Mexican multi-billionaire Carlos Slim's Carso Energy and its consortium partners have been awarded another contract for a natural gas pipeline that will originate in western Texas and run to the U.S.-Mexico border.

The consortium made up of Carso Energy, a unit of Slim's Grupo Carso industrial conglomerate; and two U.S. companies - Energy Transfer Partners and MasTec, Inc. - won the contract for the pipeline to transport natural gas from the Waha Hub to the U.S.-Mexico border near San Elizario, Texas, Mexican state electric utility CFE said in a statement Wednesday.

It presented a $596.3 million bid, which the CFE said offered a "high technical level and the lowest economic cost."

The project involves the design, engineering, delivery, construction, operation and maintenance of the natural gas pipeline, which will be 42 inches in diameter and have the capacity to transport 1.14 billion cubic feet of gas per day.

Because the contract involved services hired in the United States, the bidding process conformed to tender procedures in that country, the CFE said.

The new Waha-San Elizario pipeline - expected to begin operating in January 2017 - will connect with the planned San Isidro-Samalayuca gas conduit in the northern border state of Chihuahua.

Earlier this month, that same consortium won another contract to build a pipeline bringing natural gas from Texas to northern Mexico.

That pipeline - known as Waha-Presidio and expected to begin operating in March 2017 - will connect with the planned Ojinaga-El Encino gas conduit, which will transport natural gas in Chihuahua state.

The pipelines are "part of a strategy to reduce costs in the generation of electric power, replacing refined oil fuel with natural gas, which is cheaper and less polluting," the CFE says.

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[readon1 url="http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2015/01/29/consortium-including-slim-carso-energy-wins-contract-for-texas-pipeline/"]Source:latino.foxnews.com[/readon1]

According to the results of the Riviera Nayarit CVB’s Visitor Profiles, the British now occupy the 4th place in number of visitors to the destination after Mexico, the United States and Canada.

Very few places with such spectacular scenery; suitable for a wedding at dusk, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, fitted furniture for an elegant banquet at the beach, the ocean as a witness, and fireworks in the evening, honoring the newlyweds. This fantasy image for a couple in love; was endorsed by Puerto Vallarta Institute of Tourism at the New York Metropolitan Pavilion Wedding Salon.

Luis Villasenor, Promotion director of Puerto Vallarta Institute of Tourism (Fidetur), who attended this event, informed that Mexico Beach Resorts are very much looked into by North American couples planning a wedding or a honey moon. The well known “mixicanidad” (ethnicity) and hospitality of these places are very much appreciated by them.

People, Villasenor says, wish to get married in a very special place; this is the most significant event in their lives. So, those looking for a chance to tie the knot in an exceptional place, such as at a Beach Resort, had an opportunity to learn what Vallarta has to offer.

Hundreds of engaged couples came to New York’s Wedding Salon, motivated by the possibility of finding the best offers for their event; many of them already knew what they wanted and had a venue and other details in mind; other couples just came to see the options being offered; but no matter what, the majority of them were delighted with what Puerto Vallarta has to offer, and the diversity of options, they and their guest, have at The Riviera Nayarit.

Pamela Zepeda, Sales and Promotions manager of the Riviera Nayarit Visitors and Convention Center, together with Luis Villasenor, were the main presenters.
Representatives of the Westin, Costa Sur, Barcelo, Buenaventura, Villa Premier de Puerto Vallarta; as well as Paradise Village and St. Regis de la Riviera Nayarit, were participants at this event.

They were all very much pleased with what our destination and our entire region has to offer them, and we are certain they will be soon visiting us to enjoy their romance in a place that makes everyone fall in love. Stated Fidetur’s Promotion manager.

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[readon1 url="index.php?option=com_sobipro&pid=1&sid=703:mar&Itemid=212"]Source:www.VallartaToday.com-by MAR Translation Services[/readon1]

Puerto Vallarta Municipal governement is launching the “Looking for job program” using technology, to publish jobs offered by businesses with which they have signed an agreement.

“One of the things the Office of Economic Development is actually doing is, precisely, launching our program “Looking for Jobs”. People looking for jobs can log in to desarrolloeconomico.puertovallarta.gob.mx and attain information on vacancies which different companies offer, without having to go directly to our offices”, specified Alvaro Mora Maciel, chief of that department.

This program lets people know of all the vacancies available around the area and, by looking at a map, are able to locate where the jobs openings are, and access the data base from a computer. Currently there are about 150 available jobs; the site is being updated everyday.

When you log in to the site given above, you will see a tab for “busqueda de empleo” in that tab you will find “Sistema Municipal de Busqueda de Empleo” (Town System for Looking for Jobs), you will see a map and at the left you will see a tab where you will find a list of available jobs divided by types of work; underneath you will find the job application to be downloaded and taken to your place of interest. This system will help every one to visualize the job, learn who the contact person is, the requirements for the job and many a times, even the salary. Explained Mora Maciel.

This program is available to all companies willing to publish their job vacancies free of charge. There is a space in the web for companies to post all the information regarding the company and positions available; the Economic Development Office will then, inmediately publish the information via Gogle maps.

What this system does is to save peple the expenses that generates a visit to the Economic Development offices; however, those who do not have access to Internet or those that preffer doing it personally, can approach our offices at any time and there will be people ready to help. Affirmed Alvaro Mora.

“Those looking for jobs can come directly to our offices to enroll in a workshop where you can learn tips on how to present yourself at an interview, how to write a curriculum vitae, how to fill out a job appication and what to do and not to do when looking for a job. To this date the workshops are scheduled every Friday at 12:00 p.m.”

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Properties in Nuevo Vallarta and Punta de Mita are on the lists of hotels chosen by hundreds of thousands of TripAdvisor followers from around the world; these lists acknowledge the top hotels on several different levels.

A good destination should always have hotels for its different market segments. For several years in a row, the Riviera Nayarit has been lauded for its excellent hotel infrastructure and 2015 has been no exception, as was evident when TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards spotlighted several of the destination’s properties.

The Nuevo Vallarta and Punta Mita hotels mentioned in these lists include the best of Mexico in the following categories: To Hotels, Small Hotels, Hotels for Romance, Luxury Hotels, Hotels for Families, Hotels for Service and Best Beaches.

Before sharing the lists, we’d also like to state the Hard Rock Hotel received a special mention outside of the Travellers’ Choice: TripAdvisor named their Rock Star Suite one of the top ten jaw-dropping suites.

Below please find the list of mentions from the Riviera Nayarit:

Trip Advisor - Travelers Choice
Trip Adviser - Trip News

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The domestic and international positioning of the Riviera Nayarit as a tourism destination, the integration of one of Mexico’s most recognized hotel and motel associations and the representation of 93% of the hotel offer of Banderas Bay give evidence to their labor of coordinating the efforts of a good team.

The moment was totally unexpected: after a meeting of the Banderas Bay Hotel and Motel Association (AHMBB by its acronym in Spanish), the hoteliers of the Riviera Nayarit presented President Fernando González and Treasurer Heriberto Pineda Bautista with well-deserved recognitions for their impressive careers.

Both honorees were surprised and pleased with this acknowledgement. Their outstanding leadership of the AHMBB has generated great results, and their excellent coordination of the efforts of a good team has ratified their positions.

“This is a recognition that belongs to more than one person and I’m not going for false modesty here,” said Fernando González. “This is for an entire team, as well as for the people who have been a part of it and are no longer here, hotelier friends who have been a part of this association.” On his part, Heriberto Pineda was grateful and stated his desire to continue reaping accomplishments for many years to come.

The committee included the presence of Catalina Ruiz, Tourism Secretary for Nayarit; José Gómez, Mayor of Banderas Bay; Abel Santos, VP of the AHMBB; and Marc Murphy, Managing Director of the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB).

“Congratulations on your acknowledgment, which is undoubtedly a vote of confidence towards the team from those who trust in your good administration and your extraordinary passion for managing the social development of our state,” said Catalina Ruiz.

“We have to recognize those who have worked for so many years to make the Riviera Nayarit what it is today. What everyone wants is a great destination and when the captain is good, the boat will certainly sail into a good port,” said José Gómez.

“There’s no doubt that an important part of the success of this association is its trust in a very strong team, meaning the CVB. We now have 17 people whose thoughts revolve every day around how they can best work for the destination,” commented González Ortega.

This welcome event took place at the Dreams Villamagna to the tune of mariachi music, and was attended by Celso Humberto Delgado and Nacho Cadena, as well as other members of the AHMBB, one of whom—Jesús Carmona—served as emcee.

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January and February are cold months and offer a perfect excuse to escape to the warmth of the Riviera Nayarit. Among the many options we have to offer our visitors are a series of events, with something for every taste and every pocket in this diverse and surprising destination.

Before giving you the scoop on the main events going on in February, we’d like to invite you to check out the excellent Valentine’s Day promotions we have prepared just for you: http://www.rivieranayarit.com/special_deals You won’t want to miss them!

ART FESTIVAL

Every Saturday from 9 to noon the boardwalk in Nuevo Vallarta comes alive with a variety of exhibits by local artists, painters, artisans and sculptors. Here you’ll have the chance to hear stories and legends about travelers who’ve passed through and, above all, you’ll have the opportunity to experience more to the Riviera Nayarit than just fun in the sun. Take your time and enjoy a bite or something to drink at one of the many local cafés or restaurants while you take in the gorgeous view of sailboats and yachts.

FESTIVAL OF SAN BLAS

If you’re looking to experience a traditional Mexican village festival, you can’t miss the San Blas Patron Saint Feast that takes place every February 3rd. The activities begin at dawn with the traditional mañanitas and Mass (or misa de gallo: the rooster’s mass), followed by the dancing concheros, which don’t stop their pre Hispanic folk dance until about 3 in the afternoon. At that time, the image of Saint Blaise, or San Blas, emerges from the Church’s atrium and is taken in a procession to the pier, where he blesses the sea so the people of Nayarit will enjoy abundant fishing and calm waters for their travels, ensuring the prosperity of all who live there. The myriad boats are festooned in bright colors and the procession continues on board, accompanied by the prayers of the entire community. Once the image returns to the beach, the village begins its festivities complete with fireworks and a grand jamboree.

SAN BLAS CARNIVAL

The traditional Carnival returns from February 8th through March 4th, bringing with it its own customs and traditions including the burning of the “bad temper,” dance troupes, comedy, music, fireworks and a jamboree. Don’t miss this colorful event and the opportunity to enjoy the excellent cuisine of San Blas.

CHILDREN’S ART FESTIVAL

Once again, Entre Amigos invites you to join them in San Francisco on February 20th to enjoy an interesting and very entertaining exhibition of children’s art. The goal is to motivate the children of San Francisco, the cultural capital of the Riviera Nayarit, to hone their innate creativity.

Stay informed! Don’t forget to follow us on our social media accounts and, if you like this newsletter, please share with your colleagues and friends.

Puerto Vallarta is privileged to have the perfect set up for weddings. It is one of the three beach destinations in Mexico, Los Cabos and Cancun being the other two, selected by foreigners and some nationals as venue for their weddings.

In 2013 the destination obtained US$3,060,000 in advertising return on investment, a number that tripled to US$9,870,000 in 2014, representing an increase of 222%.
The Riviera Nayarit’s brand presence and positioning as a viable destination for Brazil increased considerably in 2014 thanks to the public relations strategies of the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB).

The return on investment obtained through exposure in the media is a very tangible metric. In 2014, the value of that exposure reached 9.87 million dollars’ worth of diffusion, triple the amount from the previous year’s US$3,060,000. Percentage-wise it represents an increase of 222%.

This increase can be traced back to the intense involvement with the press via releases and daily communiqués, as well as participation in TV shows that were aired throughout the year such as TV Globo, Terra Da Gente and Viajar Pelo Mundo.

There were five press trips to the destination, two of which were independent, resulting in visits from 15 journalists. This generated 258 placements in the press and 51.5 minutes on the air in radio and television.

As far as public relations strategies in Brazil the measurements for ROI are in cm2 as opposed to impressions obtained via circulation; in this case, there were 302 thousand cm2 published in relation to the Riviera Nayarit.

Social media strategies were also implemented. The Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts are fairly new for this market, however, from 2013 to 2014 there was marked growth in this sector and the trend is expected to continue for 2015.

These general stats prove every cent invested in promoting the tourism of the Riviera Nayarit in the Brazilian market has been right on target. This is undoubtedly a market with high purchasing power and a clear interest in the attractions offered by this destination.

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“Villa Azul”, exclusively listed by Pacific Real Estate Investments, will host a much-anticipated Open House on Saturday, January 24th from 5PM to 9PM.

The article written by Irene Thomas, who visited the destination on a FAM trip sponsored by the Riviera Nayarit CVB, is circulating throughout five Canadian provinces along the border of the United States, extending from the Pacific to the Atlantic and delivering thousands of impressions along the way.

Freelance journalist Irene Thomas published the article, “Know Nayarit,” after her FAM trip to the destination, sponsored by the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). Since then, it has been popping up in Canadian newspapers from one end of the country to the other.

The public relations efforts of the Riviera Nayarit CVB seek to position the destination in the minds of consumers, an objective that was amply reached at the close of 2014, when from October through December that article was posted in different media in five Canadian provinces that border the United States.

If we go begin the list moving east to west, one of the most important media that published the article was The Vancouver Sun in the province of British Colombia, located on the Pacific Coast.

Following the map we found the article in the Edmonton Journal and the Calgary Herald in the province of Alberta. In Regina, it was published in the Leader Post, and in Saskatoon we found it in The Star Phoenix within the province of Saskatchewan.

The Riviera Nayarit’s attractions also circulated in the Windsor Star in the province of Ontario. Finally, we reached the Atlantic in the province of Quebec, where the destination was put on display in the cities of Ottawa and Montreal in the Ottawa Citizen and the Montreal Gazette, respectively.

There’s no need to indicate the circulation numbers of each media, when a single FAM trip for one journalist and her photographer generated an article that was published in five of the most important Canadian provinces that send tourists towards the Riviera Nayarit.

Other regional attractions besides the Riviera Nayarit were also included in the article, including Las Lagunas Encantadas, the Sierra del Nayar and Colonial Nayarit, sister brands of the destination that are also being promoted by the Government of the State of Nayarit.

http://www.vancouversun.com/travel/Know+Nayarit/10288308/story.html

http://www.leaderpost.com/travel/Mexico+Nayarit+offers+different+world+beauty+adventure+culture/10298928/story.html

http://www.thestarphoenix.com/travel/Mexico+Nayarit+offers+different+world+beauty+adventure+culture/10298928/story.html

http://www.calgaryherald.com/travel/Mexico+Nayarit+offers+different+world+beauty+adventure+culture/10298928/story.html

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/Mexico+Nayarit+offers+different+world+beauty+adventure+culture/10298928/story.html

http://www.windsorstar.com/Mexico+Nayarit+offers+different+world+beauty+adventure+culture/10298928/story.html

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/travel/Mexico+Nayarit+offers+different+world+beauty+adventure+culture/10298928/story.html

http://www.montrealgazette.com/travel/Mexico+Nayarit+offers+different+world+beauty+adventure+culture/10298928/story.html

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Depending on the source, predictions vary significantly for Mexico's economic performance this year. Backed by some international economic forecasters, the Peña Nieto administration foresees a buoyant year of higher growth, generous foreign investment, greater job creation, and lower prices for consumers.

On the other side of the coin, some economists warn of both market and structural weaknesses manifested by falling oil prices, peso devaluation, low wages, and laggard job growth. In different appearances since the beginning of the year, President Enrique Peña Nieto has emphasized the economy over the continuing political crisis arising from the mass killings and forced disappearances of students in the state of Guerrero last September.

Peña Nieto and his senior administration officials say the major developments that will get the economy pumping in 2015 include a government-mandated halt to the rise in regular gasoline prices of recent years, or "gasolinazos;" the elimination of long-distance charges for calls made in-country; reinvigorated housing construction programs; and business financing for entrepreneurs aged 18-30.

The administration plans on implementing special economic zones with tax incentives in the politically volatile states of Chiapas, Oaxaca and Guerrero; building new railroad infrastructure; and landing oodles of foreign investment in the energy sector, which is now open to corporate investors after Congressional approval of the reforms known as the Pact for Mexico.

Additionally, Peña Nieto mentioned in a recent speech the Mexican government's giveaway of 10 million new television sets as part of the country's transition from analog to digital technology. "The initiative is one of the biggest efforts in the world to bring the technology into homes," Peña Nieto was quoted.

Several international economic institutions have given the Mexican economy an upbeat prognosis. Though containing some words of caution over falling oil prices and political problems related to violence, the U.S.-based credit rating agency Standard and Poor's predicted a 3.2 percent growth rate for 2015, a much better performance than the 2.1 percent growth experienced in 2014 and the 1.4 percent racked up in 2013.

According to Standard and Poor's: "In our opinion, the decreased popularity of the government coming from (political crisis) could marginally affect its capacity to implement its economic agenda, but given that the majority of the important reforms have already been applied we do not expect it to become critical."

Headed by former Mexican official Jose Angel Gurria, a promoter of neoliberal economic reforms during the administration of President Ernesto Zedillo (1994-2000), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development likewise signaled the energy and other reforms as positive groundwork for achieving at least an extra 1.5 percent in annual growth during the next decade.

Joining the club of optimists [last] week, the World Bank projected 2015’s growth at 3.3 percent – less than the Peña Nieto administration's prediction of 3.7 percent but still above the numbers for the last two years. At the outset of the Peña Nieto administration, officials projected a 3.5 percent growth rate for 2013 and 3.9 percent for 2014, both of which were far off the mark.

Other analysts have offered a more guarded or critical analysis of Mexico's economic prospects in 2015. In a December meeting, the central Bank of Mexico mulled over the impact of plunging international oil prices which, in the case of Mexico, saw the price of a barrel of crude plummet from $92.51 in December 2013 to $37.36 by mid- January 2015.

Although the Mexican government has shielded the country (at least partially) through the 2015 budget year from the price plunge by shelling out $773 million for "put options" that guarantee a sales price of $79 per barrel for a portion of the national oil stock, the Bank of Mexico cautioned that, in the event of continued low prices, the bonanza of expected foreign investment in the energy sector won't materialize because the profit potential simply doesn't exist.

Since many of Mexico's oil and gas reserves are located in hard-to-extract shale and deep water deposits, expensive technology will have to be utilized.

"The lower oil prices could reduce the profitability of the projects that would have come from the energy reform, and with it, reduce the effects that this might have on (economic) activity," the Bank of Mexico stated.

Further clouding the horizon for Mexico are growing predictions that the international price will crash to $20 per barrel of oil. In response, the Peña Nieto administration is singing a tune along the lines of the Bobby McFerrin song, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.”

Though about one-third of Mexico's federal budget comes from oil sales, the administration maintains that recent tax hikes will compensate for the reduced petroleum revenues. At a recent seminar organized by the Autonomous Technological Institute, Economy Secretary Ildefonso Guajardo affirmed that the importance of oil as a generator of foreign exchange has decreased markedly, from 70 percent in previous years to 13 percent today. In this sense, Mexico's booming auto export industry helps fill the oil revenue gap.

Other jitters in the Mexican economy include the value of the peso to the dollar, which dropped 13 percent in value from January 2014 to January 2015, and a possible increase in U.S. interest rates. The higher rates could send foreign investors, who currently own 38 percent of Mexican treasury certificates and other government bonds, back across the border, according to Proceso magazine.

Besides higher costs to consumers who purchase U.S. goods, the weakened peso means extra expenses in servicing a foreign debt that must be paid in dollars. Proceso tagged Mexico's external debt at $145.461 billion as of September 2014.

Insecurity endures as another drag on the economy. In a recent study, the National Institute of Statistics, Geography and Informatics (INEGI) found that one-third of Mexican businesses had suffered some kind of crime, usually robbery, within the past year.

INEGI estimated the annual economic cost of crime in the neighborhood of $10 billion, or 0.66 percent of the Gross Domestic Product. A majority of the businesses surveyed (60 percent) rated crime as their biggest problem, followed by taxes (47 percent), and the anemic purchasing power of the public (42.2 percent).

Low wages and inflation are persistent sore spots in the economy. Dr. Carlos Gauna, professor of economics at the University of Guadalajara branch in Puerto Vallarta, calculated that the purchasing power of the average Mexican consumer tumbled 9 percent during the first two years of the Peña Nieto administration, with the daily cost of the basic basket of goods leaping from 172 pesos to 193 pesos.

Inflation (currently in the four percent range) is not spiraling, the economist said, but steady price hikes take their toll on a workforce that is not seeing commensurate wage increases. On the employment front, Gauna contended that Mexico must create one million new jobs every year but is effectively creating only 200,000 new jobs. "What's more, if you have the fortune of possessing a job, it buys you less all the time," he argued.

Gauna's numbers differed with a January 15 statement by President Peña Nieto in Ciudad Juarez that cited 714,000 new jobs in 2014.

"We aren't contracting and we aren't in a recession," Gauna said in his overall assessment of the state of the Mexican economy. "We don't have three trimesters without growth, which implies a recession, but we also are not growing above the expectations."

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