The new Acapulco comes north

A select group of Canadian travel partners were given a taste of the new Acapulco last night, catching a glimpse of the modern amenities and attractions of a destination once synonymous with travel to Mexico.

The Mexico Tourism Board hosted representatives of the Acapulco Destination Marketing Office and hotel partners from the region, along with special guest Paola Nunez, Miss Universe Canada 2015.

Travel professionals were treated to video updates of the new Acapulco, described as “growing and modernizing” by Susana Moreno, business development and marketing manager for the Mexico Tourism Board.

Piquis Rochin, international promotion director for the Acapulco Destination Marketing Office, told PAX that the destination welcomes thousands of Canadians each year, mainly through Toronto and Montreal with tour operator partners including Sunwing and Transat, adding that the board’s goal with the presentation is to inform the trade of the new developments as well as “change the perception of the destination,” which has been plagued by violence in recent years.

The videos also touched on the issue of security in the destination, which has been increased in recent times.

Acapulco, and Mexico as a whole, is also benefiting from increased flights from Canada, Rochin said, resulting from the addition of northbound service in the wake of relaxed visa requirements for Mexican travellers flying to Canada. Most recently, Aeromexico announced it will boost capacity on its Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal flights in December.

“We’re very much involved in new connectivity and very happy that the airlines are increasing service to Mexico,” she said.

The new Acapulco at a glance

• There’s no shortage of places to stay in Acapulco, with approximately 20,000 hotel rooms across 270 hotels in all categories.
• The new mile-long Xtasea zipline zooms guests 400 ft above the coast, at speeds reaching 75 miles per hour.
• Golfers can hit the links at five world-class courses in the destination, while fans of tennis and surfing can take in the Mexican Open and Surf Open.
• Several meeting and convention centres are catering to a growing MICE sector, including the Centro Internacional.
• A new airport terminal is coming to Acapulco International Airport, slated to open in early 2018.