2nd Quarter 2009 - Issue 7
General News
WHG Attends Tianguis Turistico Tradeshow
Wyndham Hotel Group showcased its brands April 25-29 at the 34th annual Tianguis Turistico travel trade show in Acapulco.
Sponsored by the Mexico Tourism Board, Tianguis Turistico is an important promotional platform for Latin America as it brings buyers and suppliers together for four days of business appointments and parties, as well as distinguished speakers and international press to cover the action.
The show’s Sunday opening was delayed with the cancellation of the opening ceremony's guest speaker, Mexico President Felipe Calderon, who stayed in Mexico City to attend to the swine flu emergency that broke out only days before. The official start of the event occurred Monday morning when thousands of business travel professionals gathered to sign deals that would determine their direction and success for this coming year.
WHG’s booth featured photographs of all our property brands in Latin America—Howard Johnson®, Ramada®, Travelodge®, and Wyndham® Garden Hotels. Attending the event from the Wyndham Hotel Group were Sandy Ramon Tarbet, Sales and Marketing for Latin America and the Caribbean and the Latin America Development team, headed by Marco Roca, with Doug Smith, Armando Tinoco, Javier Sanchez and Louis Alicea. Special guests included our GSA in Mexico, President and CEO Alex Pace, and his sales team members Maria Carmona and Maria Carmen Gonzalez. Also attending were Ana Diaz-Coreas and Armando Diaz Sales for The Grand Mayan resort.
This is the first year where Wyndham invited hotel franchisees to participate in negotiations with our buyers. Joining the Ramada brand was General Manager Julian Fernandez from the Ramada Reforma, Mexico City. Joining Howard Johnson was General Sales Manager Dahyanna Bross from Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel Las Torres, Guadalajara. We also had a visit from a future franchisee, Fernando Cuesta of the prospective Ramada Encore Chihuahua that is scheduled to open July 1, 2009.
Other hotels participated in the booths that were sponsored by their state’s government. WHG was well represented by Damallanty Mendez of Howard Johnson Veracruz, Yolanda Guerrero of Howard Johnson Mazatlan and Perla Gomez and Lizbeth Sierra of Ramada Resort Mazatlan. Ramada Hola Culiacan, one of our newest properties, had its own booth hosted by owner Jesus Mario Hernandez and Blanca Rosa Gonzalez from Sales and Marketing.
We are thankful to those who participated and provided support throughout the event. Although this year's participation was impacted by the swine flu emergency and a brief earthquake, Mexico is a country of survivors and Tianguis closed with a positive vision of the future.