Week of March 29

Businesses Report Increased Sales Prior to Semana Santa
Semana Santa, Mexico’s religious one-week holiday and spring break equivalent, is right around the corner and Vallarta businesses have reasons to celebrate. Many businesses around town, including shops and hotels, have experienced increased sales as they prepare for the arrival of thousands of tourists who traditionally come to Vallarta year after year during this time. AeroMéxico and Azteca Airlines released a statement indicating that several of their flights are full to capacity. Expect official businesses to be closed on Thursday and Friday this week.

Canadian Ambassador Visits Vallarta
“There are approximately one million Canadian visitors who come to Mexico every year, of which 30 percent choose Puerto Vallarta as their destination of choice,” stated Canadian ambassador Gaëtan Lavertu during a recent visit. Lavertu also commented on NAFTA, the free trade agreement that has produced beneficial partnerships between Canada and Mexico in terms of work and investment opportunities. Next to the United States, Canada is the second largest export destination of goods made in Mexico.

New Flights from Vallarta to Mazatlán and Los Cabos Announced
Aereocalafia, a regional airline that serves Baja California, has recently announced new flights operating from Vallarta to Los Cabos with connections in Mazatlán. These new flights, when combined with accommodation packages, will allow Vallarta residents and visitors an opportunity to visit two other popular beach destinations in the Pacific. Visit Aereocalafia’s web site at www.aereocalafia.com for more information.

Diamond Princess Comes to Vallarta
The Diamond Princess, a new cruise ship owned by Princess Cruises and one of the largest in their fleet, made its maiden voyage to Vallarta last week. The majestic vessel has a capacity for 2,600 passengers plus 1,200 crew. The Diamond Princess will arrive weekly in Vallarta every Tuesday as part of a seven-day trip originating in Los Angeles until mid May, and then returning to Vallarta beginning September. Princess Cruises is one of several cruise companies whose increased interest in Vallarta has fueled the renovations and expansions that are presently taking place at the Maritime Terminal.

Week of March 22

Vallarta Cultural Council Formed
A newly formed Municipal Cultural Council will aid local government in planning for future cultural events. The council, chaired by La Petite France owner Nacho Cadena, also includes Abel Villa, Peter Gray, Armando Soltero, Carlos Munguía, Jeffry Fernández and Manuel Santana. Cadena, who hosts cultural events at his popular restaurant on an ongoing basis, is also the president of the Cultural Council at the Centro Universitario de la Costa (CUC).

Malecón Merchants Request a Car-Free Semana Santa
Semana Santa, Mexico’s religious vacation week and Spring Break equivalent, is less than three weeks away. To that effect, merchants along Vallarta’s popular Malecón have submitted a petition to the municipality, extending the car-free policy to include all the Semana Santa days. Puerto Vallarta is a notoriously popular Semana Santa destination among national tourists, who flock from the hustle and bustle of Guadalajara, Mexico City and other regions. Vallarta’s mayor has offered no official response at this time.

Gala Vallarta Attracts Tour Operators
Gala Vallarta, an annual event for national and international tour operators, took place last week with increased attendance. This three-day event serves as a launching pad for tour operators, special event promoters and other hospitality providers to secure partnerships with the common goal of better promoting Vallarta as a tourist destination. In a related event, Hotel Marriott Casa Magna and Hotel Presidente Intercontinental received the coveted “H” award offered jointly by the National Tourism and Health Secretaries, in recognition of their commitment to the highest standards of hospitality and food preparation.

Vallarta’s Convention and Tourism Office Names Director
Vallarta’s Convention and Tourism Office (OCV) recently appointed Alfredo Rosas as its new director. Rosas comes to the position with more than 25 years of experience in the tourism industry, having managed hotels in Cozumel, Los Cabos and other beachfront destinations. Among the most important challenges for the OCV to overcome in the near future is Vallarta’s Convention Center – if and when it happens – and the inability that Jalisco and Nayarit governors have displayed in promoting Vallarta as a common destination.

Week of March 15

Vallarta’s Convention Center: Reality or Joke?
With less than two weeks to go before the first stone is put in place, symbolically beginning construction of Vallarta’s new convention center, Vallarta’s Mayor Gustavo González Villaseñor removed himself from the process stating, “It is up to Jalisco’s governor to come to Vallarta and perform this task, not up to me.” At the same time, neighboring state Nayarit has been selling the idea of a separate convention center to be built north of the border (the state border, that is). And while hoteliers and restaurant owners are pushing for the idea of branding our destination as Vallarta (not Puerto or Nuevo Vallarta), promoting it accordingly and putting the state border aside, state-level politicians continue to put their personal egos and priorities ahead of the needs of our destination. Vallarta’s convention center’s first stone is scheduled to be put in place in a ceremony on Wednesday, March 31. The location, plans, architectural renderings and such are, of course and as usual, yet to be determined.

Preparations Begin for 10th Festival Gourmet
With unprecedented international promotion, preparations for the annual Festival Gourmet have commenced. The event, which brings to Vallarta renowned chefs and gourmands from all over the world for a week-long feast, will take place for the 10th year this coming November. Event organizers Thierry Blouet and Heinz Reize recently announced a promotional campaign that will promote the event in major cities all over the United States. For more information, visit www.festivalgourmet.com.

New Department Stores and Hotels Coming to Vallarta
Vallarta Mayor Gustavo González Villaseñor recently announced new private investments that will come to Vallarta in the near future. These include the construction of a new hotel next to the Holiday Inn, the revitalization of the shopping center in Marina Vallarta, and the introduction of a new department store, Soriana. Additionally, the hotel located behind Mega Comercial will be completed. These multi-million dollar investments will generate approximately 3,000 new jobs and will provide visitors with new services.

Estefan Lokos’ Paintings Added to CUC Collection
It was an emotional moment for Inge Lokos, as she recently watched her late husband’s work find a permanent resting place in the University art collection, 10 years after his death. Estefan Lokos is fondly remembered among long-time local residents, not only for his inimitable landscapes, but also for his charisma and love of life. Hungarian by birth, he was interned and later escaped from a POW camp in Odessa, Russia, in 1945. He and Inge spent time in various Middle East countries before traveling to the United States, where they eventually gained American citizenship. Later, their love of Mexico brought them here to settle down in Puerto Vallarta. Ms. Lokos is now finishing a book that will tell of her rich experiences, from her refugee years up until finding peace in Puerto Vallarta, with her life with Estefan as a central theme.

Week of March 8

La Cruz-Punta Mita Highway Expansion Scheduled
Nayarit governor Antonio Echevarría Domínguez announced this week that an expansion of the La Cruz-Punta Mita highway would begin in six weeks. Recently approved by the federal communications and transportation secretary, the expansion will add two additional lanes to the highway, increasing accessibility to the increasingly popular northern side of our bay. State funding has already been set aside for the project, with additional private sector funds expected.

Spain Charter Company Strikes Gold in Vallarta
Having recently visited Vallarta, Pullmantur, an important Spanish charter company, has solidified eight deals with hotels in Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta to bring charter flights from Spain on a regular basis, as recently announced by Gabriel Igartúa Sánchez, president of Vallarta’s Hotel and Motel Association. During their visit, Pullmantur directors set forth strict guidelines and requested lists of four- and five-star hotels in the region. Beginning this week, large promotional billboards will be displayed in Madrid and other places in Spain promoting Vallarta. The first charter flight is expected to arrive May 8.

Vallarta’s Appeal Increases With New International Flights
Aeromexico and America West announced new flights to Vallarta this week. Aeromexico’s new offerings include two new routes: Salt Lake City ­ Hermosillo ­ Puerto Vallarta and Ciudad Juárez ­ Puerto Vallarta. Additionally, more flights to and from Mexico City will be added in April, when national tourists flock to the beach during Semana Santa. America West will offer direct flights from Phoenix, Ariz. starting in April and from Los Angeles starting in June.

Week of March 1

Vallarta Officials Tighten Leash on Public Vendors
In an effort to continue improvements in the downtown area, city officials have begun dialogs with street vendors at several locations in order to relocate them. Máximo Martínez Aguirre, director of ambulant permits and licenses, stated this week that approximately 50 vendors currently selling goods to tourists at Hidalgo Park, the Malecón and Lázaro Cárdenas Plaza would be relocated. While not all vendors agree on this measure and negotiations will be difficult, Martínez Aguirre hopes he will be able to reach a consensus among them. In the meantime, no further street vendor permits will be extended by his office.

Car-Free Malecón, A Permanent Move
After two successful weekends, Vallarta Mayor Gustavo González Villaseñor announced that closing the Malecón to vehicular traffic on weekends would be a permanent move. Further logistical improvements will continue to take place, as pedestrians discover yet another reason to put on their walking shoes and step outside. Regarding public parking, private investors ­ who originally only showed lukewarm interest ­ are now highly motivated to work with the city in the construction of new parking sites. González Villaseñor commented that there are now more than 10 specific proposals being considered.

Santa Barbara Dinner Theater Hosts Another Musical
Director Beverly Rose returns to Santa Barbara Dinner Theater with a production of A.R. Gurney’s hilarious comedy, “Sylvia.” A proficient playwright, Gurney also penned the popular play “Love Letters.” The production will run March 4 ­ 27 with Thursday ­ Saturday evening performances and a Sunday matinee. Please call 222-4477 for more information.

Terry Fox Fundraiser Returns to Vallarta
Terry Fox Vallarta organizers recently announced that this year’s cancer fundraiser will take place March 28. The perennial event raised $677,377 pesos last year. When Terry Fox took his Marathon of Hope halfway across Canada in the summer of 1980, his courageous run, combining both outstanding athletic achievement and high humanitarian ideals, stirred the pride and compassion of Canadians everywhere. Although he was unable to complete his cross-country journey, Terry Fox was successful in raising more than $20 million for cancer research, emerging as a true Canadian hero in the process. The late, one-legged runner has become a symbol for extraordinary accomplishment and humanitarian excellence.