Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/910090
The Cincinnati region celebrated multiculturalism and diversity recently during Vibe Week, hosted by the Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau's multicultural platform, VibeCincinnati . On Wednesday, July 26, the CVB hosted the 2017 Multicultural Travel & Tourism Forum , which brought several national hospitality leaders to Cincinnati to discuss diversity in the industry. For the remainder of the week, a stacked lineup of local art, free concerts, food vendors and retail from area entrepreneurs drew hun- dreds to the city's center at Fountain Square to celebrate the region's diverse culture. The opening night of the Cincinnati Music Festival, Throwback Thursday, was also a Vibe-sponsored event. "Cincinnati was thriving last week as we came together to experience the power of art and culture throughout our community," said Dan Lincoln, president and CEO of the Cincinnati USA CVB. "We are a region that values the qualities that make us different, and that together, make us the Queen City. Vibe Cincinnati allowed visitors and Cincinnati residents alike to amplify those qualities by celebrating diversity." I N T H E N E W S CINCINNATI USA CVB CELEBRATES DIVERSITY WITH VIBE WEEK MEXICO'S MEETINGS AND EVENTS INDUSTRY RANKS 5TH IN THE AMERICAS IN 2016 Demand For Mexico's Meetings and Events Offerings Continues to Grow, With a 10% Increase in theFirst Two Months of 2017 When Compared to the Same Time Last Yea r Mexico has seen rapid growth in its meetings industry, reporting a 10.4% increase in business in the first two months of the year when compared to the same period in 2016, announced the Mexico Tourism Board. According to the International Association of Congresses and Conventions (ICCA), Mexico now ranks 5th in the Americas in terms of the number of hosted events, which have now reached 182 world congresses and more than 300,000 meetings in 2016. These numbers are a direct result of Mexico's global initiative to position and promote Mexico as Latin America's leader in th e world congress arena. "Our world-class conference facilities, accommodations, and wel- coming community are the drivers behind Mexico's continued growth and its recognition as a top global industry player in the meetings and events space," remarked Hector Flores, CEO of the Mexico Tourism Board. "Additionally, Mexico's strong commitment to increasing air connectivity, which now encompasses more than 2 million new seats in direct flights to the country in 2017, allows us to facilitate travel from all corners of the world." The meetings industry plays a key role in Mexico's economy. The more than 300,000 annual gatherings, including corporate events, con- gresses, incentive groups, exhibitions, and summits have an impact of US$25 billion, the equivalent of 1.5% of GDP. Last year, the country hosted 182 large-scale congresses alone. A few notable events includ- ed the World Congress of Ophthalmology with 8,000 attendees in Guadalajara; the World Congress of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Health with 5,000 participants in Mexico City; and the Formula 1 Grand Prix, which was held in Mexico City with 350,000 participants. The industry is poised for continued success in 2017. According to PEIIR (Mexico's Meetings Industry Strategic Information Portal), there has been a 10.4% increase in activities in January and February of 2017, and a 4.9% increase over March and April when compared to the same period last year. Beyond 2017, Mexico's destinations are prepared to support the continued growth through strategic partnerships, improved infra- B M & T ••• September/October 2017 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 6