Gala Vallarta’s 18th. Edition Held in Riviera Nayarit
Riviera Nayarit’s Achievements, Hard to Match
President Felipe Calderon says tourist promotion is one of the strategies to overcome the country’s economic hardship, and Riviera Nayarit is proof of it
For the 18th consecutive year the Gala Vallarta was held here from March 3 to 6. A cocktail reception at the Garza Blanca Preserve Hotel marked the opening of this edition. This is the most important event for hotel industry in the region, in which the occupancy levels of the upcoming season are determined.
Gala Vallarta assembles international wholesale travel agencies, tour operators and hoteliers from Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit in pre-arranged business appointments. In this event, the Convention and Visitors Bureau act as liaisons among the parties, scheduling appointments according to the wholesaler requests.
This year, Riviera Nayarit was charging with being the event’s host, and the business center was established at the Paradise Village Hotel, in Nuevo Vallarta, while the closing cocktail party was held at the Marival Resort & Suites.
At the opening reception, which took place at the pool deck of the Garza Blanca Hotel, hoteliers, wholesalers and tour operators, as well as municipal officials were in attendance.
Puerto Vallarta Mayor Salvador Gonzalez Resendiz delivered a welcome message from the City to the businessmen, and wished them success in their negotiations, and invited them to enjoy the beautiful city of Puerto Vallarta. He went on to say “In present days, the current economic circumstances demand that both the public administration and the private sector coordinate actions closely, as well as strategies and plans which allow for integral development of the sector and the Puerto Vallarta society.”
Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board President Gabriel Igartúa emphasized that it is 18 years already that this event has been held annually; whose importance lies on the fact that it guarantees negotiations will continue in the future. He thanked Riviera Nayarit representatives on their attending, since the sisterhood of Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit is about to be entered into, which is a step forward for both destinations.
The pool deck at Garza Blanca looked splendorous, with a décor based on a mermaids and pirates theme, with both ships, Perla Negra and Marigalante, anchored in front of the hotel’s beach. An impressive display of fireworks marked the opening of the Gala Vallarta’s 18th edition and guests enjoyed fine cocktails and delicious appetizers.