Background on Puerto Vallarta’s Meeting and Conference Tourism
Puerto Vallarta, a Mexican city in Jalisco, aims to diversify its tourist demographic by promoting meeting and conference tourism. Laura Suárez, the Director of Groups and Conventions at the Tourism Trust of Puerto Vallarta, explained to El Economista that a conference attendee stays twice as long and spends double the economic impact compared to regular tourists, who typically stay for an average of 2.5 days.
Second Edition of Puerto Vallarta Meetings Event
On Thursday, the second edition of Puerto Vallarta Meetings took place to bring together various stakeholders in the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) sector. The event featured 55 meeting organizers from Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara, along with four international attendees; 55 local providers including hotels, travel agencies, and tour operators; and an exhibition showcasing 25 companies specializing in event services such as audiovisual, furniture, and catering.
Relaunch of Puerto Vallarta’s Tourism Promotion Trust
Puerto Vallarta Meetings is a relaunch of the city’s Tourism Promotion Trust, which held its first edition before the pandemic. After integrating a department dedicated to attracting events and linking them with the MICE cluster of over 60 specialized providers, the trust resumed in 2025. In 2024, Puerto Vallarta hosted 67 conferences and conventions generating over 55,000 room nights and a US$2,437.82 million economic impact, according to the trust.
Incentives for Choosing Puerto Vallarta
The International Convention Center in Puerto Vallarta, recently modernized with a US$25 million investment, boasts 5,000 square meters of space. Alejandra Cornejo, Director of Tourism for Puerto Vallarta, mentioned that the destination offers incentives such as coordinated site visits, easy access to venues like the Convention Center or Puerto Marítimo, and a local flavor that attracts more participants by 30% for experiential events.
Connectivity and Accessibility
Puerto Vallarta ranks as Mexico’s seventh busiest domestic and international airport, with 6.4 million passengers in 2024. It has 15 direct domestic connections and 26 routes to the US and Canada, ensuring year-round operations. Christian José Amador Lizardi, Director of Puerto Vallarta International Airport, highlighted that the Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico invested over US$6,000 million in the 2020-2024 period, focusing on building a new Terminal 2 at the airport. This expansion increased operational capacity by 130%, effectively creating “a nearly new airport.”
Key Questions and Answers
- What is Puerto Vallarta Meetings? Puerto Vallarta Meetings is an event organized by the Tourism Trust of Puerto Vallarta to promote meeting and conference tourism, bringing together stakeholders in the MICE sector.
- Why is Puerto Vallarta focusing on meeting and conference tourism? The city aims to diversify its tourist demographic by attracting visitors who stay longer and spend more, contributing to the local economy.
- What incentives does Puerto Vallarta offer for hosting events? The destination provides coordinated site visits, easy access to venues, and a local flavor that enhances participant engagement.
- How accessible is Puerto Vallarta for travelers? With numerous domestic and international flight connections, Puerto Vallarta ensures year-round accessibility for visitors.
