Guanajuato reaffirms its leadership as a MICE destination in Mexico and is committed to internationalization

What does it mean for Guanajuato to participate in an event like FIEXPO Latin America?

Guanajuato has always been present at the most important events in the meetings industry. We are Mexico's fifth-largest economy and have been committed to this segment for over 45 years. We have first-class infrastructure, such as the Poliforum León, one of the largest convention centers in the country, with over 42,000 square meters of space.

Being at FIEXPO strengthens our position in this industry and also allows us to engage with buyers, media, and other destinations from a regional perspective. As mentioned in the event's political forum, it is essential to see ourselves as a strong, united Latin America with common goals.

Yesterday you had the opportunity to represent Mexico at the FIEXPO political forum. What was that experience like?

It was a great honor to represent Mexico. During my speech, I spoke about the need to maintain permanent governance in destinations, based on active listening to both the sector and society.

In the meetings industry, we speak highly of each other, but we still need to clearly communicate the true impact of this sector to society. Often, citizens only see the event at a hotel or convention center, but don't understand the economic and social benefits it brings to the community. When we can communicate this effectively, we will gain key allies to continue growing.

In that sense, how do you assess the challenge of communicating the impact of MICE tourism?

It's a significant challenge. We need society to understand that meeting tourism creates jobs and boosts sectors such as gastronomy, transportation, culture, and much more. Otherwise, misperceptions can arise that even lead to visitors being rejected, as has already happened in some destinations.

For me, one of the biggest challenges is ensuring that this information reaches all citizens, not just those directly involved in the tourism value chain.

How would you describe the experience of holding an event in Guanajuato?

Any destination can offer infrastructure, but Guanajuato offers a complete experience. In addition to first-class convention centers and quality hotels, we have an incomparable cultural, historical, and culinary wealth.

Our location is strategic: accessible by road or plane, and our attractions are very close to each other. A participant can attend a conference in León, have lunch in San Miguel de Allende, and have dinner in the capital, Guanajuato, both World Heritage cities. This makes every event a memorable experience.

Furthermore, security is a key factor: we host more than 200 meetings industry events annually and have never had any incidents. Ninety-seven percent of participants say they feel safe during their stay.

What is the current status of air connectivity in Guanajuato?

We are located in the center of the country and have an international airport with 10 domestic and 11 international flights, mainly to the United States, our main market.

We're working to add new routes, including a flight to Europe—especially Spain, our third-largest international market—and one to Colombia, which ranks second. We're even promoting a flight to Japan, our fourth-largest market. Connectivity is key to continued growth.

Guanajuato is one of the most active destinations in terms of promotion. What events and activities do you have planned for the rest of the year?

We're consistently ranked among Mexico's top five MICE destinations. Our main focus is León, where we host medical conferences, automotive industry events, and major international trade fairs.

We'll soon have a new edition of Meeting Place Mexico , an event that has established itself nationally, attracting national and international buyers.

In addition to our participation in FIEXPO, we will be present at IBTM Americas in Mexico City and at all relevant industry trade shows. We always strive to showcase the true value of who we are as a destination.