Puerto Vallarta Convention Center works to attract international events

In this context, Travel2latam spoke with Mario Javier Barriga Moreno, director of the Puerto Vallarta International Convention Center .

What is the Convention Center currently doing to promote itself and attract events?

Firstly, what we did last year was invest resources in the property, which is a building with 15-year-old technology. With a budget of 28 million pesos, more than 5,000 meters of carpet were changed, quartz lighting to LED, and most significantly, the air conditioning systems were made independent. Previously, if there was a client looking for an event for 150 people, the entire warehouse had to be lit to be able to hold that event, which made us very expensive. In addition, we updated the fire network system. And last year what we did was visit clients again in Mexico City and generate inspection visits to the Convention Center to tell them precisely that we are no longer so expensive and that on top of that we are renewed.

Will investments continue in 2024?

Fortunately this year we will continue with the intervention of spaces, especially the exterior. We are missing all the parking and lighting in the outdoor area and we have a project to install solar panels that will also help us a lot with respect to sustainability. That's the strategy we're going for. In addition, the Ministry of Innovation invested in a space that used to be a hallway and installed about 5 meeting rooms; a breastfeeding area, gaming area, training classroom. Then suddenly people who organize gastronomic or tourist events come to the Convention Center and use it as a base station to have their work meetings.

What months are the busiest and what average number of events do they usually have? 

September is the quietest month in Puerto Vallarta, so we are pushing to fill up that month to generate that movement that will be good for restaurants, hotels and others. Last year we closed with 74 events. About 13 thousand people passed by, and this year we have 20 confirmed, with 17 in the process of closing, which looks very good because just in May of last year we were at these numbers. 

The objective is to surpass the figures of 2023, which surpassed those of 2022, which were 52 events. The goal is to continue betting on promotion and continue investing not only in infrastructure, internet connectivity, but also in fiber optics. In the end, it is a matter of getting into the trend to ensure that each event turns out in the best way.

What types of events does the International Convention Center host?

Most of our events, 60% or 70%, are conferences or exhibitions. Medical conferences, pedagogical or psychology laboratories take up most of the Gran Salón Vallarta. We also have social activities, something that is starting to pick up a lot, enjoying the outdoors with the fountains or the garden. November and December become months for the New Year's Eve parties at the big hotels. Last year we had 5,000 people, 500 tables set up with their centerpiece and all their services. We had a Children's Expo event that was going to last 2 days, where 10,000 people were expected, and there were 7,000, and in the end it lasted 3 days; This year it repeats and those types of events are also moving. 

How do they operate taking into account that Vidanta has a Convention Center? 

Vidanta has a center that is a little smaller than this one, but at the end of the day, we create an alliance with them. There are clients who want to host their speakers in Punta de Mita and there is no problem. Furthermore, they decide if they want mountains or beaches. We work in a very transparent way and we do not see ourselves as competition, but as allies. 

How do you promote yourself locally and domestically? 

Through the Puerto Vallarta Tourism Trust. In fact, the promotion of our Center happens with the communication strategy that the trust puts together, and both I and its representative split up to go to close plans or promote our services.