What's New (Riviera Nayarit)

What's New (Riviera Nayarit) http://www.rivieranayarit.com What's New RSS Feed from Riviera Nayarit en-us All Rights Reserved. © Copyright IBCTV 2010 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 10:45:00 CDT Mon, 23 Aug 2010 10:45:00 CDT Riviera Nayarit What's NewRudy Lombergerrlomberger@ibctv.com AN EXTENSIVE PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR RIVIERA NAYARIT BEGINS IN CANADA http://www.rivieranayarit.com/site/whats_new?post_id=594 Riviera Nayarit AN EXTENSIVE PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR RIVIERA NAYARIT BEGINS IN CANADA 00:00 AN EXTENSIVE PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR RIVIERA NAYARIT BEGINS IN CANADA An extensive promotional campaign for Riviera Nayarit begins in Canada • The first out of four trade shows organized by Thomas Cook assembled 835 travel agents <img style="float: right; margin: 4px;" src="http://www.rivieranayarit.com.mx/etc/espanol/files/news/ThomasCook2010002.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" />The trade show in Toronto was a huge success and there are still three more to come. Riviera Nayarit took part in the first out of four trade shows being organized by Thomas Cook to attract Canadian tourism to our destination. At the event, 835 travel agents were able to personally experience the touristic offerings Mexico's Pacific Treasure has to offer. The event took place last July 16th at Toronto's Paramount Conference & Event Venue, and confirmed how important these marketing efforts are prior to the upcoming 2010-2011 winter season. Calgary and Vancouver were other of the destinations for the Thomas Cook Trade Shows, and Riviera Nayarit's Convention and Visitors Bureau were there, along with hotels like the Paradise Village, Vallarta Palace, Riu Vallarta, and Dreams Villamagna, showed Riviera Nayarit's touristic offerings in Canada. Thomas Cook is one of the leading vacation financing corporations worldwide. The company operates in 21 countries, has over 31,000 employees, a fleet of 95 airplanes and over 3,400 franchised travel agencies. Its North American branch reaches over 1.1 million customers per year. Between October and December 2009, Riviera Nayarit carried out an important publicity and marketing program in Canada by teaming with Thomas Cook, and with the Mexican Council for the Promotion of Tourism (CPTM by its initials in Spanish). <img style="float: left; margin: 4px;" src="http://www.rivieranayarit.com.mx/etc/espanol/files/news/ThomasCook2010001.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="231" />The positive results derived from these joint programs have led to a business relationship that is being renewed in 2010, and Riviera Nayarit's participation at the trade shows this month is only the beginning of new promotional strategies. The Federal Government, working through the support of the Secretary of Tourism, Gloria Guevara Manzo, has been instrumental to the operation. Approximately 300,000 Canadian tourists visit our region each year, according to information provided by the Puerto Vallarta International Airport Gustavo Diaz Ordaz and the Canadian Consular Office for Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit, who published this information in the local media. The majority of these tourists travel to our destination on charter flights like those operated by Thomas Cook. During the state visit that took place in May with Mexican President Felipe Calderon Hinojosa, Nayarit's Governor Ney Gonzalez Sanchez met with the top management of Thomas Cook and with other major Canadian retailers. During these meetings, Governor Gonzalez Sanchez validated the strong commitment his government has with tourism, since it's considered a key element for the economic development of the State, and also supported the promotional efforts being done by the CVB of Riviera Nayarit since last July. http://www.rivieranayarit.com/site/whats_new?post_id=594 Riviera Nayarit THE INTERNATIONAL FISHING TOURNAMENT OF RIVIERA NAYARIT CLOSES WITH GREAT FISHING http://www.rivieranayarit.com/site/whats_new?post_id=592 Riviera Nayarit THE INTERNATIONAL FISHING TOURNAMENT OF RIVIERA NAYARIT CLOSES WITH GREAT FISHING 00:00 THE INTERNATIONAL FISHING TOURNAMENT OF RIVIERA NAYARIT CLOSES WITH GREAT FISHING The International Fishing Tournament of Riviera Nayarit closes with great fishing • Adrian Garcia Menchaca of Los Tolos de Tepic team, won the first place with a 218.700 kilo marlin • Gonzalo Leaño of the Ocho Columnas team, caught a 47.500 kilo tuna and became the champion in this category • Luis Blanco, on board Snapper, caught the only sailfish in the tournament and won the first place in the catch and release category <img style="float: right; margin: 4px;" src="http://www.rivieranayarit.com.mx/etc/espanol/files/news/TorneoPesca20101.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="448" />It was around 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, the 14th of August when a dolphin fish bit the hook immediately after Adrian Garcia Menchaca of Los Tolos team put the bait in the water. Three and a half hours later, after a strenuous fight with the fish, Adrian managed to pull it on board. Afterwards, he commented that he also wanted to catch a tuna, but he had no more luck. "It doesn't matter, this fish was so big we didn't need anything else to win". The blue marlin was heavy indeed: 218.700 kilos were enough for this Tepic native to conquer this category. Mark Martin, on board Tiburon, had already caught a black marlin weighing 133.400 kilograms. This fish was enough to displace Carlos Menchaca of Milonga and take the leadership, while Menchaca, president of the Sport Fishing Club of Tepic descended to the third place. On the last day of the tournament there were two qualifying yellowfin tunas. The first one to arrive was caught by Gonzalo Leaño from the Ocho Columas team, and weighed 47.500 kilos, earning the first place in the competition. It was 9:00 a.m., when the team leader Ernesto Herrera first saw dolphins and then a flock of birds flying close to the Maria Cleofas Island (one of the three Islas Marias islands). As soon as they passed by, he was able to hook a tuna that gave fight for almost 1:40 hours. "It's truly a privilege to be able to fish at Riviera Nayarit, and I think it's been a very wise move from the governor Ney Gonzalez Sanchez to promote this beautiful destination so intensively", said Ernesto Herrera. <img style="float: left; margin: 4px;" src="http://www.rivieranayarit.com.mx/etc/espanol/files/news/TorneoPesca20102.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="167" />The Estatica team earned the second place in this category, with a 42.000 kilo tuna, and Luis Blanco, on board Snapper took the prize in the sailfish category, his catch being the only one registered on Friday. The dolphin fish prize was not awarded. The awards ceremony took place at 6:00 p.m., and subsequently, the contenders, their families, friends, promoters and special guests enjoyed a cocktail at Marina Riviera Nayarit Yacht Club. PRIZES MARLIN First Place: Riviera Nayarit Prize Adrian Garcia Menchaca. Los Tolos. 2010 Toyota Corolla, bronze sculpture and diploma Second Place: Corona Prize Mark Martin. Tuburon. 2010 Nissan Tiida Third Place: Mercury Marine Prize Carlos Menchaca. Milonga Four-stroke Mercury 60 HP motor TUNA First Place: Brunswick Prize Gonzalo Leaño. Ocho Columnas. 2010 Nissan Tsuru, one round-trip airplane ticket, bronze sculpture and diploma Second Place: Zaragoza Prize Estatica. Four-stroke Mercury 60 HP motor SAILFISH First Place: Marina Riviera Nayarit at La Cruz Prize Luis Blanco. Snaper. Professional tournament-grade fishing gear, bronze sailfish sculpture, and diploma http://www.rivieranayarit.com/site/whats_new?post_id=592 Riviera Nayarit RIVIERA NAYARIT TOURNAMENT THE BEST ONE TO DATE" - BANDERAS BAY FISHING CLUB http://www.rivieranayarit.com/site/whats_new?post_id=589 Riviera Nayarit RIVIERA NAYARIT TOURNAMENT THE BEST ONE TO DATE" - BANDERAS BAY FISHING CLUB 00:00 RIVIERA NAYARIT TOURNAMENT THE BEST ONE TO DATE" - BANDERAS BAY FISHING CLUB "Riviera Nayarit's tournament the best one to date" - Banderas Bay Fishing Club • Carlos Menchaca, president of the San Blas International Fishing Tournament, won the competition after catching a 132.800-kilo marlin. <img style="float: right; margin: 5px;" src="http://www.rivieranayarit.com.mx/etc/espanol/files/news/Dia0101.JPG" alt="" width="250" height="241" />The IV International Tuna and Marlin Fishing Tournament of Riviera Nayarit began with great optimism, a pleasant ambiance of comradely, and great expectations that the current records would be broken in at least one category. On Thursday 12th, a welcome cocktail for over one hundred competitors took place at the Convention Center of Marival Resort & Suites, where participants enjoyed hors d'oeuvres, canapés and soft music while they registered their vessels for the competition. At a simple opening ceremony that took place early Friday morning, Nayarit's Secretary of Tourism Georgina Rodriguez, in representation of Governor Ney Gonzalez Sanchez and in the purest nautical tradition, wished the fishermen "a good sea and an even better wind", and invited them to set sail to get the largest catch. Following the speech, five Mexican Navy marine officers fired their rifles to mark the beginning of the competition. "We were a little nervous, which is normal every time you're about to start a competition. But we're also positive that this will be the best tournament to date, and that the 322-kilo mark for the marlin category will be broken", said Andres Famania, president of the Banderas Bay Fishing Club. <img style="float: left; margin: 4px;" src="http://www.rivieranayarit.com.mx/etc/espanol/files/news/Dia0102.JPG" alt="" width="200" height="299" />Reports from the previous days indicated that there were large schools of fish present, with marlin weighing over 200 kilograms. However, when the competitors came back at 6 p.m., only one team had caught a marlin that qualified for the competition. President of the Sport Fishing Association of Tepic, Carlos Menchaca, who recently hosted the International San Blas Fishing Tournament, caught a blue marlin weighing 132.800 kilos that bit the hook at 14:30 hours at the El Bajio area. Menchaca fought with the marlin for over an hour and a half to finally be able to pull it on board. When asked about the results of the tournament in San Blas, in which Oscar Lopez from Puerto Vallarta was the winner, Menchaca said: "When the tournament was held at San Blas, we were good hosts and we let the prizes go the people from the Puerto Vallarta region. But this isn't a revenge, we all came here to compete". http://www.rivieranayarit.com/site/whats_new?post_id=589 Riviera Nayarit RIVIERA NAYARIT STRENGTHENS ITS PROMOTIONAL EFFORTS IN CANADA http://www.rivieranayarit.com/site/whats_new?post_id=584 Riviera Nayarit RIVIERA NAYARIT STRENGTHENS ITS PROMOTIONAL EFFORTS IN CANADA 00:00 RIVIERA NAYARIT STRENGTHENS ITS PROMOTIONAL EFFORTS IN CANADA Riviera Nayarit strengthens its promotional efforts in Canada • Facing the upcoming winter season, Riviera Nayarit will be promoted in major Canadian cities at trade shows organized by Thomas Cook, one of the largest wholesale travel retailers in Canada • Approximately 300,000 Canadian tourists visit this region every year, and most of them travel on charter flights like those organized by Thomas Cook <img style="float: right; margin: 5px;" src="http://www.rivieranayarit.com.mx/etc/espanol/files/news/MPI3.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="188" />Starting on August 16th, Riviera Nayarit will take part in the trade shows organized by Thomas Cook in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver. Riviera Nayarit's Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) announced that the participation in these events aims to attract tourists to our destination for the upcoming winter season. Thomas Cook is one of the leading vacation financing corporations worldwide. The company operates in 21 countries, has over 31,000 employees, a fleet of 95 airplanes and over 3,400 franchised travel agencies. Its North American branch reaches over 1.1 million customers per year. Between October and December 2009, Riviera Nayarit carried out an important publicity and marketing program in Canada by teaming with Thomas Cook, and with the Mexican Council for the Promotion of Tourism (CPTM by its initials in Spanish). The positive results derived from these joint programs have led to a business relationship that is being renewed in 2010, and Riviera Nayarit's participation at the trade shows this month is only the beginning of new promotional strategies. The Federal Government, working through the support of the Secretary of Tourism, Gloria Guevara Manzo, has been instrumental to the operation. <img style="float: left; margin: 5px;" src="http://www.rivieranayarit.com.mx/etc/espanol/files/news/sancastlers.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="163" />Approximately 300,000 Canadian tourists visit our region each year, according to information provided by the Puerto Vallarta International Airport Gustavo Diaz Ordaz and the Canadian Consular Office for Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit, who published this information in the local media. The majority of these tourists travel to our destination on charter flights like those operated by Thomas Cook. During the state visit that took place in May with Mexican President Felipe Calderon Hinojosa, Nayarit's Governor Ney Gonzalez Sanchez met with the top management of Thomas Cook and with other major Canadian retailers. During these meetings, Governor Gonzalez Sanchez validated the strong commitment his government has with tourism, since it's considered a key element for the economic development of the State, and also supported the promotional efforts being done by the CVB of Riviera Nayarit since last July. PROGRAM August 16 - Paramount Conference & Event Venue - Toronto August 17 - Hotel Hilton Bonaventure - Montreal August 18 - Telus Convention Centre - Calgary August 19 - Hyatt Regency - Vancouver http://www.rivieranayarit.com/site/whats_new?post_id=584 Riviera Nayarit LO DE MARCOS, A LITTLE PIECE OF HEAVEN ON THE ROAD http://www.rivieranayarit.com/site/whats_new?post_id=579 Riviera Nayarit LO DE MARCOS, A LITTLE PIECE OF HEAVEN ON THE ROAD 00:00 LO DE MARCOS, A LITTLE PIECE OF HEAVEN ON THE ROAD Lo De Marcos, a little piece of heaven on the road • The real charm of a small fishermen town where life goes on without a worry "When I'm on the road, I always find a little piece of heaven before I reach my destination", says Ana Butterflug in her blog. This Englishwoman who lives in Canada is a lover of road trips, and while she was on her way to Barra de Navidad she was captivated by the beauty of the beach and the sunsets at Lo De Marcos, in Riviera Nayarit: it was the little piece of heaven she's always looking for. It's seven a.m., and the baroque music of Albinoni resonates through the palm trees and the exuberant vegetation. Alberto is inspired by this Italian composer to cook the catch of the day, which was given to him by the local fishermen in appreciation for helping them pull the nets on the beach to pick up the rewards of last night's work. It's still early and Alberto is about to enjoy his breakfast, but his day started much earlier. <img style="vertical-align: middle; margin: 4px;" src="../etc/espanol/files/news/LoDeMarcos.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="392" /> It's been almost 15 years now that he's been visiting Lo De Marcos to get away from the hustle and bustle of Mexico City. The daily routine during his stays, which sometimes prolong for months, is simple: get up at five a.m., jog on the beach and then swim a couple of miles in the sea. By the time he finishes exercising, he usually finds the fishermen coming back to the beach. Classical music, refreshing relaxation, books, some more rest, a friendly chat with the locals, who already know him - this is how the day goes by, without troubles, noise, street vendors, or concerns. However, his agenda is strict: every single day, approximately one hour before sundown Alberto takes a folding chair and his favorite book, and heads towards an isolated location on the beach. He then unfolds the chair and points it in the direction where a couple of minutes later the sun will melt in the ocean, and enjoys watching the sunset while he reads his book under the golden light. This is how his tight agenda comes to a close, and how the daily activity concludes. It's precisely the allure of this place and its relaxing lifestyle what have made Alberto come back for the last 15 years, and which also caught Ana's eye. "It's a real fishermen town, with a beach to die for. I picture this as the ambiance Sayulita must have had when it was first discovered by surfers in the seventies", concludes the seasoned traveler. Lo De Marcos is one of the jewels of Riviera Nayarit, Mexico's Pacific Tresaure. DON'T MISS Lo De Marcos offers lodging in the form of modest properties with bungalows, a trailer park and camping areas. It's low-priced, private and comfortable. We recommend: Suites El Coral Carretera Las Minitas N° 39 <a href="mailto:elcoraldelodemarcos@hotmail.com" target="_blank">elcoraldelodemarcos@hotmail.com</a> Suites Las Margaritas Emiliano Zapata No. 22 <a href="mailto:bungalowsmargarita@hotmail.com" target="_blank">bungalowsmargarita@hotmail.com</a> GET ACTIVE! Some of the activities you can do at Lo de Marcos include bird watching, hiking along the estuary, fishing trips and visits to San Pancho and Sayulita. http://www.rivieranayarit.com/site/whats_new?post_id=579 Riviera Nayarit COMPETITORS WILL TRY TO BREAK ALL PREVIOUS RECORDS AT RIVIERA NAYARIT http://www.rivieranayarit.com/site/whats_new?post_id=578 Riviera Nayarit COMPETITORS WILL TRY TO BREAK ALL PREVIOUS RECORDS AT RIVIERA NAYARIT 00:00 COMPETITORS WILL TRY TO BREAK ALL PREVIOUS RECORDS AT RIVIERA NAYARIT Competitors will try to break all previous records at Riviera Nayarit • The IV International Marlin and Tuna Tournament is offering almost $1.5 million pesos in prizes • The struggle to break the current weight record set at 332.3 kilos for the marlin category and 176 kilos for the tuna category will begin on August 12th When the IV International Marlin and Tuna Tournament of Riviera Nayarit begins on August 12, it'll offer almost $1.5 million pesos in prizes. The event will take place at Marina Riviera Nayarit at La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, with approximately 60 participating vessels. On July 31, Riviera Nayarit Fishing Club's manager Raul Serna Navarro and president Andres Famania Ortega presented the tournament to the media at a press conference. Marc Murphy, head of the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Riviera Nayarit, and Jonathan de Leon, in representation of the hosting marina attended the event. <img style="margin: 5px;" src="http://www.rivieranayarit.com.mx/etc/espanol/files/news/TorneoPesca20101.JPG" alt="" width="580" height="459" /> This is the fourth time this tournament takes place in our destination, and the organizers are expecting competitors to break all 2007 weight records, which were 332.3 kilos in the marlin category and 176 kilos in the tuna category. To encourage participants, additional prizes have been put forward: a 2010 Nissan Tsuru for the first record-breaking marlin, and a 2010 Nissan Tiida for the first record-breaking tuna. This year, four different categories were defined by the Banderas Bay Sport Fishing Club: the two that give this competition its name and that offer the most important prizes (tuna and marlin), and additionally dolphin-fish and sailfish categories in a catch and release form, with special prizes. Competitors can register in teams of up to four members per boat. Only non-electronic rod and reel, 130-pound lines and simple bait will be allowed. On the sailfish category, each participating team will have to photograph each one of their catches including a timestamp. The winning team will be the one that catches the largest number of fish. In the remaining categories, the winner will be defined by the weight of the catch. A MAJOR PROMOTIONAL UNDERTAKING <img style="float: left; margin: 5px;" src="http://www.rivieranayarit.com.mx/etc/espanol/files/news/CanayCarrete.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="248" />The Convention and Visitors Bureau of Riviera Nayarit has begun implementing a major campaign to promote the IV International Marlin and Tuna Tournament of Riviera Nayarit. The campaign includes renowned specialized media in the world of fishing, like the TV program "Con Caña y Carrete" (With Rod and Reel), as well as magazines that specialize in high-end tourism. The tournament will be an important stage to present the destination's competitive advantages amongst the international press that will cover the event. Riviera Nayarit is considered by experts as one of the best destinations in the world to do sport fishing, as species such as the wahoo, sailfish, dolphin-fish, tuna, three different species of marlin, sawfish and snapper can be found year round. Furthermore, Riviera Nayarit offers world-class marinas, people who know how to work with fiberglass and specialized technical personnel to fix all the gadgets found on a ship, as well as delectable restaurants, luxurious hotels and the complete infrastructure required by this sport. PRIZES MARLIN FIRST PLACE Riviera Nayarit Prize - 2010 Toyota Corolla - One round-trip ticket to any national destination served by Mexicana de Aviacion - $7,000 peso certificate* - Bronze marlin sculpture - Diploma SECOND PLACE Corona Prize - 2010 Nissan Tiida - $7,000 peso certificate* THIRD PLACE Mercury Marine Prize - Four-stroke Mercury 60 HP EFI Bigfoot motor - $7,000 peso certificate* TUNA FIRST PLACE Brunswick Prize - 2010 Nissan Tsuru - One round-trip ticket to any national destination served by Mexicana de Aviacion - $7,000 peso certificate* - Bronze tuna sculpture - Diploma SECOND PLACE Zaragoza Marine Prize - Four-stroke Mercury 60 HP EFI Bigfoot motor - $7,000 peso certificate* THIRD PLACE Opequimar Prize - $30,000 pesos - $7,000 peso certificate* SAILFISH FIRST PLACE Marina Riviera Nayarit at La Cruz Prize - Professional tournament-grade fishing gear - Four round-trip tickets to any national destination served by Mexicana de Aviacion - $7,000 peso certificate* - Four bronze sailfish sculptures - Diploma SECOND PLACE Toyota Prize - Professional tournament-grade fishing gear - $7,000 peso certificate* THIRD PLACE Performance Boats Prize - One gold medal - $7,000 peso certificate* DOLPHIN FISH FIRST PLACE Mexicana de Aviacion Prize - $50,000 pesos - One round-trip ticket to any national destination served by Mexicana de Aviacion - $7,000 peso certificate* - Bronze sail-fish sculpture - Diploma SECOND PLACE Pepsi & Santorini Prize - $20,000 pesos - $7,000 peso certificate* THIRD PLACE - $10,000 pesos - $7,000 peso certificate* http://www.rivieranayarit.com/site/whats_new?post_id=578 Riviera Nayarit RIVIERA NAYARIT CREATES NETWORKS TO ATTRACT BUSINESS TOURISM http://www.rivieranayarit.com/site/whats_new?post_id=573 Riviera Nayarit RIVIERA NAYARIT CREATES NETWORKS TO ATTRACT BUSINESS TOURISM 00:00 RIVIERA NAYARIT CREATES NETWORKS TO ATTRACT BUSINESS TOURISM Riviera Nayarit creates networks to attract business tourism • Riviera Nayarit attended the WEC, where it interacted directly with 170 world-class event and convention organizers. The destination also introduced its touristic offerings at the Trade Show to over 3,000 industry professionals <img style="float: right; margin: 5px;" src="http://www.rivieranayarit.com.mx/etc/espanol/files/news/MPI3.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="187" />Over 3,000 professionals specializing in the organization of fairs, events and conventions participated at the World Educational Congress (WEC) of the Meeting Professionals International (MPI), which took place on July 24 - 27 in Vancouver. Riviera Nayarit was present at the Mexican booth setup by the Mexican Council for the Promotion of Tourism (CPTM by its initials in Spanish). This is one of the most important events worldwide for this market segment, and Riviera Nayarit's Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) presented its touristic offerings at CPTM's booth at two Trade Shows, each of which lasted approximately three hours. The CVB of Riviera Nayarit was in direct contact with over 170 meeting planners who were invited to a breakfast offered by the CPTM. During the meeting, the competitive advantages of Mexico and its world-class infrastructure offerings for both beach and city destinations were presented. <img style="float: left; margin: 4px;" src="http://www.rivieranayarit.com.mx/etc/espanol/files/news/MPI4.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="400" />Riviera Nayarit offers excellent conditions for convention tourism: high-quality services, sophisticated hotels, meeting rooms for up to 1,200 people, and an important diversity of nautical, adventure and cultural activities that combine luxury with sublime natural settings. Riviera Nayarit has made a solid commitment to attract business, groups and conventions-based tourism, with the belief that they not only sell room nights in our destination, but that they contribute to the promotion of Riviera Nayarit. Once people discover the natural beauties of Mexico's Pacific Treasure, it is likely that they will plan their next vacation here. Riviera Nayarit participates at events like the WEC, which focus on this market segment, as part of the major promotional strategies to increase tourism defined by the State Governor Ney Manuel Gonzalez Sanchez. http://www.rivieranayarit.com/site/whats_new?post_id=573 Riviera Nayarit IT'S WORTH SPENDING IT IN RIVIERA NAYARIT http://www.rivieranayarit.com/site/whats_new?post_id=570 Riviera Nayarit IT'S WORTH SPENDING IT IN RIVIERA NAYARIT 00:00 IT'S WORTH SPENDING IT IN RIVIERA NAYARIT It's worth spending it in Riviera Nayarit • Paul Richardson, columnist for London's Financial Times lifestyles supplement visited Riviera Nayarit and stated that this is a coveted destination for the British market <img style="float: right; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" src="http://www.rivieranayarit.com.mx/etc/espanol/files/news/HTSILogo.gif" alt="" width="319" height="237" />If there is someone who knows how to spend what it takes to live a sophisticated life, that would be Paul Richardson, an independent columnist specializing in travel and lifestyles, who was chosen by London's Financial Times to write the How to spend it supplement. Therefore, when he says that it's worth investing in getting to know Riviera Nayarit, we can conclude that this destination has become highly appealing for high-end tourists in the United Kingdom. Richardson visited Riviera Nayarit on July 21 to 24, searching for those fleeting but extraordinary moments that can be experienced in our destination, and then recommended How to spend it readers the best way to indulge in a luxurious and exclusive vacation at Mexico's Pacific Treasure. His interest to write an article on our destination sparked because "I wanted to know more about this destination, which is increasingly being mentioned in the United Kingdom. Traditionally, when we thought of Mexico we used to think of the Mexican Caribbean, but recently Riviera Nayarit has been generating an intense interest as an exotic and sophisticated destination amongst those who seek something more exclusive". <img style="float: left; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" src="http://www.rivieranayarit.com.mx/etc/espanol/files/news/HTSICover.jpg" alt="" width="165" height="220" />Richardson, who recently wrote an article on emerging Brazilian beaches as "hippie chic destinations", was greatly pleased by the natural settings of Riviera Nayarit and the high-end services available at fishermen towns like San Pancho and its Celest Boutique and Cielo Rojo hotels, as well as Higuera Blanca and the exclusive accommodations of Imanta. Towns like Sayulita, which has a cosmopolitan flair that revolves around surfing amazed Richardson, who also experienced an enchanting retreat for yoga lovers called Hamara. The journalist, who also writes for UK Traveler, has written books on Mexican and Spanish gastronomy. Richardson found that Riviera Nayarit's cuisine blends the freshness of ingredients found in the sea and fields of Nayarit with the most exclusive elements of international gastronomy, and highlighted venues such as Ketsi, at the prestigious Four Seasons Punta Mita. Paul Richardson's visit was backed by the joint promotional efforts of Riviera Nayarit's Convention and Visitors Bureau, Nayarit's Government led by Ney Gonzalez, and the Mexican Council for the Promotion of Tourism. The result of these efforts is the significant positioning that Riviera Nayarit is achieving in destinations like the United Kingdom, only three years after the creation of the Riviera Nayarit brand. http://www.rivieranayarit.com/site/whats_new?post_id=570 Riviera Nayarit TURTLE RELEASE AT RIVIERA NAYARIT http://www.rivieranayarit.com/site/whats_new?post_id=567 Riviera Nayarit TURTLE RELEASE AT RIVIERA NAYARIT 00:00 TURTLE RELEASE AT RIVIERA NAYARIT Turtle Release at Riviera Nayarit This experience simply should not be missed, and in many cases all you have to do is stay up one whole night, sometimes just a few feet away from your room, to be able to experience how these turtles lay their eggs. The beaches at the hotel zones constitute excellent arrival areas for sea turtles, and the only thing you have to do is stay up late at night, and a few feet away from your hotel room you can see turtles laying their eggs.<img style="float: right; margin: 5px 4px;" src="../etc/nayarit/files/news/tortugas3.png" alt="" width="122" height="174" /> Actually, Nuevo Vallarta, and more specifically the camp at its hotel zone have been documented as the locations with the largest number of turtle arrivals within the 190 miles of coast that constitute Riviera Nayarit. You can live the experience and feel a turtle's tiny flippers striving to make their way forward before you place it next to the surf. It's also possible to witness a turtle coming out of the water to lay its eggs in the sand, and experience the miracle of life. Once the incubation period is over and the eggs hatch, the Nuevo Vallarta camp offers the general public the opportunity to release a hatchling. The release program includes afternoon sessions that start around 6:00 PM with a cost of $20 pesos ($2 dollars), which are used to keep the camp running. Nothing compares to witnessing the start of a new life and the struggle for survival, framed by a unique sunset. This is the beginning of the journey for these tiny creatures that will have to overcome all sorts of obstacles to reach adulthood. The tickling their flippers produce on the palm of our hands is transferred directly to our hearts and create a lifetime memory and experience. http://www.rivieranayarit.com/site/whats_new?post_id=567 Riviera Nayarit TURTLE RELEASE AT RIVIERA NAYARIT http://www.rivieranayarit.com/site/whats_new?post_id=565 Riviera Nayarit TURTLE RELEASE AT RIVIERA NAYARIT 00:00 TURTLE RELEASE AT RIVIERA NAYARIT Turtle Release at Riviera Nayarit • Nuevo Vallarta and Guayabitos, two privileged locations to experience the yearly sea turtle arrival What a moving experience it is to hold a sea turtle hatchling in our hands! At Nuevo Vallarta and Guayabitos you can live the experience and feel a turtle's tiny flippers striving to make their way forward before you place it next to the surf. Being part of a turtle release in Riviera Nayarit is one of the most endearing activities one can do in our destination. It's also possible to witness a turtle coming out of the water to lay its eggs in the sand, and experience the miracle of life. <img src="http://www.rivieranayarit.com.mx/etc/espanol/files/news/tortugas.jpg" alt="" width="452" height="339" /> The best part is that you don't have to get away from the comfort and fun to marvel at one of nature's great events, as even some of the most developed beaches in the region are registering a large number of sea turtle arrivals. Every year between June and December, hundreds of sea turtles arrive at Riviera Nayarit's beaches - from Boca de Teacapan to Nuevo Vallarta, spanning from the most remote beaches to the beaches in front of the most luxurious hotels. <img style="float: left; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" src="http://www.rivieranayarit.com.mx/etc/espanol/files/news/tortugas2.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="235" />Eight sea turtle species inhabit the world's oceans, and the Olive Ridely is the most common species to arrive at our beaches. However, with a little luck it is possible to find a leatherback turtle. Regardless of which one you find, volunteering to patrol the region's beaches in one of the camps supervised by professionals will change your life forever. The experience simply cannot be missed, and in many cases all you have to do is stay up one whole night, sometimes just a few feet away from your room, to be able to experience how these turtles lay their eggs. Actually, Nuevo Vallarta, and more specifically the camp at its hotel zone have been documented as the locations with the largest number of turtle arrivals within the 190 miles of coast that constitute Riviera Nayarit. The beaches at the hotel zones constitute excellent arrival areas for sea turtles, and the only thing you have to do is stay up the whole night a few feet away from your hotel room to see turtles laying their eggs. Biologist Adrian Maldonado, who coordinates the Research Subcommittee of the Technological Institute of Banderas Bay (Instituto Tecnológico de Bahía de Banderas or ITBB), stated that the results of a study show that Nuevo Vallarta holds a higher number of arrivals than less developed areas like El Naranjo Beach, which is close to la Peñita de Jaltemba. The historical data analysis for the past 10 years indicates that sea turtles set an average of 403 nests per mile in Nuevo Vallarta's 8.7 miles of beaches. In 2007 only, about 6,000 Olive Ridely turtles arrived at this location. <img style="float: right; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" src="http://www.rivieranayarit.com.mx/etc/espanol/files/news/tortugitas.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="119" />The numbers presented by Maldonado are not exaggerated. In 2009, official evaluations at the turtle camp in Nuevo Vallarta estimated by October, close to 4,000 nests had been recovered and 200,000 turtle hatchlings released. "At this camp, the numbers grow every year. What I can say for sure is that the number of recovered nests has grown 600% in the eight years that we've been working here", said biologist Antonio Razo, who is in charge of safeguarding these beaches. Once the incubation period is over and the eggs hatch, the Nuevo Vallarta camp offers the general public the opportunity to release a hatchling. The release program includes afternoon sessions that start around 6:00 PM with a cost of $20 pesos ($2 dollars), which are used to keep the camp running. Nuevo Vallarta isn't the only developed beach that offers the general public this privilege; other beaches include El Anclote, Punta Mita, Bucerias, la Cruz de Huanacaxtle and other developed areas. At Las Tortugas beach, where a nature-conscious development is taking place, 2,400 nests were saved in 2009. Even though hotels located in Rincon de Guayabitos don't have the largest arrival numbers, the experience is especially exciting at El Naranjo Beach, where one of the most committed protection and education programs has been established. Visiting El Naranjo is not only a delight for tourists, but it's also a truly enlightening experience. Nothing compares to witnessing the start of a new life and the struggle for survival, framed by a unique sunset. This is the beginning of the journey for these tiny creatures that will have to overcome all sorts of obstacles to reach adulthood. The tickling their flippers produce on the palm of our hands is transferred directly to our heart when experts explain that the one we're holding in our hands will probably never make it back to this beach. IN THE LIGHT OF SCIENCE The studies made by the ITBB shed light on a fact that even scientists can't fully comprehend yet: sea turtles don't seem to be afraid of touristic developments. Amongst all the beaches in this region, the largest numbers are arriving at Nuevo Vallarta, where the beach has artificial lighting, a fact that was completely unexpected. "An unfinished university thesis study focused on measuring the intensity of light on nest sites, and oddly enough it found that turtles prefer to lay their eggs in beaches that have artificial lighting. However, there is something we have to take in consideration: turtles have a natural aversion to light, so these results are even more surprising", commented Adrian Maldonado. http://www.rivieranayarit.com/site/whats_new?post_id=565 Riviera Nayarit RIVIERA NAYARIT MEETS UP WITH THE WORLD http://www.rivieranayarit.com/site/whats_new?post_id=563 Riviera Nayarit RIVIERA NAYARIT MEETS UP WITH THE WORLD 00:00 RIVIERA NAYARIT MEETS UP WITH THE WORLD Riviera Nayarit meets up with the world • The Convention and Visitors Bureau will participate at the World Education Congress of Meeting Professionals International in Vancouver The Meeting Professionals International (MPI) slogan reads, "When we meet, we change the world". MPI is a worldwide association for organizers of congresses, events and conventions, and on July 24 - 27 it'll hold its World Education Congress, where members from all over the world will meet to learn about the latest news and affairs related to this industry on a global scale. Riviera Nayarit will be there, meeting up with the whole world. <img style="float: right; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" src="http://www.rivieranayarit.com.mx/etc/espanol/files/news/MPI1.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="301" />The Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) of Riviera Nayarit will setup a booth with the Mexican Council for the Promotion of Tourism (CPTM by its initials in Spanish) at this important event. The goal is to promote our touristic offer - which combines luxury and the most amazing natural settings - amongst travel professionals on an international scale, in order to attract investments and tourism for conventions. MPI is an organization with over 24,000 associated tourism industry professionals, distributed in 71 chapters around the globe. The focus is on creating workgroups and relations between businesses, with the objective of sharing knowledge and ideas, and setting up gatherings like the World Education Congress (WEC) that this year will take place in Vancouver, Canada. According to MPI, the projected assistance for WEC 2010 is 3,600 professionals, out of which approximately 40% will be specifically event organizers, which guarantees an extremely focused promotion for Riviera Nayarit within this segment. Riviera Nayarit offers extraordinary conditions for convention tourism, and a proof of this is the intense agenda that has taken place in 2010, with important events such as the Mexican Association of Joint Reconstructive Surgery and Arthroscopic Surgery (AMECRA) Congress that assembled over 1,000 medicals doctors, the II Yearly Mexican Hotel and Motel Association (AMHM) Meeting, and this upcoming August, the Mexican Professional Organizers, Participants and Venues Association (AMPROFEC) Convention, amongst many others. <img style="float: left; margin: 0px 5px;" src="http://www.rivieranayarit.com.mx/etc/espanol/files/news/MPI2.jpg" alt="" width="314" height="172" />Furthermore, the diversity of maritime activities, adventure-based tours, and cultural life offered in our destination, together with the hotel infrastructure and high-quality services that can be found here, make Riviera Nayarit an excellent option for performance bonus travel. Riviera Nayarit currently holds the second place nationwide in the number of Five Diamond hotels, and has been mentioned as one of the 10 indispensable destinations in 2010 by several publications. Riviera Nayarit's participation in the WEC 2010 in Vancouver is possible because of the efforts to increase tourism being made by the State Government, led by Ney Gonzalez Sanchez, and is a direct result of the joint work between national authorities through the CPTM, the Mexican Secretary of Tourism, the private sector initiative, and all the social fields committed to the development of this State. AGENDA CPTM is sponsoring many events and will organize the following activities during the WEC, where information on the competitive advantages of Mexico will be made public, and Riviera Nayarit will be present as a destination. Monday, July 26 Breakfast with event and convention organizers CPTM-sponsored break http://www.rivieranayarit.com/site/whats_new?post_id=563 Riviera Nayarit RIVIERA NAYARIT IS BEING PROMOTED "WITH ROD AND REEL" http://www.rivieranayarit.com/site/whats_new?post_id=561 Riviera Nayarit RIVIERA NAYARIT IS BEING PROMOTED "WITH ROD AND REEL" 00:00 RIVIERA NAYARIT IS BEING PROMOTED "WITH ROD AND REEL" Riviera Nayarit is being promoted "With Rod and Reel" • Con Caña y Carrete, a TV program specialized in sport fishing devoted its Torneos de México segment to Riviera Nayarit • The program invited people to participate in the IV International Marlin and Tuna Fishing Tournament of Riviera Nayarit An<img style="float: right; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" src="http://www.rivieranayarit.com.mx/etc/espanol/files/news/CanayCarrete.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="375" />dres Famania, president of the Banderas Bay Fishing Club, proved he has all the necessary skills to catch a 55-pound tuna at the "Con Caña y Carrete" (With Rod and Reel) TV program. Last week, the program dedicated its "Torneos de México" segment to the IV International Marlin and Tuna Fishing Tournament of Riviera Nayarit, which will take place on August 12 - 14. The show's host, Pedro Sors, highlighted the excellent fishing conditions this destination has to offer, and showed the large schools of fish that can be found only a couple of miles offshore. "This is the best season to catch 220-pound tunas. Sounds appealing? Come to Riviera Nayarit and participate in this tournament, which this year offers over $1.5 million pesos in prizes", stated Sors during the show. The program also praised the excellent facilities at Marina Riviera Nayarit at La Cruz in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, which are the most modern in Mexico, and acknowledged that having a marina of this order is an added value for the International Marlin and Tuna Fishing Tournament of Riviera Nayarit. "Con Caña y Carrete" was first broadcasted in April 1996, and has stayed in the air since, demonstrating techniques, different fish species, locations and details on Mexican sport fishing. The "Torneos de Mexico" segment was introduced in August 2008, and it presents the tours and tournaments that take place throughout Mexico. This segment introduces the advantages our destination has to offer for those who are interested in fishing. "With Rod and Reel" is broadcasted on Saturday afternoons on Guadalajara's Channel 4, and Sundays on Tijuana's Channel 12, Monterrey's Channel 34 and Tampico's Channel 24. All the programs are also transmitted on Sky. Sport fishing is one of main perks of Riviera Nayarit, and Summer is the best time to find big game like sailfish, marlin and tuna, which have bestowed a reputation to the Mexican Pacific. The Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) of Riviera Nayarit works jointly with the State Government led by Ney Gonzalez Sanchez to boost tourism in our region, through promotional activities that attract tourists interested in sport fishing, golf, Spas, romance and adventure. http://www.rivieranayarit.com/site/whats_new?post_id=561 Riviera Nayarit RIVIERA NAYARIT INTRODUCED ITS PREMIUM TOURISM OFFERINGS http://www.rivieranayarit.com/site/whats_new?post_id=560 Riviera Nayarit RIVIERA NAYARIT INTRODUCED ITS PREMIUM TOURISM OFFERINGS 00:00 RIVIERA NAYARIT INTRODUCED ITS PREMIUM TOURISM OFFERINGS Riviera Nayarit introduced its premium tourism offerings • Over 30 media agencies and 91 travel agents specializing in high-end markets attended the presentations to promote the premium products and services offered by our destination <img style="float: right; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" src="http://www.rivieranayarit.com.mx/etc/espanol/files/news/RNPremium1.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="208" />Riviera Nayarit offers outstanding premium services, which became evident at the presentations this destination organized to promote the high-end touristic products that can be found in this paradise known as Mexico's Pacific Treasure. Last Wednesday, July 14, Riviera Nayarit's Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) introduced the VIP tourism offerings, products and services of this region to specialized communication media, and then to travel agents that work with high-end consumers. Over 30 journalists representing Amura, Travesias, Travel + Leisure and Caras Sports, amongst others, attended a breakfast where the advantages of this new promotional scheme were introduced. The event also helped reinforce the presence of our destination from the viewpoint of these important communications media. A second presentation took place during lunch to accommodate for travel agents, most of whom are acknowledged by Virtuoso - the most prestigious operator in this travel segment - because of the high quality of the services they offer. This presentation had a projected audience of 50 guests, but the event surpassed all expectations and gathered 91 specialists in premium tourism. The event also attracted three sales managers from the most important airlines that draw tourism to the Banderas Bay region: Interjet, Aeromexico and Mexicana Link. <img style="float: left; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" src="http://www.rivieranayarit.com.mx/etc/espanol/files/news/RNPremium2.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="173" />Riviera Nayarit's CVB's promotion coordinator stated, "Travel agents said they were greatly pleased to have the opportunity to get to know some aspects of our destination they were unaware of. Some even mentioned that they never imagined that Nayarit had such an ample hotel offer in addition to its many natural wonders". Riviera Nayarit has outstanding touristic offerings for the high-end market. According with the American Automobile Association (AAA), the destination currently holds the second place on a national level in the number of Five Diamond Hotels, as well as an important number of Three and Four Diamond Resorts. Our destination also offers exclusive retreats for yoga, boutique hotels, six golf courses, some of the best gourmet cuisine and a number of services for sport fishing, nautical sports and adventure, all focused towards luxury. In the near future, a novel website focusing on high-end activities will be launched. The promotional efforts being done by the CVB are the result of the strategic vision put forward by Governor Ney Gonzalez Sanchez, who has deemed tourism as a key activity for the economic development of our state, as defined in the State Development Plan. http://www.rivieranayarit.com/site/whats_new?post_id=560 Riviera Nayarit THE FLAVORS OF ESTORIL WILL REACH RIVIERA NAYARIT http://www.rivieranayarit.com/site/whats_new?post_id=558 Riviera Nayarit THE FLAVORS OF ESTORIL WILL REACH RIVIERA NAYARIT 00:00 THE FLAVORS OF ESTORIL WILL REACH RIVIERA NAYARIT The flavors of Estoril will reach Riviera Nayarit • Pedro Ortega, executive chef of one of the most important restaurant groups in Mexico will take part at the extension of the San Blas International Gourmet Festival <img style="float: right; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" src="http://www.rivieranayarit.com.mx/etc/espanol/files/news/RestauranteEstoril.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="382" />Estoril's kitchen smells a little like Oaxaca, a lot like Mexico and starting next November, it will exude the aromas of Riviera Nayarit. The story here is not of a colonial galleon arriving at the named Portuguese coast, but that Pedro Ortega will be the guest chef of the El Delfin restaurant at the San Blas International Gourmet Festival. Ortega is the executive chef at Grupo Estoril, one of the most prestigious restaurant groups in Mexico City, and for the last 35 years he's been the favorite chef of some of the most demanding customers on an international scale. Next November Pedro will be cooking hand in hand with his host Betty Vazquez. Pedro Ortega was born in San Juan Quiotepec, a small town in Oaxaca, and his cuisine fuses the flavors of Mexico with classic French and international dishes. The primary influence for Grupo Esotril's executive chef is precisely his hometown, where the countryside has witnessed the creation of some of the most elaborate Mexican dishes. Ortega has an extensive trajectory that spans for over 40 years, and has collaborated with some of the most important establishments of Mexico City, including the Suntory restaurant, the Maria Isabel Sheraton, Hacienda Los Morales, Del Prado Hotel, and for the last 35 years he's been working with Grupo Estoril, founded by Rosa and Guillaume Martin in 1971. Pedro Ortega is a self-taught chef that has been invited three times to the Mexican Cuisine Festival in Geneva, Switzerland. In 2007 the Mexican Association of Touristic Suppliers conferred him with the Key to Progress award. This chef, who is passionate about using fresh products, will find at San Blas a paradise to develop unique recipes, while chef Betty Vazquez joins him in a new adventure where Nayarit's flavors will be expressed in brand new ways. http://www.rivieranayarit.com/site/whats_new?post_id=558 Riviera Nayarit