Monica Garcia of PR firm Jesson + Company with Rodrigo Esponda
Jen Perry of Sunwing
Posada Real’s Carlos Pérez Marroquin
Cesar Alvarenga and Michele Martinson of AeroMexico
Los Cabos, on the tip of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, is known
for being 3 destinations in 1: the crazy-fun of the town of Cabo San
Lucas, with its noisy packed bars full of happy visitors; the quieter, classier
and family-friendly town of San Jose Del Cabo; and the stretch in between, the
32 km Corridor Turismo, full of elegant, up-to-the-minute hotels, some for the
money-is-no-object celeb crowd who are increasingly spotted here.
How to make the most of a visit to SJD? At a cocktail event this week at Toronto’s
swanky Shangri-La Hotel I managed to get 4 viewpoints: those of the tourist board, a hotelier, a
tour operator and a travel agent.
Many of you will recognize Rodrigo Esponda’s name: he worked for the Mexican Tourist Board for
many years, the last 5 of which were in Canada. He’s now the director
general and managing director of Visit Los Cabos and clearly loving it. “Our
history goes back 250 years, and today we are a destination that is definitely
growing, but in a sustainable way. We used to be known as a destination for
westerners and deep sea fishermen, but are now diversifying. And we have a very high appeal for luxury
clients.”
Carlos Pérez Marroquin has a soft spot for the
Posada Real hotel in Los Cabos. Not surprising as he is the deputy corporate
sales director of the hotel, which he describes as “small, excellent value, and
one of the first properties here, though we have recently renovated.” He
recommends that clients take time to visit the desert, and time to go to the
very authentic District Bar in San Jose del Cabo “for a couple of beers or a
glass of wine with friends”. The hotel is featured by several Canadian ITC
operators.
Jennifer Perry, product buyer for SJD for Sunwing, is a big
fan of the destination. “I love the diversity, the ocean, the mountains, the
desert – which is great fun for dune buggying. I love the Thursday night art
walk they have in the winter in San Jose del Cabo. It’s free and the road is
closed off to cars. There’s lovely art, crafts,
jewellery and more.” Sunwing, she adds, has 13 properties in the destination
for all budgets and tastes.
Travel advisor Ray Surette of New Wave Travel loves the
direct lift from Toronto - ACV, Sunwing and Westjet - and the array of hotels
including Rius, Las Ventanas and One and Only.
“We are the fastest-growing destination, by hotel rooms,
with 4000 new rooms slated to be added,” Esponda told us. With new builds
including a Ritz-Carlton and Montage opening early next year, it looks like SJD
will remain the choice of celebrities – and celebrity watchers!
