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meeting rooms with capacity of up to 1,200 people, eight bars and restaurants and a vast variety of addi- tional amenities.With a newly renovated property, The Sheraton Buganvilias takes on a fresh modern look, leaving the outdated furnishings of its past behind. Another member of the Stawood chain, The Westin Resort & Spa Puerto Vallarta www.west- in.com/puertovallar- ta offers similar accommodations for large-scale meetings and conventions. The property fea- tures 280 spacious guest rooms, more than 26,000 sq. ft. of indoor-outdoor function space and state-of-the-art facilities and services. The Westin Resort and Spa Puerto Vallarta is fully equipped to host every event from a destination wedding to a high-end convention. For more of an intimate experience, check out Villa Premiere Hotel & Spa www.premiereon- line.com.mx. Guests are welcomed with a glass of champagne and a 5-minuteAntistressMassage upon arrival to set the tone of this spa like experience. Rooms are treated with one of seven guest selected Aromatherapy experiences to maximize relaxation. The Villa Premiere offers medi- tation workshops everyday at 9am,yoga on the beach everyday at 8am, back massage classes on the pool every Tuesday and Thursday at noon, reflexology classes on the pool every Monday,Wednesday and Friday at noon and interactive cooking and cocktail classes demonstra- tions everyThursday at 12:30pm. At the Villa Premiere, elegance doesn’t lie in excess, but in details. Like the Villa Premiere, Casa Velas Boutique Hotel www.- hotelcasavelas.com caters to an adult-only clientele. As an all- inclusive hotel,CasaVelas offers premium unlimited options such as a la carte restaurants, gourmet theme dinners, 24-hour suite service,mini-bar replenished daily, a selection of domestic and international drinks and a vast assortment of wines.CasaVelas provides professional services in planning weddings at the ven- ues and facilities, meeting services, conventions and seminars. While Casa Velas is an ideal all-inclusive location for business executives, its Velas Vallarta Suite Resort & Convention Center www.vel- asvallarta.com counterpart is more equip to host meetings and conventions on a larger scale. Velas Vallarta offers space and facilities for relax- ation and fun.With a similar all-inclusive plan to Casa Vela, Velas Vallarta offers gourmet a la carte meals and an activity program for one fixed price. Executive meet- ing rooms with capacity for up to 700 people can be divid- ed up into fivemeeting areas. With an array of activities including a Circus Show andWater Aerobics,VelasVallarta allows for business and fun. In addition to the lush accommodations, Puerto Vallarta offers awide variety of fine dining andmouth-watering cuisine. Thierry’s Prime Steakhouse info@thierrysprime.com features an array of steak cuts where guests can choose between grilled, broiled or double broiled. Thierry’s Prime Steakhouse is an avant-garde take on contemporary Mexican flavor. Chef Thierry Blouet’s, chef owner of Café des Artistes in Puerto Vallarta, creates dishes that are sensual in composition. Thierry’s Prime Steakhouse is a genuinely unique experience in Puerto Vallarta. For a more laid-back afternoon lunch, Vallarta Botanical Gardens offers a delicious selection of tra- ditional authentic cuisine.An afternoon of visiting the site’s orchid conservatory and jungle farms isn’t completewithout a bowl ofwhat is arguable the best tortilla soup in all ofMexico. For all meeting and convention plan- ning needs, PuertoVallarta is an excellent location to accommodate. Unfortunately, Mexico faces hard times ahead as it rebuilds its damaged tourism industry. However, the fact of the matter is Puerto Vallarta is safe.Violence is not a concern for its residents or visitors. The only real danger in Puerto Vallarta, is never want- ing to leave. Direct questions or comments to Brienne Herbert at Brienneh@gmail.com or through Black Meetings and Tourism magazine. Black Meetings & Tourism May/June 2011: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 15