2013 ends on a high note as the Riviera Nayarit CVB welcomed 50 members of the international media on a FAM trip that included representatives from the United States, Canada, Brazil, Spain, England, Germany and Mexico, which has already garnered over 80 million impressions for the brand.

This December the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) welcomed 50 members of the international media to help generate exposure for the destination’s brand around the world. With only one story published per medium, the destination’s brand will surpass 80 million impressions.

All of the invited members of the media from captive markets such as the United States, Canada and Mexico, potential markets such as Brazil and England and others including Spain and Germany agreed that the Riviera Nayarit is a unique location.

The destination will be showcased around the world on television, radio, and in digital and print media specializing in luxury, cultural and adventure tourism, golf, lifestyle, weddings, industry publications and media opinion leaders.

Media included USA Today, which leads the publishing world in the United States with a circulation of 23,800,000; in second place, About.com, with about 19,262,016 Unique Visitors Per Month; and in third, the New York Daily news with a circulation of 2,813,413.

From Spain we hosted Agencia EFE, GQ and El Economista; Panrotas and Robb Report from Brazil; England’s Press Association; Germany’s Golfpunk; Mexico’s Travel & Leisure and, of course, Travel Weekly, which sent representatives from several countries.

We’re already seeing the results being published worldwide with stories on the different attractions of the Riviera Nayarit, including the luxurious offerings of Punta Mita, Nuevo Vallarta and Litibú; the traditions of San Pancho; Sayulita’s “hippie chic” style; the nautical attractions of La Cruz de Huanacaxtle; the natural beauty of the Marietas Islands and the many other natural marvels that have blessed this destination where the mountains meet the sea.

This was a first visit for the majority of the journalists and they confirmed they would be back. The deputy editor for GQ Spain, María Pardo, said she loved “the sunrise and to see the pristine beach extending off into the distance right in front of my room; the perfect climate; the whale-watching trip and the Marietas Islands, which were amazing.”

“There’s no doubt the underground beach is fantastic, I never imagined anything that lovely. I will definitely write something about the unique beauty of the Riviera Nayarit,” said Tom Irving from Travel Weekly UK, whose opinion echoed that of his international colleagues.

With FAM trips such as this one the Riviera Nayarit CVB reasserts its commitment to maintaining a steady flow of work with the clear objective of improving Tourism in order to benefit the people of Nayarit.

The most powerful concert of the year

In past days Markus Schulz was presented in a very famous place in Vallarta.

On Sunday 15, without a doubt the most moving posada was carried out in Puerto Vallarta, where the children of different foster homes, as well as a big group of environmentalist children, joined the celebration, on board of the pirate ship The Marigalante.

Without a doubt a great effort from the Mexican Association of Women Employers Chapter Puerto Vallarta AC (AMMJE), API, Radio Pirata FM, Notivallarta, Barco Pirata Marigalante, Banco de Alimentos, Notivallarta, Tukari, Flavocup, Navy Leaugue, Quinta del Ángel, Papelería Limón, all with the same end, to see in the more than 100 children a gratifying smile in their faces.

At 10 o clock in the morning this imposing pirate ship was boarded, the children enjoyed a snack, gifts, candy, they went into sea, they walked around the bay; in front of the pier of Puerto Vallarta, the staff contributed with activities, where the children danced and admired a real pirate scene, a sword fight, unexpected jumps to the sea where the little ones shouted in excitement for the plot, to afterwards see their return to take the Pirate ship again.

They applauded the bravery of the "good" pirates and cried asking for the bad ones to be punished by throwing them overboard, act followed by the presentation of each and every one of them, thanking and wishing the children a merry Christmas.

The President of AMMJE, Mrs. Gloria Carrillo thanked the sponsors and radio listeners who contributed with the gift, as well as to all the partners of this organism, who with a good heart and a timely manner joined this good deed. Likewise she reminded them about the purpose of the Christmas celebration and how important it is to always have Love present in their Lives, since it is the main energy that moves the world and it was the motive for which they were all present in that moment.

Yorya Larrondo, a part of Pirate FM, and a part of the Association AMMJE, was elected to coordinate the delivery of Christmas presents to the children, where the employers, had opportunity to have a warmer approach to the children, as were Mrs. Laurel Carrillo, Jhovanee Monge, Grace Nava, teacher Alicia Limón J. Guadalupe Bayardi, Beba Muñiz, Ana Carina Cibrián, Alejandra Cornejo, Graciela Muñoz and Martha Leticia Martínez, to mention a few.

Likewise the Captain of the Marigalante and its crew, congratulated all the children, on behalf of Pirate FM the Director Luis Servín, the radio speaker Alex Dwells and of course Yorya joined to wish them a very happy Christmas.

Punctually at 12:30 we disembarked in the dock of the API, with a good flavor in our mouths, when seeing the happiness in all the children who greatly enjoyed an unforgettable experience in their lives.

[readon1 url="http://notivallarta.com/2013/12/19/ammje-vallarta-realizo-posada-para-ninos-de-casas-hogares/"]Source: Vallarta Opina Translated by Rene Tripp[/readon1]

Furthermore Magaly Fregoso announced that next year, they are looking to have a rehabilitation clinic for people with disability, jointly with the workshops and courses that are already given

Anticipating the celebrations of December, the South Rotary Club and the System for the Integral Development of the Family (DIF), through the Municipal Council for Disability (COMUDIS), with its program “Devices that give movement”, delivered twelve wheel chairs to people of Puerto Vallarta so that they can improve their quality of life.

In the event carried out in the installations of the Municipal System of the DIF, the president of this assistance organism, Magaly Fregoso Ortiz, mentioned that each one in their own roll, be it of ruler or of citizen, has walked with a firm step in the search for real solutions for those who suffer some mobility, learning or language problem.

Thus she recognized the work carried out by the South Rotary Club in favor of people with disability, especially because in the municipality there are more than 10 thousand people with some disability.

WORTHY ASSISTANCE

Likewise Fregoso Ortiz emphasized that there is no disability which couldn't have a worthy assistance and announced that therefore the DIF System looks for a way to have a rehabilitation clinic for next year, added to the workshops and courses that are already given.

For his part, Alonso Bravo Amaral, head of the COMUDIS, thanked those who accompanied the ones benefited with the 12 wheel chairs for joining this struggle that is of everyone, and confirmed the commitment of the organism with the people, that for different reasons, have required this support.

He said that these wheel chairs are a Christmas gift for the people with disability, and he invited them to not to give up, to have faith always and to put all the human and material resources to get ahead.

Finally, Efraín Peña Navarro, member of the wheel chair committee of the South Rotary Club, stressed the will of the employers that are gathered by the club to support those who need it and left the doors open so that people with a disability can approach the organism with their applications so that they can be helped.

The president of the DIF recognized the work of the COMUDIS and of the South Rotary Club for the support to the people with disability. Magaly Fregoso reiterated her commitment of redoubling her efforts for the social assistance

The data

Alonso Bravo invited the people with disability to approach the institution

[readon1 url="http://vallartaopina.net/2013/12/20/donan-sillas-de-ruedas-a-los-vallartenses/"]Source: Vallarta Opina Translated by Rene Tripp[/readon1]

The San Pancho Collective seeks to position San Francisco, Nayarit, at the top of the list of cultural tourism attractions through its community’s diverse arts scene.  

From December 21st through the 29th afternoons in San Francisco, Nayarit, will be filled with art and culture thanks to the celebration of the 8th annual SINERGIARTE Festival.

The Marina Riviera Nayarit has unveiled the official logo/poster for the the 3rd Annual TASTE OF LA CRUZ to be held on Saturday January 18th, 2014 from 3:00 until 8:00 PM at the Malecón and Xiriki Amphitheater of the Marina in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle.

This year’s poster model is the Queen of La Cruz (la Reina de las Fiestas Patronales de La Cruz) Edna Cornejo Ovalle.

Catch The Holiday Spirit With Time to Play !

 “Always In Season”
 
Paradise Stage December 20 & 21

Vallarta’s popular band of merry musicians, Time To Play, celebrates the holidays with an all new show “Always In Season”on Paradise Community Center’s stage, Friday, Dec. 20 and Saturday, Dec. 21 at 8 PM.  

The intense promotion that the Governor of the People, Roberto Sandoval, has made of the Riviera Nayarit has placed this destination as the favorite of national tourists, foreigners and investors alike, which is proven now that Bill Gates has purchased the prestigious hotel “Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita 1”.

Cascade Investment, the private investment arm of the multi billionaire Bill Gates, bought this hotel complex, situated in the municipality of Banderas Bay, for an amount of 200 million. According to documents presented before the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the United States, the transaction included the purchase of “La Solana”, an adjacent plot of 19.5 hectares of terrain in development.

“We are an important investment firm in Mexico and we keep a positive vision on a long-term basis in the country and its economy”, noted in a communiqué the president of investments of the cited company, Michael Larson.

According to sources near the transaction, this could be concluded in the first quarter of 2014, although it is subject to certain conditions of closing and regulatory approval.

The work of Roberto Sandoval in tourist matters is reflected with the arrival of new investments, as is the case with the European company Iberostar, that recently inaugurated its new complex in Litibú.

[readon1 url="http://www.periodicoexpress.com.mx/nota.php?id=281797"]Source: Periódico Express Translated by Rene Tripp[/readon1]

Carlos Santana and a slew of major international music stars played for the camera on location in different spots of the Riviera Nayarit and Puerto Vallarta for Santana’s new record, “Corazón – Live from Mexico – Live it to believe it.”

The Riviera Nayarit and Puerto Vallarta were chosen as the recording location for Carlos Santana’s newest record, “Corazón – Live from Mexico  - Live it to believe it,” as part of the promotional campaign by the same name championed by the Mexico Tourism Board (MTB).

The album will include a live concert as well as a series of video interviews recorded in different spots around the Riviera Nayarit and Puerto Vallarta, thus keeping the destinations in their starring role within the MTB’s national campaign.

Folk singer Lila Downs was recorded singing in the inimitable San Pancho, both at the beach and in town. As always, Lila showed her great love for Mother Nature, asking her fans to do what they can to help preserve the natural bounties of the Riviera Nayarit.

“I think there are no coincidences in my life,” said Downs. “Every step I’ve taken has been guided by a sense of trying to understand the human spirit a little more, to have more patience, more love and more corazón, as the title of Carlos Santana’s album says. I’m very grateful to be in the land of the huicholes and the cora.”

The Colombian star Juanes was hosted at the Imanta Hotel, which offered a variety of spectacular backgrounds for his recordings. He said the first thing he did when he arrived at the Riviera Nayarit was to call his wife and tell her they needed to come together to enjoy the destination.

“I’ve had the opportunity to visit Nayarit twice; this time I was at Imanta and it was truly spectacular,” he enthused. “Their nature reserve is incredible and being here at the Four Seasons has been very special. The beaches, the people, the food, it’s all very positive. I love Mexico very much and every visit just proves me right.”

Thanks to its fresh fusion music scene and hippie chic vibe, Sayulita was the ideal stage for Choc Quib Town, the young Latin Grammy winners from Colombia. One of its members, Slow, reassured everyone that if he were invited back he’d be there in a heartbeat.

“I’m very happy to be here in Nayarit, it reminds me of our hometown,” he said. “The greenery, the scenery, it all feels so familiar and we feel at home. What I enjoy the most is the quality of the people: they may not know you but you can feel their good vibes and that’s the ultimate.”

Nina Pastori, Samuel Rosa (Shank), Soledad Pastorutti and Fer Olvera from the superstar band Maná took over several locations in Puerto Vallarta for their video recordings.

The sessions ended with Santana and company attending a celebration at La Manzanilla beach at the Four Seasons Punta Mita Resort, where they enjoyed their event by the water’s edge in exclusive Punta Mita.

The public relations department of the Riviera Nayarit CVB has succeeded in placing the destination on high rotation for two months on Antena 1, Brazil’s most popular radio station.

The Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) teamed up with the Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta and Copa Airlines to generate strong exposure for the brand on Brazil’s Antena 1 radio station as part of the follow-up to their promotional visit to that country.
 
The agreement stated that from October 20th through December 20th of this year the number one station in Brazil, Antena 1, would promote the destination to its listeners by giving away two trips to the Riviera Nayarit including airfare and five-nights’ accommodations for two.

The agreement took place under the aegis of the executives of the Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) in Brazil, a federal entity that always heartily supports the activities of the Riviera Nayarit CVB in this South American country.

Five daily spots are included in the agreement, airing in the cities of Sao Paulo, Campinas, Belo Horizonte, Porto Alegre and Sao José dos Campo, all touting the bounties of the Riviera Nayarit and the additional sponsors.

A banner was also placed on Antena 1’s official web page including the Riviera Nayarit’s URL with a promotional call to action, which will be up for the duration of the campaign. The same promotion is also posted on Facebook and on its printed material along with the logos of all the sponsors.

In addition, there were three daily spots that aired from November 1-15 on Antena 1 with content exclusively from the Riviera Nayarit.

Antena 1 boasts an average of 779,149 daily listeners, 64% of which fall into the A and B socioeconomic profiles; the majority of them are 25 years of age or older—95%, in fact.

The radio personalities of this very popular station will choose the winners, who must take the time to inform themselves well about the three sponsors—the Riviera Nayarit, the Hard Rock Hotel and Copa Airlines—in order to win. 

Once again, like each December 12, the center of this port, turned into a sea of faith in honor of the virgin of Guadalupe.

Since the first second of this day, the first sector of the city, transformed itself once again, like every year, in a sea of faith for the virgin Our Lady of Guadalupe

Rivers of people, alone or in family, punctually attended to participate in this great event of enormous tradition for the Catholic world here.

It is the sea of people that makes whirlpools, with the only aim of going into the church to bless and give thanks for the favors obtained this year.

As well as doing the indispensable minimum so that next year is even better.

This tradition extends for all day today, in each corner of the country, all the pilgrimages under the same precept, render cult to the virgin Mary.
Story that has its origin in our country, with the mention of Juan Diego, and the apparition of the virgin Mary in the hill of Tepeyac.

The first mention that was made of Juan Diego was in the book Nican Mopohua, published by Luis Lasso de la Vega and attributed to Antonio Valeriano, who wrote the Nican Mopohua in the decade of 1550, that is to say, seventeen years after the apparitions of the Virgin of Guadalupe.

San Juan Diego was of the Chichimecan indigenous ethnicity. Purportedly he was born on April or May 5 th of 1474 in Cuautitlán, in the neighborhood of Tlayácac, region that belonged to the realm of Texcoco. It was baptized by the first missionary Franciscans around the year 1524.

Juan Diego was a man considered as pious by the Franciscans settled in Tlatelolco, where there was no convent yet, but there was what is known as a doctrine, where mass and catechism were held. Juan Diego made a big effort each week, coming out "very early from the Tulpetlac village, which was where he lived in that moment, and going southward until reaching the hill of Tepeyac.

According to the tradition, on Saturday December 9th 1531, very early in the morning in the hill of Tepeyac he listened to the singing of the Mexican bird tzinitzcan, announcing the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe. She appeared to him four times between December 9th and 12th of 1531 and entrusted him to tell the then bishop, fray Juan de Zumárraga, that in this place she wanted a temple to be constructed. The Virgin of Guadalupe ordered to Juan Diego to cut some roses that had mysteriously just flowered in the top of the hill to take them to the bishop Zumárraga in his ayate.

The tradition refers that when Juan Diego showed the bishop the beautiful flowers during a freezing winter, the image of the Virgin miraculously appeared, later called Guadalupe by the Spaniards, printed in the ayate. The prelate -who in his writings did not leave any proof of any of the facts- ordered the construction of a hermitage where Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin would live for the rest of his days guarding the ayate (current chapel of natives).

[readon1 url="http://www.noticiaspv.com/mar-de-fe-la-virgen-de-guadalupe/"]Source: NOTICIASPV.COM Translated by Rene Tripp[/readon1]

To retire after a life devoted to work, Americans look for basically three things: security, higher returns for their investments and a pleasant place where they can enjoy their lifestyle without having complications; according to a report of the Huffington Post newspaper, Puerto Vallarta fulfills these characteristics, and places it beside Belize and Panama in a list of the three best destinations for retirement.

The report published in the first days of December puts the coast of Belize in the first place, where according to the comment, a semi-virgin paradise with sufficient services can be found, along with comforts and activities in the fields or in the beach, besides the fact that the locals speak English, and that the place has a similar style to the Caribbean coast.

In second place they put Panama for its recent urban dynamism, new options of condominiums and resorts, security for investment and a series of attractions in the coast, although it recognizes that the American community is not always well treated.

On the other hand, of Puerto Vallarta it is said that this destination has a high lifestyle since it has modern golf fields, the best restaurants, shops of every type, casinos, Marina Vallarta, and the appeal of being a place where there is quality in the service and a very good treatment for the American community in retirement.

The combination of services, first class comforts, and the colonial charm, affirms the report, combined with its beautiful beaches, besides its security, make Vallarta the ideal destination for retired foreigners who decide to spend their old age in the “jewel of the pacific”.

It is worth noting that in an article of the past summer, The Huffington Post declared this city as “The best place to retire in the Pacific coast”. In that occasion they wrote that “Vallarta is not the cheapest option to retire in the world, and not even in Mexico”, but its point is that the cost of life is cheaper than in Newport Beach, for example.

According to a recognized journalist of the most read newspaper in the world, Puerto Vallarta is not comparable to the emerging destinations of Nicaragua and Ecuador, and instead compares the lifestyle of Puerto Vallarta with the one of California! And he added the following “somebody recently compared the Pacific coast of Ecuador with the coast of Orange County. This is stupid, but to compare the coast of California with the Mexican Pacific coast around Puerto Vallarta, is not. This part of the Mexican Pacific has been highly developed. The life here is not only comfortable, but has all the necessary infrastructure.

The document outlines that this is a place to enjoy a world class lifestyle in the Pacific coast. And it finishes “you can find beautiful coastal fringes in parts of the Pacific of Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and Ecuador. What you cannot find in those places which you can in Puerto Vallarta, is the lifestyle to accompany those views.”

THE DATA:

According to the report of the Huffington Post newspaper, Puerto Vallarta is located beside Belize and Panama in the list of the three best destinations for retirement

[readon1 url="http://vallartaopina.net/2013/12/11/puerto-vallarta-entre-los-tres-mejores-destinos-para-el-retiro/"]Source: Vallarta Opina Translated by Rene Tripp[/readon1]