Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/113255
•pg_43-49__BMT_pg3-58 2/27/13 8:44 AM Page 46 Cabos are at least a two-hour flight away from the main border areas. The distance from Cabo San Lucas to Ciudad Juarez is 1,152 miles – approximately the same distance between New York and Miami (1,290 miles), Chicago and Laredo, Texas (1,395 miles), or Los Angeles and Oklahoma City (1,328 miles). To keep meeting attendees safe, Mexico's Incentive Group offers these tips: • Stay alert and be aware of your surroundings; • Keep your valuables close at all times; • Take secure taxis; • Stick with your group if you are unsure about where you are; • Ask your DMC or the local CVB for a list of English speaking doctors before you go; and • Read the latest news for meeting planners on mexico meetings network.com. The destinations international event attendees will visit are the safest. Meeting venues and hotels provide high quality security technology and services, and the most beautiful and visited areas of a destination tend to be the most protected by government authorities and private companies that thrive on tourism. Jamaica, with its diverse terrain, is a welcome delight for meeting groups, with lush mountains, cascading waterfalls and centuries old plantations rich with history and intrigue. Providing a safe and satisfying vacation experience is of paramount importance to all involved in Jamaica's tourism industry. "Tourism is Jamaica's number one industry. We are not only committed to the industry, but also to ensuring the safest possible environment for our guests, whether here for business or pleasure," says Dittie Guise, general manager, SMG/Montego Bay D ITTIE G UISE Convention Centre. The Government of Jamaica has adopted a zero-tolerance approach to anti-social behavior across the island, including the resort areas. It is a goal toward which officials continue to devote substantial resources – in time, talent and dollars. Some of our initiatives include an increased security presence across the island including the resort areas, despite the fact that very few incidents occur in them. The investment by such prestigious overseas tourism companies as the Hilton Hotel chain, Iberostar, RIU, Ritz Carlton Hotel chain, among others, is testament to the effectiveness of Jamaica officials' work to enrich the tourism and meetings product. It also enhances the experience for guests and at the same time demonstrates a confidence in the destination. Jamaica is proven to be one of the most cost effective destinations in the world, based on the variety of hotels and accommodations offered as well as the flight accessibility and availability. Barbados continues to be an attractive option for meetings & incentives as evidenced by the successful staging of a number of international conferences in recent months. Vice-President, Marketing, USA, Campbell Rudder, indicated that the destination has benefited tremendously from these events and looks forward to sustained interest and excitement. "Barbados offers tremendous scope for today's meeting and incentive planner and is an ideal location for Conferences and Events. The destination enjoys a high safety index and remains favorably accessible from major USA gateways. Barbados is C AMPBELL R UDDER delighted to have attracted these Conferences and looks to the future with optimism as we handled these Conferences well – with economic benefits trickling down to various partners on-island." Conferences convened on the island in the recent past include the Barbados Network Consultation, the African Diaspora Heritage Trail (ADHT) Conference, the Foromic XV Conference and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Most recently, the island hosted Liberty Travel Team Leaders from Upstate New York who – along with engaging in their scheduled Meetings – enjoyed varied elements of the Barbados experience. Business Development manager for the Barbados Tourism Authority, Eusi Skeete, shared, "That hosting the T e a m Meeting was an honor for Barbados and Half Moon Villa, Montego Bay offered ample evidence that 46 B M & T ••• January/February 2013 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com