Press Release: Meeting Professionals International
August 19, 2002
DALLAS, TX -- Meeting Professionals International (MPI), the global authority and resource for the meeting industry,
has partnered with Mexico President Vicente Fox and the Mexican government in a joint effort to increase the country's
market share as a global meeting destination in today's highly competitive arena.
In recognition of the significant impact meetings and conventions can bring to Mexico's economy, Fox met with MPI
President and CEO Edwin L. Griffin Jr., CAE, last week at Los Pinos, Fox's official residence, to address the next
steps for this historic partnership as well as MPI's expansion in the country.
Items of discussion included Mexico's opportunity to capture meeting business that was postponed after Sept. 11.
Mexican government tourism officials are pursuing Fortune 500 companies and other U.S.-based and international
organizations and associations that still may be seeking alternative locations for meetings originally scheduled
for overseas.
MPI and Mexico also are preparing the country for the economic recovery predicted for the next six to nine months
by strategically positioning Mexico as a comprehensive option for all segments of events including incentive trips,
product launches and large conventions and trade shows.
Key components of the plan to bolster Mexico's meeting industry are safety and security. The Mexican government
has significantly increased the level and amount of security in convention areas, and is launching a public awareness
campaign to promote Mexico as a safe destination for all meeting attendees and visitors.
Fox also is supporting legislation being considered by the Mexico Congress that would make meetings in the country
tax exempt. This far-reaching legislation could change the global playing field for public sector recognition and
respect for the industry.
"President Fox is completely attuned to the power of meetings and is taking aggressive steps to enhance growth
in Mexico's tourism and meeting market through legislative action, engagement of the hospitality community in becoming
more organized, public awareness campaigns and a partnership with MPI," said Griffin. "Meetings account
for $96.4 billion globally each year and have enormous potential to not only bring an immediate boost to the Mexico
economy, but to serve as a long-term business accelerator for hotels, airlines, transportation companies, convention
centers and all other local organizations that thrive on meetings and conventions."
Griffin added, "Mexico offers a wealth of destinations, a strong infrastructure and an excellent reputation
for hospitality, giving MPI and the Mexican government a solid foundation for propelling the country's meeting
industry forward."
Fox promised MPI his full support of growing MPI's two-year-old Mexico City Chapter from its current 125 members
to 1,000 members. As MPI's membership expands into Latin America, Fox encouraged MPI to open a global office in
Mexico City to better serve the needs of meeting professionals throughout Latin America and increase the region's
visibility in the world meeting market.
Additionally, President Fox will be the first head of state to address the global meeting industry on MPI's Web
site regarding the value and importance of meetings to attendees, the industry as well as local and national economies.
The video will be produced and available later this year on MPIWeb (www.mpiweb.org ) now tracking more than 150,000
visitors each month.
Leticia Navarro, Secretary of Tourism for the Mexican Government, Vicente Madrigal, and Mike Pericas, past president
and president, respectively, of MPI's Mexico City Chapter, also participated in the meeting.
The new MPI-Mexico partnership is not the first time MPI has provided counsel to a world leader. Griffin has met
with Prime Minister Macintosh of Scotland and Prime Minister Jean Chretien of Canada regarding ways to increase
their respective country's attractiveness in the changing global market. In April 2001, Griffin was invited by
British Prime Minister Tony Blair to meet with Blair and British Tourist Authority officials and participate in
an exclusive World Travel Leaders Summit to address the effect of foot-and-mouth disease on the meeting and convention
industry in the U.K.
Founded in 1972, Meeting Professionals International, with nearly 20,000 members in 64 countries with 60 chapters
and four chapters in formation, is the leading global community committed to shaping and defining the future of
the meeting and event industry. For more information, visit www.mpiweb.org
.
SOURCE: Meeting Professionals International