Monterrey’s Convention and Visitors Bureau (OCV) Position
David Manllo Valdés, General Manager of the OCV Monterrey, stated that their organization manages a portion of the Hotel Occupancy Tax (ISH), which allows them to have a competitive budget for attracting international events compared to central Mexico destinations.
Competitive Advantages
Manllo Valdés highlighted that Nuevo León has the advantage of having good funding, along with infrastructure such as airports, roadways, hotels, and large congress and exhibition centers. This enables Monterrey to compete with other destinations for international events.
Mexico’s International Event Hosting
According to the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), Mexico hosts numerous international events. Cancun leads in the number of congresses, followed by Mexico City, Los Cabos, and Monterrey and Guadalajara, which are tied for fourth or fifth place.
Targeting Professional Specialties
The ICCA regulates international events globally and has identified that almost all professional specialties have an association organizing one or more annual or biannual meetings with rotating venues. Following events in medical, sports, and industrial sectors is crucial for positioning Monterrey in this global circuit.
Securing Long-Term Events
Manllo Valdés mentioned that Monterrey is competing for events that can take place between 2 to 8 years, with some events confirmed until 2032. This requires significant effort to convince organizers to choose Monterrey as their event location.
Economic Growth Amidst Pandemic
Despite the pandemic, Monterrey has recovered and experienced sustained growth. In 2023, the OCV managed events generating approximately 2,800 million pesos in economic impact, which increased to 3,000 million pesos—a 7.14% rise from the previous year.
Projected Economic Impact
By the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026, Monterrey anticipates an economic impact of 3,500 million pesos, a 16.6% increase considering the National Amprofec 2026 Congress at Cintermex.
Hotel Occupancy Tax (ISH) Growth
Manllo Valdés reported that 253 million pesos were generated from the ISH last year, compared to 150 million pesos before the pandemic. He emphasized that they have surpassed this level and continue to see an upward trend.
Infrastructure Development
The growth in infrastructure for large gatherings is evident, with a new Presidente hotel under construction featuring a 2,200 square meter convention center. Additionally, new hotels are planned before the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the role of the OCV Monterrey? The OCV Monterrey manages a portion of the Hotel Occupancy Tax (ISH) to attract international events, competing with central Mexico destinations.
- Why is Monterrey a strong contender for international events? Monterrey boasts competitive funding, robust infrastructure, and large congress and exhibition centers.
- Which professional specialties does Monterrey target? Monterrey focuses on medical, sports, and industrial events by following relevant associations organizing annual or biannual meetings.
- How has Monterrey’s economy recovered from the pandemic? Despite challenges, Monterrey has experienced sustained growth in event management, with the OCV generating approximately 3,000 million pesos in economic impact in 2023.
- What is the projected economic impact for Monterrey by 2026? Monterrey anticipates an economic impact of 3,500 million pesos by the end of 2025 and beginning of 2026, driven by events like the National Amprofec 2026 Congress.
