When winter blows snow into icy ridges against your windows, it’s time to look south. An easy four-hour non-stop flight from Chicago lands in the heart of a Mexican Riviera, Puerto Vallarta. Hotels and condo rentals abound to welcome northern snowbirds, and friendly Mexican locals stand ready to serve. First on any traveler’s mind is the question of safety in Mexico, and Puerto has a long history of offering visitors security and kindness. After four visits to PV, I’ve found no areas of the city that I would hesitate to venture into alone on foot during daylight hours or after sunset.

Once settled in a furnished condo near the beach, we walked two blocks east to 260 5 de Febrero, No Way José, a spot that sounded corny, but seemed to draw crowds. At a spacious upstairs table, we lifted glasses of cold Negra Modelo and crunched the welcome chorizo-topped taquito.

Two small roasted güeros, tiny yellow banana peppers stuffed with mahi-mahi ceviche, arrived on a plate mirrored with tart passion fruit purée sprinkled with pomegranate seeds. Here began my journey into the tradition of combining fruit with locally caught fish. I’d already determined to focus on seafood; after all, we were just steps from the fish-laden Banderas Bay.

No Way José’s main plate brought a thick fillet of perfectly grilled mahi-mahi resting on wilted zucchini flowers and covered with a thick creamy mango mandarin sauce. A few julienned carrots and zucchini nestled next to a mound of mashed potatoes. The bland sweet sauce did nothing to enhance my delicious thick fish fillet. A touch of zippy salsa and a squeeze of lime livened the mixture, and the uninteresting mashed potato was easy to abandon for warm corn tortillas on request.

Dessert was not on my program, but the miniature Mexican flan garnished with orange curd, strawberry purée and powdered cinnamon was a perfect final taste fragranced with cinnamon splinter candles.

This entire dinner for two including two margaritas, one beer, one first, two main plates, and one dessert cost just under $50. Keep in mind that most restaurants in PV are not smoke-free. Halfway through our dinner a chain smoker sat down next to us. Fortunately our table, alongside an open window, gave us just enough breeze to keep the air moving.

The local free newspaper, PV Mirror, praised a new restaurant opened by the veteran chef of the prestigious Café des Artistes in town. Hugo Ahumados named his place Maia for the earth goddess and for his first-born daughter. Tucked near the end of the block, Pulpita Street hugs the southern edge of the Romantic Zone just yards up from the beach. Inside, we found a comfortable, unpretentious room with bare tables, low lighting and no attempt to “fiesta up” the space. There’s no printed menu, but a large chalkboard lists the day’s specials. Here only local seasonal produce enters the kitchen; all wine, beer, and liquor are Mexican.

At last I would find a good glass of wine from the premium winegrowing region in the Baja Peninsula. Our server brought me two samples to choose from; both were excellent, though I found the chenin/colombard blend from Santo Tomás fuller in flavor, drier, and better for the fish on order. Drinks in hand, we were greeted with a tidbit of warm bean and chorizo purée with fresh tortilla chips.

We shared our first course of hot shrimp, octopus and mushrooms in garlic butter with julienned guajillo chili. Surprisingly, it arrived in an oval sardine tin. As warm as it was, giving off an irresistible garlic butter aroma, we longed for some French bread to dip in the sauce and wished we’d ordered separate plates for both of us.

When our fish arrived, we were jolted by another unusual serving dish, an oval glass bowl designed to look like a split glass jug. These tableware gimmicks did not improve the eating and made it more difficult to enjoy spooning the tasty sauce up with the fish. At this point I realized I’d run amiss. I did not receive the fish preparation I thought I was getting, and this was totally my fault. I need to advise you to study the chalkboard menu carefully and discuss details with your server. I was caught up with the type of fish offered since I’d seen this beautiful blue-scaled specimen in a pescadería, and I didn’t pay enough attention to the preparation. The fish arrived with fruit, and the sweet turned out to be not what I thought the best companion. The mojarra fillet was perfectly cooked and rested on a brothy bed of sliced poached apples, pineapple, strawberries, and jicama, then topped with a light vegetable stock velouté.

Maia’s exquisite handcrafted dinner, including two margaritas, a glass of wine, one appetizer and two main plates, came to 623 pesos or just under $50 before tip.
 
When you’ve come to the point in your Vallarta stay that all you want is some great fish and chips, a perfect margarita (not the huge frozen mixtures that taste like Sprite and cheap booze), head over to Basilla Badillo and join the crowd at Joe Jack’s Fish Shack. Be sure to sit upstairs in the open-air garden room with old movie posters and hanging bougainvillea. Here you’ll find American efficiency, lots of English spoken, perfectly cooked fish, genuine mixed drinks, and plates delivered with a touch of Mexican flair.

I can’t leave Puerto without encouraging you to try its street food. Every vendor I’ve encountered has been clean and friendly as can be. Each one offers some of the best tastes in the city. I’m fond of the fish tacos at the Marisma stand up the hill near the Emiliano Zapata fruit market at 320 Naranjo, where the battered fish tacos and the smoked marlin tacos are delectable. Closer into the beach area at the corner of Constitución and Francisco Madero, El Moreno is our favorite spot for birria, pork tacos, and quesadillas. The Birria Woman, as I’ve called her, has been holding forth here for 34 years and is now joined by her daughter and son-in-law. They maintain a lively trade in their tidy white cubicle surrounded by bar stools from 10 in the morning until late at night. They dispense savors and salsas of Mexico not to be missed.

If you have any kitchen facilities available, consider cooking some of the amazing fresh produce available. Walk east, up the hill to the end of Cárdenas Street to Mercado Emiliano Zapata. Here you’ll find abundant fresh fruit, vegetables, meats, grains, dairy products, and tortillas. For incredible fish caught daily, walk west and look across the street from the shuttered Rizo’s on Constitución for Pescadería el Aguaje; then cook the best meal you’ll have in Puerto Vallarta

As a side note: for the luxuriating experience of a perfect hairstyle, a facial or manicure, make an appointment at Cuquita on Libertad Street in the Central Zone. Here the expert dueña, a gorgeous woman with decades in the business, will bring you the sensation of being pampered in a grand hacienda.

[readon1 url="http://www.lasplash.com/publish//a-taste-of-puerto-vallarta-savor-in-the-sun.php"]Source: www.lasplash.com Photos:Mary Jo Mc Millin[/readon1]

Swiss-based food and drinks company Nestle SA says it will build two new factories in Mexico and invest $1 billion in the country over five years.

Nestle said Friday that it will build an infant nutrition factory in Ocotlan, in western Jalisco state, and a pet food facility in Silao in the central state of Guanajuato.

The company says it also will expand and upgrade a cereal factory in Lagos de Moreno, also located in Guanajuato state. CEO Paul Bulcke says the investment will lead directly to the creation of 700 jobs.

Bulcke says the decision reflects Nestle's "long-term vision in a market with high growth potential." The company says Mexico is its sixth-biggest global market.

[readon1 url="http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/nestle-build-factories-mexico-21648978"]Source: abcnews.go.com[/readon1]

Puerto Vallarta has become one of the most popular destinations for American patients searching for weight loss surgery in Mexico. State-of-the-art hospitals and very competitive prices attract thousands of patients each year.

Very recently Dr. Jose A. Castaneda performed Biliopancreatic Diversion (BPD) surgery successfully on American patient Mrs. Joellen. She has left a video-testimonial sharing her positive experience with people who are considering bariatric surgery in Mexico.

The operation took place in Puerto Vallarta, where Dr. Castaneda performs different types of bariatric surgeries.

Mrs. Joellen explains, "I decided to have surgery with Dr. Jose A. Castaneda after researching multiple websites offering bariatric surgery in Mexico. I was able to ask the medical team everything regarding my surgery. Through a personal assessment, I shared my personal reasons for undergoing weight loss surgery, which was very helpful. My health was deteriorating; you get tired easily, the self-esteem is in tatters.
We all know that bariatric surgery has some risks, but I was certain that with Dr. Castaneda everything would be okay after my initial consultation.

My BPD surgery lasted an hour and a half, after surgery I was taken to my room and the next day I conducted tests to detect leaks, then I started my diet with liquids. I did not feel pain or discomfort, I actually felt comfortable and I noticed how clean the facilities were, the nursing staff were also very caring to me and that gave me confidence.

The next day I was released from my hotel, where recovery was excellent. Because my bariatric surgery was performed laparoscopically I was able to enjoy Puerto Vallarta and I could go for walks on the beach, watch the sunset and enjoy the scenery.

I encourage all people who are going through the same as me, to consider having bariatric surgery in Mexico with Dr Jose A. Castaneda´."

Biliopancreatic diversion surgery information can be found at Dr. Castaneda´s new website WeightLossSurgeryinMexico.com, one of the best specialist websites created to help American patients with their research regarding bariatric surgery in Mexico. The innovative online tools developed for patients by Dr. Castaneda in 2013 won him the “Best Bariatric Surgeon 2013” awarded by the prestigious allPrivateHealth.com, for his contribution to delivering outstanding service to patients via his mobile friendly websites and the new BariatricApp.com

Dr. Castaneda is a leading bariatric surgeon in Mexico, specialist in duodenal switch surgery, gastric bypass, gastric banding, metabolic surgery, and he´s also leading the way by introducing new weight loss surgery procedures, and surgery for diabetes.

"When Mrs. Joellen first approached us we spoke about her condition, and possible ways to improve it, followed by a personal in-depth nutritional and bariatric surgery assessment which helped the Obesity Solutions medical team to identify that Laparoscopic BPD surgery was the best option for her," says Dr. Castaneda. "I am thrilled to have been chosen by Joellen amongst the many other alternatives available for weight loss surgery in Mexico."

[readon1 url="http://www.prweb.com/releases/weight-loss-surgery/mexico/prweb11511347.htm"]Source: www.prweb.com[/readon1]

Vicki Gunvalson and Brooks Ayers started dating years ago, but ever since, there relationship has been on and off. As of the summer, they appeared to be off, but now, the Real Housewives of Orange County star and her Southern beau seem very much on.

Earlier this month, Vicki and the cast arrived to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico where they were scheduled to film scenes for season nine, and although the trip seemed to be a ladies vacation at first, new details have come forward.

According to Reality Tea, Brooks is very much a part of the cast trip, which means he will likely be seen on season nine.

"[A source] saw them filming in a restaurant and was able to meet Vicki and one of the new housewives," the site reports. "[The source] also said that Brooks was there too and chatted with him."

For years, Brooks' motivation in being with Vicki has been questionable, at best, but for some reason, Vicki seems convinced that he is the guy for her, and if that's what makes her happy, great!

Vicki Gunvalson and the gang will be back for a ninth season of The Real Housewives of Orange County later this year.

During 2013 the number of articles published in the United States and Canada doubled, while the number of impressions tripled and the return on investment quadrupled as compared to 2012.

The public relations office of the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) has worked hard to promote and position the destination and its sister brands from Nayarit, and its work continues to pay off with a very impressive increase in presence in the United States and Canada during 2013 over that of 2012.

Their efforts resulted in several press FAM trips, interviews, presentations on TV and radio shows, social media, and inclusions in periodicals both online and off, as well as in consumer and travel industry publications.

The office also used the services of PRNewswire to extend the reach of its press releases to more readers in North America.

The amount of articles published in 2013 by the different media mentioned numbered 498, almost doubling the 270 published during 2012.

The number of impressions tripled, increasing from 373,375,751 in 2012 to 990,148,281 unique impressions in 2013.

The return on investment during this past year was equally impressive, literally quadrupling the USD $12,506,004 obtained in 2012 to USD $54,857,901. If we consider the return obtained during 2013 to be at 100%, the investment then represents no more than 1% of the total.

The distinctive feature of the FAM trips with the press is the added value that comes when the writers experience the destination for themselves. The journalists can then editorialize, which is much more valuable than any advertisement.

This is the case with freelance writer Irene Thomas, www.irenethomas.com, winner of the 2004 Silver Quill awarded by the Mexico Tourism Board and one of the guests of honor of the Tourism Tianguis.

Irene has visited the Riviera Nayarit on four occasions and the article that resulted from her last visit was published on five separate occasions, two in the United States and three in very important media in Canada.

“Although Mexico as a whole is my favorite destination in the world, the unique experiences, the exquisite flavors, the warmth of the people and the natural beauty of the Riviera Nayarit will always have a special place in my heart,” said the international journalist. “This is why I love to promote this region to those who love Mexico like I do.”

In this manner, the Riviera Nayarit CVB ascertains the public relations activities it has put forth have had very tangible results that serve to restore and reinforce the destination’s natural markets.

Jose Sulaiman, one of the most powerful people in professional boxing -- and also one of the most reviled -- died on Thursday in Los Angeles after a lengthy illness. He was 82.

Sulaiman rose to power as the president of the World Boxing Council, one of the sport's major sanctioning organizations, whose champions are immediately recognizable by their green and gold world title belts. Sulaiman was elected president of the WBC in 1975 and ruled with an iron grip.

Most figured he would remain president until his death before the organization made it official, voting him president for life at its annual convention in November in Bangkok. But Sulaiman was unable to attend the convention because he was hospitalized with heart problems and in intensive care since October at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, where he died.

His death was confirmed by his son, Mauricio Sulaiman, who was his chief lieutenant with the WBC and is expected to take the reins of the organization.

"He certainly treated all fighters as his sons and daughters, he suffered from their problems and worked every single day of his life to try to make boxing better and safer," the WBC said in a statement. "Regardless if the boxer was an amateur or if he was Mike Tyson or (Julio Cesar) Chavez, he would treat them the same and would relentlessly try to help each one at all times."

Born May 30, 1931, in Ciudad Victoria, Mexico, Sulaiman spent most of his life involved in boxing. He boxed as an amateur and worked as a trainer, promoter, referee and judge before being elected president of the WBC. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2007.

During his tenure as WBC president, Sulaiman was one of the driving forces behind the reduction of championship fights from 15 rounds to 12 in the name of boxer safety. This came about in 1983, shortly after the death of Deuk-Koo Kim in a nationally televised WBA lightweight world title fight with Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini. All of the other sanctioning organizations eventually followed the WBC's lead on the issue.

In another change for safety reasons, Sulaiman also championed the switch of official weigh-ins from the morning of a fight to the day before in order to give the fighters time to rehydrate. Under Sulaiman's watch, the WBC also instituted gloves with thumbs attached, another move made for boxer safety reasons.

For all of the positives, however, there was as much negative. For decades, the WBC, under Sulaiman's direction, often ignored its own rules, put out rankings that showed overt favoritism to those Sulaiman was close to and rewarded fighters with title shots who had not earned them but were in the personal good graces of Sulaiman. He was heavily criticized for his extremely close relationship to promoter Don King, who was often the beneficiary of generous rankings for his fighters.

Sulaiman also was a driving force in the proliferation of numerous championships within the organization, including the regular use of interim titles.

He was also accused of regularly showing favoritism toward Mexican fighters and was documented to have forced fighters to give him personal memorabilia, such as fight-worn trunks, robes and gloves.

Sulaiman had grown so used to doing as he pleased with the WBC that it nearly bankrupted the organization. In 1998, then-light heavyweight champion Roy Jones vacated the WBC title and Graciano Rocchigiani outpointed Michael Nunn a few months later to win the vacant title. Rocchigiani was announced as the new champion, given a belt in the ring and listed in subsequent official rankings as the organization's world champion.

However, when Jones changed his mind and asked the WBC to reinstate him as light heavyweight champion, Sulaiman granted his request, breaking the rules. The WBC informed Rocchigiani that listing him as champion was a "typographical error." Rocchigiani sued the WBC in U.S. federal court, claiming the WBC had broken its rules and damaged his earning power by taking away the title. He won the case and a $30 million judgment. The WBC and Rocchigiani eventually reached a settlement under which the organization had to pay him regular installments of the settlement. In order to raise money to go toward the payments, Sulaiman began to create more and more titles so the WBC could collect additional sanctioning fees.

Sulaiman is survived by his wife, six children and 14 grandchildren.

Tourism specialists Condé Nast Traveler and TripAdvisor included Riviera Nayarit hotels in their “Gold List 2013 Mexico Hotels & Resorts” and “Top 25 Hotels in Mexico 2013,” respectively, both chosen by the travelers’ and readers’ themselves.

The Riviera Nayarit continues to prove the excellence of its many tourist attractions including its hotel infrastructure, which stands out thanks to its stellar service and its luxurious offerings. Such was the verdict of the readers and followers of Condé Nast Traveler and TripAdvisor, who chose many of the destination’s hotels as the best in Mexico.

Condé Nast Traveler’s readers selected 40 national hotels to be included in their “Gold List 2013 Mexico Hotels & Resorts”, including the Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, a Five Diamond property; the Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit, a special category Five Diamond all-inclusive hotel; and the Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta, a gran turismo Four Diamond all-inclusive property.

During the poll tourists who visited the webpages rated the rooms, service, food, location, design and activities in all the hotels, then averaged out the scores to decide their favorites.

When TripAdvisor posted its “Travelers’ Choice 2013,” which focuses on different tourism aspects, the Riviera Nayarit was named as one of the choice destinations. In its current list of “Top 25 Hotels in Mexico,” five of the region’s hotels were named among the favorites.

The St Regis Punta Mita Resort, a Five Diamond special category property, took third place; the Marival Residences & World Spa, a Four Diamond gran turismo hotel, held 7th place; followed Villa La Estancia, with similar qualifications, in 8th place.

Completing the list from the Riviera Nayarit were the Four Seasons and the Grand Velas in 14th and 24th place, respectively. It’s interesting to note that both resorts appear in both top lists.

Both Condé Nast Traveler and TripAdvisor are world-renowned tourism guides. The Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau extends its warmest congratulations the hotels selected by the public to be a part of such notable lists.

For access to the lists please click on the following links.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Hotels-cTop-g150768
http://www.cntraveler.com/gold-list/2013/americas/mexico

Media powerhouse www.Huffingtonpost.com chose five destinations with new growth, new tourism offerings or special events only happening in 2014 and put together a special list of recommendations for trendsetters looking to vacation on the cutting edge.

The online newspaper and blog, www.huffingtonpost.com, also known as the Huff Post, kicked off the New Year with its list of “The 5 Coolest Places to go in 2014” where the Riviera Nayarit was prominently featured thanks to its growth and fantastic tourism attractions, as well as important events taking place in 2014.
 
This series of recommendations was posted to give trendsetting world travelers a heads up on alternative destinations, attractions, accommodations and events when planning their cutting edge vacations.
 
It clearly highlights the Renaissance currently experienced by the Riviera Nayarit, which is once again recouping its status as a top tourism destination thanks to the safety it offers its visitors, along with its outstanding hotel infrastructure—including all-inclusive options—and the the many local attractions that can be enjoyed without additional travel time.
 
According to the article, “That’s why the Riviera Nayarit is one of our travel picks for 2014:  it has tranquil beaches and small, charming beach towns with authentic flavor. But it also has a large expat community and shares an airport with Puerto Vallarta to the south.”
 
The portal also singles out the Haramara Retreat in Sayulita, a yoga getaway located seaside on acres of wild vegetation just outside of town. They stress the fact it has no electricity and is as close to nature as you can possibly get while still maintaining the luxurious standards it needs to attract those in search of pure relaxation.
 
“The structures have been built using traditional construction techniques to minimize the environmental impact,” states the text. “Each room is housed in a private standalone thatched hut with no window panes or screens separating it from the jungle, and only gauze curtains and mosquito nets to avoid bugs and critters.”
 
The website covers a gamut of topics ranging from politics to media, business, entertainment, fashion, ecological topics, international news and humor. It’s considered among the top 100 sites in the world and is 25th in popularity in the United States.
 
The complete list includes Nicaragua, Rio de Janeiro in Brazil; Paris, France; the island of Vieques in Puerto Rico and, of course, the Riviera Nayarit.
 
To read the article please click here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/oyster/the-5-coolest-places-to
g_b_4550552.html?utm_hp_ref=travel&ir=Travel

Terra da Gente is a Brazilian TV production that’s beamed to 114 countries on five continents; it serves as a showcase for nature and the environment.

The producers of the Brazilian TV show, Terra da Gente, made their way to the Riviera Nayarit and its sister destinations for a full week at the close of 2013 in order to capture on digital video the natural beauty and the many attractions of our State.

While they were here, the Terra da Gente camera crew visited the Marietas Islands and the Marina Riviera Nayarit, as well as the coastal villages where they filmed the surf. They also zip-lined down the mountain, which highlighted the destination’s diversity.

Their itinerary also included a trip to San Blas, where they swam with the whale sharks and visited the Laguna de las Garzas. Afterwards they toured the Aguamilpa Dam and made their way to the Nayar Mountains, home to the Huichol community of Potrero de la Palmita.

The Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) arranged this visit from the Sao Paulo station precisely because of the extensive international reach of its program.

Terra da Gente airs on 20 open channels in four of Brazil’s states, as well as Panama and Peru, with a reach of 38 million viewers.

By January 2002 the show was airing throughout the entire country via satellite (Globo Superstation). It has a subscription of 8 million homes around the country, which according to TV Globo equals 28 million potential spectators.

The show will also air via Globe International Channel in 114 countries on 5 continents. The signal reaches many countries in the Americas as well, including the United States and Canada, plus Australia and Japan. It will air in Europe via the EPTV stations on satellite and the Globe International Channel.

The show’s host and producer, journalist Ciro Puerto, is known for his extensive work dealing with ecology and nature. His weekly show has received numerous awards and is enjoyed by the entire family.

By inviting renowned international media with a worldwide reach, the Riviera Nayarit’s return on its initial investment is multiplied many times over.

Mexican Ocean Racing Circuit, the international that began in the 60’s with the San Diego-Acapulco regattas, will return to Puerto Vallarta on March 23 to 29, 2014. Known as one of the most important sailing events in the Pacific Coast, MEXORC, will put sailors from the Pacific coast of United States and Mexico in a race across Mexican waters in six days of races with daily regattas, one long or two short ones.

For its 2014 edition, it is expected to welcome approximately 50 sailboats from 34’ to 80’ representing more than 500 visitors and competitors with races taking place in the Bay of Banderas’ Bahia Las Caletas, Marietas Islands and Puerto Vallarta’s Marina.

Set on Bandera’s Bay, member of the World’s most beautiful Bays club, Puerto Vallarta’s rich history is reflected through its diverse culture, gastronomy and inhabitants. Its horseshoe shaped bay shelters tropical lagoons, rainforests, mangroves, pristine beaches, waterfalls, and spectacular mountains, making it a prime ecotourism destination ideal for a variety of water sports.

In January of this year, a newly renovated Los Muertos Pier, with a $2.4 million makeover, was re-opened. The pier, which at one point was the entry way into what is now the Romantic Zone, has a surface of 2,182 feet squared with a pedestrian friendly zone, a waterfront promenade, scenic lighting and a landing dock that can hold up to 6 different medium size boats.

Puerto Vallarta’s world class tourism offer with luxury accommodations, vibrant arts scene and renown gastronomy will sure provide the ideal setting for a successful MEXORC 2014.

[readon1 url="http://www.travelvideo.tv/news/mexico/01-06-2014/the-mexican-ocean-racing-circuit-mexorc-returns-to-puerto-vallarta-in-2014"]Source: www.travelvideo.tv[/readon1]

On January 1st and 8th of the New Year, the Discovery Channel will showcase a birdwatching program filmed on Isabel Island by James Currie. The transmission will reach 98 million homes in the United States alone.

The Riviera Nayarit is kicking off the New Year with a world-class promotion: on January 1st and 8th, the very international Discovery Channel will air two programs on birdwatching filmed on Isabel Island, declared a Mexican National Park in 1980.
 
At precisely 7 a.m. on New Year’s Day, the second episode of Destination America consisting of video filmed on the birds and nature endemic to the Riviera Nayarit will air in 98 million homes. One week later, the program will air again, giving Mexico’s Pacific Treasure exposure in over 170 countries.
 
The program description explains how James Currie’s team scoured western Mexico’s magnificent Riviera Nayarit coastline searching for the endemic black-throated magpie-jays. They also highlight beautiful Isabel Island, home to colonies of nesting seabirds, as well as close encounters with whale sharks off the coast of San Blas.
 
The shows were taped in February of 2013 after the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau arranged and coordinated the many details so the international host of Nikon’s Birding Adventures and expert bird watcher could come to the destination.
 
The natural bounty of the historical port of San Blas made it possible to film two separate episodes about the Riviera Nayarit.
 
Discovery Channel is an educational cable channel with ample distribution in the United States with original programming primarily focusing on science and technology, documentaries and series.
 
Versions of the Discovery Channel can be seen in the UK, Australia, Japan, Taiwan, India and other countries. Discovery Channel aired in 1985 as the flagship television property of Discovery Communications; today it offers 29 network brands in 33 languages.
 
Both episodes will also air on the Pursuit Channel, a producer of amply distributed channels geared towards outdoor pursuits. It reaches some 38 million homes.
 
Thus the Riviera Nayarit welcomes the New Year with a promotion that goes far beyond conventional advertising, offering the world the best type of publicity available: pictures that speak a thousand words.

Here are the two episodes:
 

MEXICO CITY - There's big money in beer brewing, and in Mexico, two major companies are competing for the bigger share of that market.

It's one of the world's biggest beer markets, with a dizzying mix of domestic brands to call your favorite.

Corona, Modelo Especial, La Victoria, Tecate Light, Dos Equis, Bohemia. All of these brands and more are owned by two global giants who control the market: Heineken and Anheuser-Busch InBev, and they're competing for a big prize.

"You have something like 1 million consumers entering legal drinking age every year," said Stefan Orlowski, Americas president of Heineken.

Heineken entered Mexico's beer market in 2010 with its purchase of one of the country's biggest brewers.

This is one of six factories owned by Heineken in Mexico. It makes many of the firms biggest brands including Dos Equis and Sol. Together the factories produce the equivalent of nine billion bottle of beer every year.

Many of those are also exported to the lucrative market north of the border. Orlowski says Dos Equis is continuing to enjoy double digit growth, thanks in part to a successful branding campaign aimed at American drinkers.

Pricing power is strong.

"I think Mexican beer is regarded as beer of high quality. They were consistently well-priced in terms of attracting a premium which is again a sign of quality and credentials," said Orlowski.

The premium market is also growing in Mexico as a middle class emerges.

But the industry is changing. A recent anti-trust measure is seeking to allow greater access to craft brewers in a market often divided into exclusive deals with vendors. Heineken says it will benefit from the shake up.

"The development of craft brewers actually develops interest in the category. It's good for consumers so we see that as very positive," said Orlowski.

This year also saw the $20 billion takeover of bitter rival Grupo Modelo by AB InBev. Grupo Modelo declined interview requests for this story.

Analysts say the mega deal may help them extend their lead over Heineken in Mexico.

"They're becoming the lowest cost producer of beer in Latin America. So they have expanded margins by around 1,800 basis points in a short range of time. So the increased profitability they are getting they are reinvesting in their brands, and I think that will be the main driver in market share gains," said

As Mexico's economy looks set to bounce back next year after a slowdown, the battle to reap the rewards is evolving.

[readon1 url="http://www.ksdk.com/story/life/2013/12/23/beer-wars-mexico-city/4181431/"]Source: ksdk [/readon1]