AMDETUR Celebrates its 30th Anniversary during the 31st Annual Convention and 27th Expo

As part of the celebrations commemorating the 30^th anniversary of the founding of the Mexican Resort Development Association (AMDETUR), in a unique and historic event, at full capacity and in a spirit of camaraderie, the organization held its 31^st annual Convention, its 27^th annual Expo entitled “Three Decades Transforming Tourism in Mexico” and the Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit Marketing and Sales Forum entitled “Awakening and Transcending.”  The Association of Tourism Timeshare Developers and Promoters (ADEPROTUR), is not only one of AMDETUR’s founders, but has been fundamental to the timeshare and vacation ownership industry’s development in the Puerto Vallarta-Riviera Nayarit region.  Its support in the organization, operation and logistics of this great event made this year’s conference one of the most successful on record.

OPENING CEREMONIES

The opening ceremonies of this groundbreaking event were attended by Mexico’s Secretary of Tourism, Enrique De la Madrid Cordero, who told those present that tourism in our country is a policy for fighting poverty.  He noted that the three top vacation ownership countries in the world–the United States, Mexico and Canada–are a sign of how important it is to this region.  He urged entrepreneurs to work together to show how this region is destined for global competitiveness based on its natural and human resources.  We must all work together to build a better country, he said, because “together we can achieve more and together we are worth more.”  He acknowledged the presence and involvement of international associations like the American Resort Development Association (ARDA), the Cooperative Association of Resort Exchangers (C.A.R.E), the Canadian Vacation Ownership Association (CVOA), and the Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), an agency of the Jamaican government’s Ministry of Economic Growth and Jobs.

Jorge Herrera Rivadeneyra, Chairman of the Board of Directors of AMDETUR, recounted how AMDETUR has gradually positioned itself as a leading organization in Mexico over the past three decades, propelled by the dedication and commitment of the 16 people who have chaired the organization since its founding.  “Each and every one of these,” he said, “has faced challenges in defending the interests of our industry.”  He recognized the support of resort owners, local associations and authorities, with special mention of the current head of the Federal Consumer Protection Agency, Rafael Ochoa, and his work with the Senate Committee and Trade and Industrial Promotion on drafting the new Federal Consumer Protection Law.  In drafting this legislation, Mr. Ochoa was able to maintain the 5-business-day cancellation period and avoid obligating timeshare companies to enter a new Public Registry, similar to what pawnbrokers must do.  AMDETUR, he added, will continue to work in a united, inclusive manner to achieve each and every one of the goals it has set for itself.

PANELS

• Pioneers: Evolution of a Vision

One of the main panels was “Pioneers: Evolution of a Vision,” which was moderated by Ricardo Montaudon Corry, Chairman of the Board and CEO of RCI Latin America, included speakers Pablo González Carbonell, Chairman of the Board of Royal Holiday; Fernando González Corona, Chairman of the Board of Grupo Villa; Ernesto Coppel Kelly, Chairman of the Board of Grupo Pueblo Bonito and Kemil Assad Rizk Aziz, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Royal Resorts. Panelists spoke about the evolution and transformation of the Vacation Ownership Industry. They recalled that when it first came to Mexico, it began with the fixed unit, followed by the introduction of the floating unit.  One interesting fact they mentioned was that Mexico is the second leading country in the world in terms of sales, basically because of the leader, the United States, is a larger economy, but in proportional terms, thanks to its innovation and value, Mexico is actually number one.  The panelists agreed that over more than 30 years the industry has worked hard to position itself as one of outstanding quality, both in products and in services, in addition to the fact that consumer satisfaction is the most important thing for the industry to work at top capacity.

• 

  New Focuses on the Vacation Ownership Industry

The panel on “New Focuses on the Vacation Ownership Industry,” sponsored by Concord and moderated by Gerardo Rioseco Orihuela, Vice President of Provac-Grupo Posadas, involved panelists like Alejandro Zozaya, President of Apple Leisure Group; Alejandro Martín, CEO of Palladium Travel Club; Luis Lara González, CEO of Travel Smart VIP Vacations; and Marcos Agostini, Executive Vice President of Global Sales and Commercial Development at Interval International. These professionals argued that the vacation ownership product has evolved because today’s clients have different needs, so companies have been adapting themselves to what their customers require.  They also said that the floating-week project has been very successful in terms of sales, and that companies must reinvent themselves with benefits and products that can add more value to the sales process.

GALA DINNER, RECOGNITIONS, AND GOLDEN PALM AWARDS

The first day of activities was topped off by a spectacular Gala Dinner, where recognitions were presented to local associations, to executives with an outstanding track record in the industry, and resort developers who have shaped the industry from its beginnings. Special mention should be made of the fact that, for the first time in AMDETUR’s history, this year’s convention included the presentation of the 2017 “Golden Palm” awards, recognizing major companies whose initiatives and programs promote the development and growth of the Timeshare and Vacation Ownership Industry.

Recognition of Local Clubs:

1. Association of Quintana Roo Vacation Cubs (Asociación de Clubes Vacacionales de Quintana Roo, A.C., or ACLUVAQ)
2. Association of Sinaloa Vacation Clubs (Asociación de Clubes Vacacionales de Sinaloa, A.C., or COSTA PACÍFICO)
3. Association of Tourist Developers and operators of Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo (Asociación de Desarrolladores y Operadores Turísticos de Ixtapa y Zihuatanejo, A. C., or ADOTIZ)
4. Association of Tourism Timeshare Developers and Promoters (Asociación de Desarrolladores y Promotores Turísticos de Tiempo Compartido, A.C., or ADEPROTUR)
5. Association of Timeshare Resort Owners of Baja California Sur (Asociación Sudcaliforniana de Desarrolladores de Tiempo Compartido, A.C., or ASUDESTICO) 

Twenty-year+ badges for Executives

1. Luis Lara González
2. Marcos Agostini

Thirty-year badges for Executives

1. Alejandro Lemus Mateos
2. Barry Cohen
3. Colette Ann Comeau
4. Fernando Azcona Lizárraga
5. Francisco Aranda Bezaury
6. Gabriel Oropeza Griffith
7. Gustavo Ripol Bermúdez
8. John McCarthy Sandland
9. Jorge Ocaranza Freyría
10. Luis Ángel Cantú Treviño
11. María de Lourdes Ayala Ochoa
12. Ricardo Montaudon Corry
13. Rosa de Jesús Lugo Dorantes
14. Rosario Rodríguez Rojo

Twenty-year+ badges for Resort Developers

1. Robert Louis Kistner
2. José Carlos Azcárraga Andrade
3. Pablo Azcárraga Andrade

Thirty-year badges for Resort Developers

1. Pablo González Carbonell
2. Abelardo Garciarce Ramírez
3. Ernesto Coppel Kelly
4. Fernando González Corona
5. Kemil Assad Rizk Aziz
6. Abelardo Vara Rivera
7. Armando Millet Molina
8. Carlos Berdegué Sacristán
9. Carlos Vázquez Zepeda
10. Daniel Chávez Morán
11. Eduardo Sánchez
12. Navarro Redo
13. Eduardo Vela Ruíz
14. Francisco Bulnes Malo
15. Graziano Sovernigo
16. José Chapur Zahoul
17. Juan Vela Ruíz
18. Luz María Torres González
19. Owen Perry
20. Richard Sutton
21. Roberto Chapur Zahoul
22. Romárico Arroyo Marroquín

“Golden Palm” Recognitions

1. BEST SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY INITIATIVE – Royal Holiday
2. BEST REFERRALS PROGRAM – Posadas
3. BEST PRODUCT INNOVATION – Unlimited Vacation Club
4. BEST WELCOME PACKAGE – Solaz Los Cabos
5. BEST VIDEO PRODUCTION – Solaz Los Cabos
6. BEST MARKETING CAMPAIGN – Posadas
7. BEST LOYALTY PROGRAM – Interval Internationa

RECOGNITION FOR THE BEST THESIS IN THE FIRST MARKETING MASTER’S PROGRAM 2016

Mariano Fernández for his work on “Timeshare in the Age of Twitter”

The presentation of the awards was attended by Jesús Enrique Ramos Flores, Secretary of Tourism for the state of Jalisco, Álvaro Garciarce Monraz, President of the Puerto Vallarta Tourism Trust; Fernando González Ortega, President of the Riviera Nayarit Visitors and Conventions Office; María de Lourdes Ayala Ochoa, Chairman of the Board of ADEPROTUR, and Jorge Herrera Rivadeneyra, Chairman of the Board of AMDETUR.

“AWAKENING AND TRANSCENDING” MARKETING AND SALES FORUM

Parallel to the Convention activities, a Marketing and Sales Forum entitled “Awakening and Transcending” was held, sponsored by Mas Vacations, Resort Condominiums International and Interval International.  Two well-known presenters headed up the event: Alejandra Llamas, from the marketing side, spoke of leadership, productivity, and a good workplace environment, which depends on communication capacity.  On the sales side, Jeffrey Gitomer addressed issues such as personal growth, professional preparation and training in companies to take advantage of opportunities in world tourism, particularly in Mexico.

Attended by a little over 550 people, the training session was offered to promoters, sellers, coordinators, managers and directors working in strategic areas of the main timeshare and vacation ownership hotel complexes in Puerto Vallarta and the Riviera Nayarit.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Interval International extended a special recognition to AMDETUR in commemoration of its 30^th anniversary. THANK YOU, INTERVAL INTERNATIONAL!

This magnificent annual event was held on June 20, 21 and 22 in the Hotel Sheraton Buganvillas Resorts & Convention Center in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, and it brought together leading personalities from the timeshare and vacation ownership industry. Resort developers like Abelardo Garciarce Ramírez, Ernesto Coppel Kelly, Fernando González Corona, Kemil Assad Rizk Aziz, Pablo González Carbonell, Pablo and José Carlos Azcárraga, Owen Perry, Gabriel Macías Dueñas and Alejandro Zozaya were all present to share their experiences with participants.