ROUND TABLE

Gran Turismo

Hotels of all shapes and sizes are experiencing high occupancy rates in many cities in Mexico, a country that enjoys a year-round tourism season.

MANUEL ALONSO

LOYAL CUSTOMERS

Unlike chain hotels and international brands, our guests are more than just numbers; we are focused very much on service. It is our main target. For this reason we have a lot of frequent clients because we have developed loyalty.

THAT’S BUSINESS

We’re able to accommodate anything from small meetings to gala dinners and even conventions and banquets. We have eight meeting rooms as well as a special department that is in charge of planning any type of business event.

UP & UP

The industry is clearly on an upward swing. We have had up and down moments, but the overall growth is very positive. It is good that Mexico has diversified and promotes itself overseas.

MAURICIO LINDER

OPEN UP

Creating new products is the prevailing trend. That is what we are aiming for, and new regions are opening up. We now believe that people should be seeing the interior parts of Mexico, including places such as Huaca, Chiapas, or even Querétaro.

HOME GAME

Approximately 80% of tourism income comes from the internal market. Around 15% of the remainder comes from the US market, and around 5% from Europe and Central America. Domestic tourism, therefore, is the most significant.

ENDLESS POSSIBILITES

Everything is possible in Mexico. It is possible to make a profit from all kinds of tourism. Ecological tourism is big business now, especially in places such as Bijas in Tampico. Cultural tourism is also huge. Culinary tourism has big potential and many nice restaurants are being developed that are certified as high quality.

ROBERTO ZAPATA LLABRÉS

MARKET LED

Boutique hotels are popular, but there are just a few in our city—only eight. The problem is that in Mexico we lack official categorization. You can find a five-star hotel in Mexico City, but there are no regulations for it—the quality is determined by the market.

ABOVE AVERAGE

The yearly occupancy average in Mexico is around 69% or 70%. Fortunately, for us, our best month was November 2011, with a 73% rate. February is also one of our best months—and we are forecasting perhaps 79% or 80% in 2012.

LOCAL FLAVOR

We explore the five senses of the human being. Food and cuisine are very important in boutique hotels. The mix of artistic design and history is a very important aspect of boutique hotels. The music is also important. Everything you find here, the art, the design, the artwork, and the furniture are all Mexican pieces.

ANGÉLICA VILLALOBOS

BEST PRACTICE

The Marquis Reforma is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World, and in order to maintain our membership we have to meet a lot of standards. We continuously train our staff and keep in constant contact with the marketing and promotion teams. We bring people or schools from outside the hotel to train them. It is our aim to learn about the best practices of other leading hotels.

WALKING DISTANCE

Our corporate clients are 90% of our total customers because we are in the best location in Mexico City. The most important museums are all within walking distance. This beautiful avenue is becoming a landmark of the city. We’re aiming at attracting more people to stay as part of a special weekend package.

ON THE RISE

Four new, important, 50-story buildings are rising in the area. The hotel is ready to receive more people, and rooms are being renovated as well as new restaurants being opened. More than 20,000 businessmen are expected to come to this area over the next two years.