WHERE LIVESLuxury

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CONTINUING THELUXURY TRADITION

LOS CABOS &RIVIERA MAYA

RIVIERA NAYARIT,MEXICO CITY & CANCUN

MEXICO MAP

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IN A COUNTRY where tourism ranks third in income-

generating industries, and tourists who visit generate

2.5 million direct and 5 million indirect jobs, Mexico

can genuinely say that it takes itself seriously as a des-

tination of choice. With luxury products probably better

than any destination in the world, Mexico ranks second

as the most popular luxury destination anywhere

among luxury travel agents, according to a recent sur-

vey conducted by the luxury travel network Virtuoso.

President of Real Resorts, Fernando Garcia, agrees,

noting the expanding luxury market at the Travel Weekly Mexico City Leadership Forum’s roundtable.

“In Hawaii, as a point of comparison, there are only

three to fi ve AAA Five Diamond resorts, while in

Mexico they’re everywhere,” he said.

Meanwhile, international travelers seem to also agree

as Mexico continues to grow as an international

destination for luxury. The country, which stands as the

tenth place in the world in international tourist arrivals,

welcomed 21.4 million international tourists in 2009,

and projections for 2010 are even higher.

Thanks to various actions undertaken by different

organizations, both public and private, Mexico has

attained a speedy stabilization of its markets and a

prompt recovery of the tourist sector. The expectation

for 2010 is set to reach 22.6 million tourists.

With more luxury locations in one country than you can

imagine, Mexico continues to shine the spotlight on

these top-notch destinations. Los Cabos has become

one of the top luxury destinations in the world, and

Riviera Nayarit is getting more recognition on its luxury

offerings ever year. Meanwhile, Riviera Maya and

DISTANCE FROMDESTINATIONSJust how far are these border towns from luxury hot spots?

LuxuryLOS CABOS:1,085 mi from Tijuana… Distance from LA to Denver631 mi from Ciudad Juarez422 mi from Nogales446 mi from Chihuahua

RIVIERA MAYA:2,010 mi from Tijuana… Distance from LA to Chicago1,415 mi from Ciudad Juarez1,325 mi from Nogales1,311 mi from Chihuahua

RIVIERA NAYARIT:1,097 mi from Tijuana… Distance from Miami to Washington, DC678 mi from Ciudad Juarez778 mi from Nogales875 mi from Chihuahua

MEXICO CITY: 1,816 mi from Tijuana… Distance from New York to Denver1,123 mi from Ciudad Juarez1,373 mi from Nogales897 mi from Chihuahua

CANCUN:2,010 mi from Tijuana… Distance from LA to Chicago1,415 mi from Ciudad Juarez1,325 mi from Nogales1,311 mi from Chihuahua

In Mexico, various luxury hotel chains have been established to offer nothing but premium services to their guests. These luxury hotels offer top-notch hospitality and charm. Offer your clients these luxury hotels and resorts of choice. • PLAYA DEL CARMEN features three luxury properties of acclaim, including Deseo Hotel (www.hoteldeseo.com), Maroma Resort and Spa (www.maromahotel.com) and the Fairmont-Mayakoba (www.fairmont.com/mayakoba).• In RIVIERA NAYARIT, there is fabulous Hotelito Desconocido (www.hotelito.com), with its 30 rooms and ecotourism activities.• In MEXICO CITY, Hotel Habita (www.hotelhabita.com) stands out as the fi rst contemporary design hotel located in the residential area of Polanco. Condesa DF (www.condesadf.com) is another amazing option found among historical buildings in Colonia Condesa, which showcases Neoclassical French style.• The traditional El Cid Marina Beach (www.elcid.com/marina_ beach) is located in MAZATLÁN and has a yacht club. The Serena Marina and Golf (www.serenaresidences.com) is another hotel in Mazatlán, showcasing nine luxurious and elegant residences in the port’s Zona Dorada.• In COZUMEL, you’ll fi nd Aura Cozumel Wyndham Grand Bay, (www.auraresorts.com) a cozy refuge conceived by world-class designers.

ACCOMMODATIONS OFChoice

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Cancun continue to both have an extraordinary

amount of luxury products, ranging from small intimate

hotels to larger properties.

“...Everybody at the airports, the shops, the

restaurants [in Mexico] is really trying their very best

to please the visitors,” said Garcia. “They’re treated as

royalty, as any Hollywood star would be...”

These destinations and others, such as Cozumel and

Puerto Vallarta, are offering overwhelming luxury

opportunities at affordable prices. These areas have

marketed themselves as the “safe zones” in Mexico,

far from any of the troubled boarder cities. And because

of this, deals on premium stays have never been better.

Mike Going, President of Funjet Vacations agreed, “The

situation is that the concentration of violence is in the

U.S./Mexico border towns that are hundreds of miles

away from main tourist destinations.”

HOTEL HABITA, ROOF TOP POOL

RECREATION AT IT’S BestThe spas in Mexico are an ideal way to escape from the routine, revitalize body and mind, and achieve a state of well being. Mexico has more spas than any country in the world after the United States. And these destina-tions have become a fundamental part of the hotel industry. Here, you can fi nd spas just about everywhere, from seaside resorts to inland colonial cities.

With a tremendous variety of treatments, massages and therapies available, including pre-Hispanic tech-niques, such as temazcal body purifi cation, spas here are a great option for those travelers that demand excellence and are looking to relax and be pampered.

Another recreational treat this country can offer unlike any other is its golf. Mexico has about 220 golf courses in various tourist destinations of which 110 are affi liated with the Mexican Golf Federation. With international tournaments such as PGA and world-class greens designed by the best, Mexico is a destination for those craving the best.

Despite recent headlines, Mexico’s tourist destinations con-

tinue to not only be safe, but also to grow. Mexico houses

over 164 thousand Five Star hotel rooms, 111 Four Diamond

hotels and 12 Five Diamond hotels. Additionally, Mexico has

over 50 Four Diamond restaurants ready to serve.

SELLING POINT FOR AGENTS

LOS CABOS

Celebrities alike call Los Cabos their backyard

playground. With two luxury destinations packed into

one location, connected by some of the best beaches in

the world, Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo reign

as Mexico’s hip and pristine hot spots for pampering.

With visits from Leonardo Di Caprio and Bar Rafaeli,

as well as Jennifer Aniston and Sheryl Crow, it’s clear

luxury and safety are guaranteed here.

The old fi shing village of Cabo San Lucas has

become a beautiful tourist center with fi rst-rate

hotels, restaurants, retail stores and nightclubs. It also

boasts a renowned port that receives cruise ships and

yachts from around the world and houses the famous

Love Beach and Solmar Beach.

Just 25 miles southwest rests San

Jose del Cabo, a colorful colonial

Mexican town whose origins date back

to 1730. This important commercial hub hosts

restaurants, small hotels, stores and art galleries that

enliven this beautiful area. The quiet, typically-Mexican

town is the site of Costa Azul, Palmilla, Cabo Real, El

Tule, Las Viudas and El Médano beaches — and where

Eva Longoria and hubby Tony Parker make reoccurring

getaways.

TOP COURSES LOS CABOS GolfFIESTA AMERICANA GRAND LOS CABOS GOLF COURSEDesigned by: Jack Nicklaus18 holes, par 72Plus: Considered the number 88 course in the world and number 1 in Latin America.

CABO DEL SOL GOLF COURSEDesigned by: Jack Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf36 holes, par 72Plus: Ranked number 95 among the “Top 100 Courses in the World” compiled by GOLF Magazine.

CABO REAL GOLF COURSEDesigned by: Robert Trent Jones Jr.18 holes, par 71Plus: Three spectacular seaside holes.

LUXURYSpas

Los Cabos is a destination famous for its golf fi elds, which integrate the beauty of the scenery with the game. There are more than 11 fi elds, designed by the biggest names in the sport, in the area known as El Corredor. Top courses include:

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FIESTA AMERICANA GRAND LOS CABOS GOLF COURSE

Los Cabos also has many luxury spas such as Marquis Los Cabos, a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, and One&Only Spa Palmilla, which is made up of six buildings featuring 13 spa villas. And the Cabo Spa at Esperanza is another that offers a wide variety of pampering, restorative and wellness treatments and fi tness conditioning. Or, send clients to these resorts noted for their spas:

• Fiesta Americana Grand Los Cabos Golf & Spa Resort

• Barceló Los Cabos Palace Deluxe

• Hacienda Encantada Resort & Spa

• Marina Fiesta Resort & Spa

“I GO TO CABO SAN LUCAS EVERY YEAR AND NEVER HAVE A PROBLEM ” — KRISTIN WALSH , TRAVEL AGENT

Recently released results ranked Baja California Sur third in the categories of public safety, tour- ism services and transportation infrastructure. La Paz and the Los Cabos area remain some of the safest places

to visit.*

*According to a year-long study conducted by the Institute of Higher Studies of Monterrey which evaluated tourism offerings throughout Mexico’s

31 states and Federal District.

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RIVIERA MAYA

The Riviera Maya combines its picturesque provincial

atmosphere with the modern sophistication of its

tourist complexes, in addition to offering Caribbean

hospitality and warmth, remote destinations, gorgeous

landscapes and vestiges of the wise Mayan culture.

It’s obvious that this area of Mexico offers a wealth of

spirit unlike any other.

With nearly 100 miles of beautiful white sand beaches

and brilliant turquoise water, Riviera Maya is located

just south of Cancun. This world-renowned paradise

offers mangroves and lagoons, ancient Mayan cities,

ecological reserves and the world’s second largest

coral reef.

A common destination for celebrities traveling with

their families, Riviera Maya provides options that range

from exploring archaeological sites to swimming with

the dolphins.

Hotels such as Hacienda Tres Ríos in Tulum have their

own airplanes to offer private fl ights, while the old

fi shermens’ village of Xaman Há in Playa del Carmen

offers luxury hotels with all the amenities that interna-

tional travelers require, as well as smaller personalized

establishments, numerous bars, shopping centers, res-

taurants serving traditional and international cuisine,

cultural and recreational centers, water sports and golf.

Luxury travelers are also drawn to the Riviera Maya for

its gastronomy, which has inherited a wide range of

ingredients that are the basis for creating the different

dishes. Menus here are enriched by chefs from all over

the world, offering visitors a fusion of fl avors that can

please even the most discriminating palates.

LUXURYSpasSpas in the Riviera Maya, such as the one located in the Mandarin Oriental hotel, are inspired by the Mayan healing elements of water, air, fi re and earth. Some memorable relaxation havens here are located in the following properties:

• Barceló Maya Beach Resort

• Now Jade Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa

• Iberostar Grand Hotel Paraíso

• Valentin Imperial Maya

• Grand Velas

PUERTO AVENTURAS RESORT COURSEDesigned by: Thomas Lehman9 holes, par 36Plus: The PA Resort Course is surrounded by palm trees and bougainvilleas.

PLAYACAR GOLF COURSEDesigned by: Robert Von Hagge18 holes, par 72Plus: All-inclusive, all beverages and food are included in the green fee.

IBEROSTAR PLAYA PARAÍSO GOLF COURSEDesigned by: P. B. Dye18 holes, par 71Plus: Includes areas that are part of the Mayan jungle.

Riviera Maya’s top golf fi elds allow the general public to play just by paying an entrance fee. There are also exclusive clubs for members or guests. Mayan Palace Riviera Maya golf resort features a Jack Nicklaus-designed, 18-hole golf course that showcases numerous sand traps, picturesque lakes surrounded by natural rocks and the vegetation of the natural wastelands. Other top-ranked courses include:

TOP COURSES RIVIERA MAYA

GRAND VELAS

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Wyoming and Montana have homicide

rates of 2 per 100,000. The same as Yucatan, the Gulf of Mexico state

known for its beaches and Mayan ruins.*

*According to USA Today, “Mexico’s Violence Not as Widespread as Seems” — Chris Hawley

RIVIERA NAYARIT

One of the most developed travel destinations on the

Pacifi c, highlighted by spectacular hotels, luxurious spas,

a marina with fi rst rate facilities, and six world-class

golf courses located in Bahía de Banderas region, four

in the Riviera Nayarit and two more being constructed,

sits Riviera Nayarit. Once the old kingdom of “Huey

Tlatenozgo de Xalisco,” Riviera Nayarit has luxury in its

veins.

It is now the perfect setting for diving among coral reefs

in the exclusive Punta Mita zone, for Tyrolese jumping,

for surfi ng and sailing in the Pacifi c or for an encounter

with this region’s marine life. One of the area’s best

surf breaks sits on the pristine beach at the foot of the

impressive Casa Papelillos hacienda in Punta Mita. Here,

you can fi nd yourself catching a wave with the likes of

Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin, who

have all stayed at this sumptuous, fully staffed, nine-

bedroom estate.

Many other visitors craving the luxe life come to Nuevo

Vallarta-Flamingos Tourist Corridor. This area consists of

sumptuous villas and mansions surrounding a lagoon

and featuring a shopping mall, international restau-

rants, three golf courses, an aquatic park, zoo and two

marinas. It also boasts six miles of navigable channels.

MEXICO CITY

A cosmopolitan city par excel-

ence, Mexico City displays a cultural

legacy, from pre-Hispanic times up to the

present. Visitors will enjoy the architectural richness of

downtown Mexico, a place where civil and religious colo-

nial buildings stand out, and be able to admire beautiful

avenues, such as Paseo de la Reforma and Insurgentes.

TOP COURSES RIVIERA NAYARIT GolfBAHIA GOLF CLUB IN PUNTA MITA COMPLEXDesigned by: Jack Nicklaus18 holes, par 72Plus: Views overlooking Bahia de Banderas, as well as Punta Mita beach’s El Fuego.

PARADISE VILLAGE’S EL TIGRE GOLF CLUBDesigned by: Robert Von Hagge and Rick Barril18 holes, par 72Plus: Reviewed as 2008 Top 10 Best golf course in Mexico by Golf Guide Magazine.

FLAMINGOS GOLF CLUBDesigned by: Percy Clifford18 holes, par 71Plus: First golf club on the Riviera Nayarit

LUXURYSpas

The Punta Mita region of Riviera Nayarit has boutique hotels and gourmet restaurants that have sprung up in a very short time. Here you’ll fi nd world-renowned golf courses designed by the best, including:

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Extending into the large Banderas Bay (between Jalisco and Nayarit), the Punta Mita region boasts luxury hotels and spas. This area hosts the Apuane Spa at the Four Seasons, which offers a full range of massages and spa treatments designed to relax, invigorate, detoxify and heal, as well as Renova Spa located at the following Palladium properties:

• Grand Palladium Colonial Resort & Spa

• Grand Palladium Kantenah Resort & Spa

• Grand Palladium Riviera Maya Resort & Spa

• Grand Palladium White Sand Resort & Spa

“THE WIDE SELECTION OF ALL-INCLUSIVE RESORTS MAKES MEXICO AN EASY SELL FOR WINTER SUN. THE CULTURAL CITIES LIKE MEXICO CITY AND GUADALAJARA ARE AMAZING!” — JANICE DALZIEL, TRAVEL AGENT

Riviera Nayarit has the second highest

number of properties with Five AAA Diamond Awards in

contrast with other Mexican regions.

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Full of cultural activities, the city hosts the country’s

most outstanding events, such as exhibits in its spectac-

ular museums, world-class representatives of classical

and popular music, art, dance and theater exhibits. In

this metropolis, art, tradition, glamour, fun and culture

coexist and beat together for one luxury escape.

As Mexico’s political, fi nancial and cultural center,

the city offers diversifi ed areas. In Coyoacán and San

Ángel, you can enjoy a pleasant bohemian atmosphere,

while in Santa Fe and Polanco you can experience the

glamour of boutiques and modern hotel complexes.

One of the most important avenues in the city, is Paseo

de la Reforma, comparable to the Champs Elysées in

Paris. It was built on an initiative of Emperor Maximil-

ian, connecting his residence in Chapultepec with the

Government Palace. The avenue is lined with business

establishments, over 100 hotels and 200 restaurants,

25 major museums and tourist attractions, includ-

ing the Column of Independence and the Fountain of

Diana Cazadora.

CANCUN

Formed by its splendid, white sand beaches that

combine with its crystalline waters, Cancun provides

incomparable landscapes for the perfect luxury retreat.

Its famed beaches of Delfi nes, Tortuga and Caracol,

bring all types of luxury-seeking visitors, including Tom

Cruise, who has stayed at Hotel Maroma Resort and

Spa in Cancun.

You can’t mention Cancun without talking about the

shopping at Luxury Avenue, which showcases the best

brands in the world in one single place, including Louis

Vuitton, Cartier, Salvatore Ferragamo, Ermenegildo

Zegna, Montblanc, DKNY and Fendi, among others.

There are also many very varied stores in large and

modern world-class malls in Cancun. Providing unique

settings and different atmospheres, from a Caribbean

villa to renowned international brand stores with

sophisticated touches, these centers are combined with

superb restaurants, sea and lagoon views, and typical

markets that sell handicrafts from all regions of the

country to make shopping experiences one-of-a-kind.

LUXURYSpasMEXICO CITY

For a resort with a spa worth stopping into, visit

Fiesta Americana Grand Chapultepec, which is

acclaimed for its aromatherapy, ayurveda, lymphatic

drainage, massages and more.

CANCUN

With exclusive locations overlooking the ocean,

world-class facilities, and ancient Mayan and Western

therapies, spas in Cancun meet expectations for those

searching for a little piece of paradise. Some standout

resorts that feature acclaimed spas, include:

• Live Aqua Cancun

• Fiesta Americana Condesa Cancun

• Hyatt Regency Cancun

• Ocean Spa Hotel

“I LIVE IN MINNEAPOLIS, AND I FEEL SAFER WALKING DOWN THE STREET IN CANCUN AT NIGHT THAN I DO DOWN MY OWN BLOCK. THE PEOPLE IN MEXICO ARE WARM AND FRIENDLY.” — RAELEE BOYCE , TRAVEL AGENT

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WHERE LIVESLuxury

CONTACT US1-800-44MEXICOwww.visitmexico.com

For more educational courses about Mexico, visit

www.magicofmexico.com

“ONCE PEOPLE ARE EDUCATED ON THE GEOGRAPHY OF MEXICO, THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THE TOURIST AREAS ARE PERFECTLY SAFE ” — KIMBERLY OFLAHERTY, TRAVEL AGENT