Gala Vallarta Wraps Up Successfully with Major Airport Expansion Announced
The 25th Annual Gala Vallarta has taken place in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco. This year two destinations joined forces to pitch their compelling tourism product. The travel trade event is designed to bring together travel agents and wholesalers with local hoteliers and tourism operators.
More than 90 wholesale agents from the United States, Canada, Mexico, England, and Spain came met at the Puerto Vallarta International Convention Center from February 11-12. This year also marked the first time for South American travel trade to be included including representatives from Panama’s Copa Airlines.
Both Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) and the Puerto Vallarta Tourism Trust (Fidetur) worked together to liaise between the attendees and the local travel trade.
The 2019 Gala had more than 90 wholesale agents from the United States, Canada, South America, United Kingdom and Spain attended, as well as from Mexico, which represents a substantial increase of thirty percent, compared to 2018. Special case is that of South America, which attended the Gala for the first time, with 19 wholesale agents, invited by the Panamanian Copa Airlines.
The outcome of this meeting that lasts two days, was 1340 business meetings between wholesalers and representatives of 96 hotels in both destinations.
Another point to mention is that during the Gala the representatives of these resorts met with the members of the Advisory Board, formed by the main partners and airlines that work with the main destinations in Canada and the USA. Sunwing, Air Canada and American Airlines attended the event. Apple Vacation, Book it, Pleasant Holiday, Expedia Group, Classic and the Aeroportuario del Pacífico Group were also there.
This week the 25th edition of the Puerto Vallarta-Riviera Nayarit Gala was celebrated and emphasized the phrase: “The Puerto Vallarta-Riviera Nayarit region united and renewed at the 2019 Gala”.
So this union that is now possible, shows interesting numbers and surely profitable for all the parties involved.
The hoteliers reported: after intense negotiations they managed to maintain their prices in order to get more customers. They don’t want to make the same mistake Cancun made in the past by raising their prices too much losing business and the following years having to cut their rates substantially. Instead they aim to keep rates the same and hope to keep their business and increase it marginally year over year.
Puerto Vallarta Airport Expansion Announced
Plans to expand the airport were also announced. The expansion project will increase the arrivals capacity by more than twice-fold. Construction will begin in 2020 and the new building will increase the total number of gates to 34 from the current 20 gates. The total passenger capacity will increase to up to 12 million arrivals annually. In 2019 the airport is projected to welcome five million passengers (up from four million arrival in 2018).
The new building will also feature a streamlined customs & immigrations design. It will allow passengers to check through customs and once through customs be able to pickup their check-in luggage.
