represent just 7% of the country's population. Imagine African percussion, Cuban Son, American Blues and West African guitars all wrapped into one. Paranda's (a guitarists style) instrumentation is totally acoustic, just drums and guitars. It is both a Garinagu rhythm and a genre of music.

The basic rhythm can be heard in Garinagu traditional drumming styles dating back to St. Vincent and West Africa during the slavery era. It can also be hears in modern Punta Rock. Paranda became a genre itself in the 19^th century, shortly after Garinagu arrived in Honduras. It was there the first encountered Latin music, and incorporated the acoustic guitar, and a touch of Latin and Spanish rhythm into the music. Paranda reached its prominence in the early part of the 20^th century, and has changed little since.

There are only a handful of Paranderos alive today. Often there is only one or two per village, and virtually all are over sixty. Home to the largest Garinagu population in Belize, Daringa is the birthplace of Punta Rock. On most weekends you can hear a variety of Punta Rock bands or traditional drumming ensembles performing at various venues throughout the town. For Paranda, it's the same sad story.

travel Business Belize

Good Business in Belize

Stepping up its economic diversification policies, Belize is a tax heaven with investors-friendly for non-residents. It offers and English-speaking environment in a democratic country with a viable, literate workforce, low operating costs, a stable economy, a tropical climate, spectacular natural attractions and lots of leisure activities.

The country's close proximity to Mexico, and location of the northern east tip of Central America is used in the promotional line "60 seconds from NAFTA". The Americas and the Caribbean can be easily serviced from Belize. And a fixed exchange rate for 25 years, flexible fiscal incentives, repatriation of profit dividends and high return on fixed deposit.

Known for its sugar and citrus exports, and more recently its tourism, Belize boasts a strong investment climate – with everything from agriculture to telecommunications. The choices are enough to entice anyone from the casual investor to the serious business person. The Belize telecommunications market opened for competition in January, 1003.

Belize offers the following programs to encourage and promote investments: International Business Company (IBC), Export Processing Zone (EPZ), the most recent, Commercial Free Zone (CFZ) and insurance and mutual founds.

Any non-resident of Belize is qualified to form an International Business Company (IBC) easily incorporated within an hour. IBCs offer asset protection and no exchange controls. The are tax exemptions and capital gains, income, interests, shares and debt obligations by non-residents. No minimum paid up capital is requires. Other benefits include no currency restrictions or citizenship/residency requirements for directors or shareholders. Plus, meetings by shareholders and directors may be held in any country.

Restrictions are few: IBCs can not conduct business with Belizeans or as a bank, or own real estate. The few feeling requirements include needing a certificate fo incorporation, memorandum, articled of association, and having a registered office and agent in Belize. The IBC Experts Registered Agents Department will help with incorporation for a fee.

Traveling Around Belize car boats rent

Traveling Around Belize

Rental Cars

Renting a car is only one of the most popular ways of to explore. Several good rental companies provide relatively new fleets. However, before you get behind the wheel, make sure your vehicle is in a good condition and adequately fuelled. Driving is relatively easy and most roads are in good condition. Both well paved highways and narrow dirt roads lead to towns and attractions.

Familiarize yourself with your map. Pin point the four mayor fully paves highways: the Northern Highway, Western Highway, Hummingbird Highway and Southern Highway. Perhaps the most scenic of all the roadways is the Hummingbird Highway weaving through the foothills of the majestic Maya Mountains between Belmopan and Dangriga. Two police department courtesy check-points are for routine safety checks. Drivers are required to verify insurance, shown as a sticker on rental car windows, and sometimes a diver's license. Police may want to check the trunk of your car.

Many natural wonders and Maya sites are easily accessible by a car and 4x4 vehicles. However, rental companies require that you rent a four-wheel-drive vehicle if you are going off-road. Conventional cars are not to be driven off the paves highways. Some rental companies allow vehicles to be driven out of the country to visit the Tikal archeological site in Guatemala, and to Mexico as far north as Cancun. Written permission stating your willingness to accept full responsibility is required, and restrictions apply.

Airplanes

Intra-county air service is excellent and very safe. Local airlines such as Maya Island Air and Tropic Air fly convenient schedules to the cayes with reasonable fares. There are up to a dozen flights per day from the municipal airport and the views of the barrier reef and off-shore cayes are spectacular. Charter services are also available to meet private or special needs. Driving to the southern reaches of Belize is adventurous, but flying to distant places is certainly easier and leaves more time to enjoy the destination. And, sometimes it's just as scenic as bird's eye view.

Boats

Water taxis run regularly scheduled service from Belize City to Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker. Daily boats schedules between 8 and 17.30. Rides are fun, inexpensive and offer a close-up view of the cayes. The
Maritime Terminal and museum at the foot of the Swinging Bridge is the main arrival/departure point. Schedules are posted at the terminal. Service is also available from Caye Caulker through the Caye Caulker water taxi association to Ambergris Caye and back. As you board the taxi, make sure to locate safety equipment suck as life vests. Avoid cruising in inclement weather.