Mexican Market is Still the Best Place for FDI

"In the last five years, foreign direct investment in Mexico has reached over 100 billion dollars." Take a look at the rest of Mexico Today's article, "Foreign Direct Investment in Mexico Shows Mexican Market as the Best Place to Invest", to read about the strong sectors of Mexico's economy and the factors that propel its economic reputation forward.

Photo credit: mexico.vg

Mexican Airline Begins Using Biofuel on Flights

The Mexican airline, Aeromexico, has just started to use a 25 percent biofuel mixture for its flights between Mexico City and San Jose, Costa Rica.

"As part of the “Green Flights” project designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, a Boeing 737 will now fly the route using a mixture of 75 percent conventional jet fuel and 25 percent synthetic paraffin biokerosene."

A step in the right direction by Mexico - fantastic to hear.

Photo credit: Latin American Herald Tribute

How Your Company Can Squeeze the Most Out of Facebook

Though most companies have a facebook page, it doesn't mean that these pages are being utilized to make the most out of their connection with their fans. This video from BNET explains how companies can develop and manage their social media presence.

Tip to Writing Better Emails Today

We've all been there - where we just shoot off emails at the speed of light without a subject or just write a one word subject. How about taking an extra second to re-think your email subject line? OpenForum backs this up by saying, "I know I’ve been guilty of throwing a subject line in my e-mail service provider’s (ESP) subject line field at the last minute rather than thinking it through. When you actually schedule time to write a compelling subject line, you’ll find a much better result." In the long run, I've lost more time trying to locate an email, which could have been avoided had I listened to the business tip above.

Picture credit: Tech2Know

Economic Activity in Mexico Showed an Uptick for July

Driving growth in economic activity for Mexico in July can be attributed to the expansion of Mexico's agriculture sector. Growth in the services and industrial sector also contributed to the growth for Latin America's second-largest economy.

Photo credit: mexicoinstitute.wordpress.com

Mexico and Canada Sign Cooperation to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The Canadian Environment Minister, Peter Kent, visited Mexico to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Mexico's Environment and Natural Resources Secretary, Juan Elvira Quesada. The objective of the MOU is "to increase cooperation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from Mexico's waste management sector."

Tip: Extending the Life of Your Laptop Battery Charger

It may be tempting to keep your laptop plugged in at all times as to not ever be in a situation where you don't have enough battery. However, you may want to read this tip for business travelers to extend your laptop battery life via the Huffington Post.

"Drain the laptop's battery all the way occasionally. Most manufacturers recommend using the computer until the battery is drained completely at least once a month. Don't keep the laptop charged all the time, as this can reduce battery life in the long run. "

Photo credit: Computer Battery

"Matching Hotel Promotions to Your Travel Style" via Boarding Area

With traveling promotions changing constantly - this updated guide will help business travelers match hotel promotions to their travel style until the end of this year at least.

Boarding Area lists which hotels are on target for: Best Low Spend Bonus, Best Luxury or Hotel Suite Bargain, Best Long Weekend Getaway, Best Upscale Hotel Extended Stay Bonus, Best Midscale Hotel Extended Stay Bonus, Best Miles Bonuses, Best Road Warrior Bonus.

Time to start re-thinking your bookings!

Photo credit: E-Wisdom

Payment Advice for Travel to Guadalajara, Mexico

It's easy to assume that dollars are accepted everywhere - this kind of thinking can lead to last minute treks at the ATM when there's simply not enough time.

Another Guadalajara, Mexico related tip for those traveling on business is to "keep in mind that unlike other major destinations in the country, such as the capital, beach resorts, and border towns, U.S. dollars are rarely accepted as means of payment in Guadalajara (except for tips at hotels)."

Business Travel Advice - Changing Your Money in Guadalajara, Mexico

From Gayot is travel advice on how to best exchange your money when on business travel to Guadalajara, Mexico.

"For the best exchange rate, get your pesos upon arrival at Guadalajara International Airport at one of the international bank branches, ATMs, or exchange bureaus located in the international arrivals terminal. You may also exchange money at the front desk of your hotel, but keep in mind that exchange rates tend to be less competitive than banks, and smaller properties will often limit exchanges to $100 USD. Two of the most important banks in Mexico, Banamex (linked to Citigroup) and HSBC, have an extensive network of ATMs throughout the city."

Picture credit: All About Guadalajara

Mexico's Competitiveness Leads to Increase in World Economic Forum Ranking

Mexico’s ranking on the Global Competitiveness Report by the World Economic Forum (WEF) has increased eight spots, no easy feat considering that the fluctuation of these rankings tend to be low. Mexico's improvement can be attributed to changes made to "boost competition and facilitate entrepreneurship by reducing the number of procedures and the time it takes to start a business. The report also mentions Mexico’s large internal market size, sound macroeconomic policies, technological adoption, and a decent transport infrastructure as helping it to move up in the WEF Report."

The Americas Quarterly writer Arjan Shahani makes additional observations and recommends ways Mexico can continue to improve its business and economic rank.

Photo credit: Focus on Mexico

Why Your Business Should Look into Google +

According to this Ragan's PR Daily article, brands and businesses will be able to take advantage of Google+ pages. The article also shares a three ways Google+ can help your business and a list of Google+ employees who are sharing tips on the platform.

Photo credit: hitechanalogy

Hotels for Travelers With "Money is No Object" Mindset

Here is list of hotels that luxury travelers can spend a pretty penny at. If money is no object to you - take a look at this list compiled by Boston.com.

Photo credit: boston.com

1. Maia Luxury Resort & Spa (Anse Louis, Seychelles) $2455
2. Hotel Pitrizza (Porto Cervo, Italy) $2335
3. Royal Mansour (Marrakech, Morocco) $2327
4. Hotel Cala di Volpe (Porto Cervo, Italy) $2286
5. Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa (Lithgow, Austalia) $2119
6. Hotel Romazzino (Porto Cervo, Italy) $2115
7. La Réserve (Ramatuelle, France) $2112
8. Jumeirah Dhevanafushi (Maldives) $2106
9. Saffire Freycinet (Cole’s Bay, Australia) $1576
10. Gora Kadan (Gora, Japan) $1459

"Mexican Automobile Sales Up 11.5 percent in August" via SteelOrbis

Via SteelOrbis - "In the January-August period this year, Mexican auto sales increased 11.5 percent from a year ago.....In 2008 Mexico became the largest supplier of auto parts to the U.S. Mexico exports 80 percent of its vehicles to the U.S.: 11 out of every 100 autos sold in the U.S. are made in Mexico. Other destinations are Latin America: 11 percent, and the European Union: 9 percent. In 2010 Mexico ranked as the 6th largest automotive exporter in the world."

Trade Surplus Posted by Mexico for August

From Reuters is the news that "Mexico posted a small trade surplus in August as gains in petrol exports made up for a slide in factory exports that drive Latin America's second-largest economy." The trade surplus was in the amount of $71 million, read more about Mexico's trade from the article.

Photo credit: brecorder.com

Hyatt - Good Quality Beer Versus Free Beer

The Hyatt has changed its decision to offer "free beer and wine at the nightly manager's receptions at its extended stay hotels." The hotel chain has revamped its offerings to include good quality beer (that guests pay for) at the after-hours reception for its 54 extended-stay hotels. Is this something that will deter travelers from staying at these extended-stay "Hyatt House" hotels or benefit them?

Mining Company to Purchase Remaining Stake in Mexican Gold Project

Goldgroup Mining has agreed to purchase Almaden Minerals' 30% stake in the Caballo Blanco project, in Mexico. "The Caballo Blanco project covers an area of approximately 55,000 hectares and is centered next to the Gulf of Mexico, 65 kilometres northwest of the city of Veracruz in the state of Veracruz, Mexico." Proactive Investors has the scoop on the details of the agreement.

Tourism and Retirement to Mexico Remain Strong

The Mexican government is expecting strong growth numbers for Mexico's GDP this year and "because of these instances of economic growth, Mexico has maintained its position as the number one retirement location for North Americans."

Read more from Mexico Today on why retirement is on the rise in Mexico and what city in Mexico was the American Association of Retired Persons’ top retirement destination for 2010.

Photo source: mexicotoday.org

Travelers Still Flocking to Mexico - Online Bookings to Mexico Increase

From Expedia is a statistic driving the point home that not only are people not deterred by sensationalist news on Mexico, but more travelers are traveling to the country. The VP of Lodging Supply at Expedia adds,"Mexico remains a favorite destination for our travelers worldwide, with over 1.5 million people booking travel to Mexico using Expedia websites in the last year." Mexico City is the Mexican destination showing the most growth with a growth rate of 50% compared to 2010.

Spanish Company Awarded Contract to Build Aquaduct in Mexico

Abengoa, which owns companies in energy, telecommunications, transportation, and the environment, has been awarded a contract to "build a 139-kilometer (86-mile) aqueduct to transport potable water to 2.4 million inhabitants of two states in central and western Mexico." Read more from Fox News Latino to get the details of Abengoa's business contract in Mexico.

Photo source: Abengoa

Mexico Moves up Rank in Auto Export and Production

From SunHerald is the news that the "Strong export and production growth domestically has helped Mexico move up to fourth position in BMI's Risk-Reward Ratings for the autos industry in the Americas this quarter, overtaking Argentina."

Picture credit: autonorth.ca 

Mexico Planning to Increase Production of GMO Corn

Via CheckBioTech - "Permits to plant large extensions of genetically modified (GM) corn for the first time in Mexico are likely to be approved before the end of the year, said a company lobby group.

Monsanto, DuPont's Pioneer seed unit and Dow Chemical's agricultural arm have all applied to expand on tiny experimental plots of GM corn in northern Mexico, said AgroBIO, an organization that represents the biotech companies."

Photo credit: wchiropractic.wordpress.com

Mexican Stocks Rose Thursday With Announcement of Additional Dollar Liquidity

From MarketWatch is an update on the stocks of Mexico and what attributed to Thursday's increase.

Mexican and Chilean stocks rose Thursday, with risk appetite supported in part by a pledge from the world’s top central banks to provide commercial banks with additional dollar liquidity this year.

Swiss Chocolatier to Invest $30 Million in Mexico

Toluca, located in central Mexico, will receive $30 million in investment from one of the largest global confectioneries.  The company is buying the "industrial part of Turin’s chocolate plant located in Toluca, State of Mexico, and will invest US$30 million within the next three years." The agenda behind it is to increase "production capacity by up to 20,000 tons per year, with the idea of improving market penetration in central Mexico."

Tip for Women Business Travelers

From the American Society of Travel Agents is a tip for business travelers in packing smart for a business meeting:

• Pack light so you won't be weighed down and look weighed down, both of which could make you an ideal target for pickpockets.
• Avoid expensive looking baggage and clothing, lock all suitcases and only use covered luggage tags with your office address written on it rather than your home.
• Carry only one credit card, and don't keep all your money in one place.

Picture credit: TrendyTravelista

Tip to Make Your Laptop Last Longer

Via the Huffington Post is a tip to help you extend the life of your laptop:

"Avoid overheating at all times. The lower the temperature of your laptop, the longer it will live. All of the repair shops we spoke with reiterated the importance of keeping the laptop's temperature low and agreed that overheating was a huge cause of laptop failure. Even a cheap $20 laptop cooling pad can help extend the life of your device. " 

Photo credit: Huffington Post

Popular US Restaurants Expand Business to Mexico

Darden Restaurants Inc., based in the US and the parent company of Olive Garden, Red Lobster, and LongHorn Steakhouse brands, has been negotiating a deal with CMR, a Mexican casual dining company, to expand its restaurant portfolio to Mexico. Once an agreement between the two companies is finalized - CMR will launch 37 restaurants in Mexico over the next ten years. Read more from Mexico Today on which 3 popular American restaurants from the Darden portfolio will expand to Mexico.

Google Wallet Revolutionizing Mobile Commerce and the Future of Traveling

What's been happening in Japan for years - is now coming to America via Google Wallet. With the addition of Near Field Communication” (NFC) chips, phones can redefine the way we engage in mobile commerce.

Google Wallet is "an Android app that stores virtual versions of your existing plastic cards on your phone. It has been designed for an open commerce ecosystem and released on Nexus S 4G by Google, available on Sprint, with the plan on expanding to more phones. It will eventually hold all your credit cards and Google offers. At the moment you can pay with Citi® MasterCard® cards and the Google Prepaid Card."

The tentative launch date for the Google Wallet is in summer 2012.

This development will revolutionize the way we travel - what do business travelers think of this? Do you trust the security? Excited for this new technology?

Photo credit: DigitalQatar

Mexico City - Annual Debt Capital Markets in Mexico Conference

The Annual Debt Capital Markets in Mexico Conference is taking place today in Mexico City.

From the conference website are the themes to be discussed this year:

- The Outlook for Mexico's Economy Post Global Economic Crisis
- Crystal-balling the Future for Debt Capital Markets in Mexico Including ABS
- Legislative and Regulatory changes impacting the Mexican Financial markets
- Assessing Mexican Residential and Commercial Mortgage Loan Performance During the RMBS Market Collapse
- Overview of the Consumer ABS Markets Including Auto Loans and Trade Receivables
- Infrastructure Projects in the Pipeline and How They Will be Financed
- The Future of Covered Bonds in Mexico
- New Trends in Investor Due Diligence
- Identifying Investment Opportunities in the Local Market
- Rating agency methodology reforms

What Are 7 Types of Travelers You Encounter at the Airport?

I'm sure you've encountered a lot of traveler types when traveling through the airport - can you name seven types of travelers off the top of your head? This post from Brendan's Adventure blog is a funny look at the stereotypes you'll usually see when on your business travels (*hint - we're among one of the stereotypes).

Photo credit: WebStockPro

"Industry Analysis Reports Aerospace in Mexico is leading the Aircraft Industry" via Mexico Today

What has propelled Mexico to the forefront of the aircraft industry? "Over the past decade, aerospace in Mexico has reached new heights, evolving from being known for manufacturing simple parts and assembling them, to playing a much bigger role in the industry." Read more from Mexico Today to find out how Mexico has positioned itself to be a strong contender for investment in the global aerospace industry.

Business Travel Tip for Travelers with Car Rentals

A tip for business travelers planning on renting a car at their destination - it's important to find out about the parking situation at your accommodations when you make a reservation. "Some hotels do not have parking on-site, while others may charge a fee for parking." If your company has a travel agent, check in with them to make arrangements on your behalf or advise you on how to make the best of your situation. The last concern you want to add to your workload is fighting for an open parking spot near your accommodations.

3.85% Growth for Mexico Forecasted by Citigroup

From Bloomberg - a report by Citigroup Inc.’s Banamex unit indicated that Mexico's economy will experience a 3.85% growth this year. The report came from the median estimate of economists surveyed by Banamex.

Picture credit: topnews

Mexico Venture Offers Real-Time Webcasts for Weddings

With one out of every five weddings now taking place abroad, it's becoming harder for family and friends to afford the time and money to travel for the grand event.

For weddings happening in Mexico - there's a new business venture that can make would-be attendees, who are not in Mexico, feel like they're in attendance.CancunLiveWeddings offers a real-time webcasting service of the wedding and other offerings.

Mexican Finance Minister Confident that Mexico Will Endure US Slowdown

Via Bloomberg Businessweek, is an article about Mexico's Finance Minister Jose Antonio Meade's prediction that Mexico's economy will prevail throughout the US slowdown.

The minister is "sticking by a 4 percent growth forecast for this year even after the IMF yesterday slashed estimates for Mexico’s economic performance this year and in 2012. Mexico is committed to spending restraint, a policy that served it well during the global financial crisis when other countries saw inflation accelerate and debt loads rise as a result of excessive fiscal stimulus, he said.

“Some countries that were very active fiscally and very active monetarily are now paying the consequences,” Meade said in an interview yesterday in Mexico City. “Mexico has reaped the rewards for proving to be responsible.”

Steel Technologies Expanding Facility in Mexico

Via Mexico Today - Steel Technologies expanding its facilities in Mexico is adding to to the broader trend of increased foreign investment in Mexico. Find out how much Mexico may receive in foreign direct investment this year and the increase in FDI since last year.

How to Get Some Shuteye While Flying

When traveling from time to time, it's a necessity to be able to get some shut eye in the plane, bus, etc.

MSNBC offers helpful flying tips to make you feel as though your coach seat is first-class:

• Choose your seat wisely

• Cut down on your carry-ons

• Forget the caffeine

• Blankets and pillows — stake your claim

• Bring a neck pillow

• Free your feet

• Try a sleep aid

• Use headphones with discretion

• Recline your seat — but be courteous

• Make sure you won't be disturbed

• Stay away from the light

Break Five Bad Travel Habits with This Advice

From the traveldudes website are 5 tips to help you correct your bad travel habits when flying for a business trip: on sleep, water intake, your health, losing your passport, and luggage.

Mexico City to Host the Second Annual International Tourism Fair

This year Mexico City has the honor of hosting the second annual International Tourism Fair of the Americas (Fita) from September 22-25, 2011. The objective of the fair is to draw in "tourism industry professionals from around the world and be the meeting point of a variety of destinations, hotels, travel agencies, airlines and enterprises focused on tourism."

Why was Mexico City chosen as the host?
"As a city that receives 12 million visitors each year and offers first-class tourism attractions and services, Mexico City is the ideal place to host this international tourism fair
Mexico City boasts hundreds of museums, archeological sites, colonial architecture, shopping centers and other attractions that make it one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world. Mexico City has more than 48,000 rooms available in more than 650 hotels for all tastes and budgets. It also has a wide-range of cuisine options and was declared by Forbes Magazine as one of the world’s best cities to eat well."

Photo credit: mexicocityexperience.com

Reps From Columbia Travel to Mexico for Tourism Fair

Columbia Reports - "Colombian tourism representatives head to the International Tourism Fair of the Americas (Fita) 2011, held this year in Mexico City from September 22-25.

Colombia's participation will be marked by a stand sponsored by the Tourism Promotion Fund of the Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Industry and Tourism. Organized by Colombian export and tourism promoter Proexport, the stand will be represented by 12 businesses from Colombia's most popular tourism destinations."

Meeting Etiquette Tips for Mexico Business Travel

From Kwintessential are helpful meeting etiquette tips for doing business in Mexico:

• When greeting in social situations, women pat each other on the right forearm or shoulder, rather than shake hands.
• Men shake hands until they know someone well, at which time they progress to the more traditional hug and back slapping.
• Wait until invited before using a Mexican's first name.

Sustainable Investment Opportunities Come to Sight in Mexico

Mexico Today - Becoming a low carbon economy is a top priority on Mexico's agenda. With Mexico also seeing a boon in FDI this year, it's only natural that investors are becoming more aware of the variety of opportunities for sustainable investment in Mexico. It's wonderful to see a country with such great potential in this sector encouraging such positive environmental improvements, I hope to see a push toward changing environmental policies to adequately implement these practices.

Photo credit: mexicotoday.org

Tip for Traveling with Family on a Business Trip

From Gadling is a tip to help alleviate your stress when bringing along your family for business travel or meeting up with them shortly after:

Know your audience: you may want to change hotels when your family arrives. Even if the cost isn't an issue for you, simply changing spaces will help you with your mindset as you transition from work to play. In fact, it's better if you can even change neighborhoods, for example, if you're staying in a city. Make sure it's as different as possible. You'll sacrifice any special treatment that the hotel would offer you because of your relatively long stay, but it's probably worth it to shell out the extra cash to make sure your family vacation isn't tainted by remnants of your business trip.

Photo credit: WebMD

Mexico Promoting Hydroponics to Grow Gourmet Lettuce Crop

Hydroponics is the method of growing plants utilizing mineral nutrient solutions, in water, in the absence of soil. Mexico is starting to see this as an, "excellent alternative for vegetable farmers in states like Guanajuato and in the north of the country, where water is scarce and soils are often damaged or contaminated, said the general director of FIRA, Rodrigo Sanchez Mujica.

This method of hydroponics is a technology that promotes FIRA to drive new business opportunities for vegetable growers interested in increasing and specializing their production, reduce costs of cultivation, increase profitability and make inroads especially in a new culture system that saves natural resources with mechanisms for environmental care and greater safety."

With savings of over 85 percent in water consumption, hydroponics seems like a great system and business opportunity to implement in Mexico's agriculture sectors.

Photo credit: Wiki

First Doubletree Hotel Opens Its Doors in Queretaro, Mexico

Hilton Queretaro marks the first of several Latin American DoubleTree by Hilton Hotels to open up this year. Other locations to open up hotels later in 2011 include Panama City, Saltillo, Merida and Mexico City.

Queretaro is located in central Mexico and the hotel is situated close to the Queretaro Convention Center and the La Correigidora football stadium. The hotel comes well equipped for business travelers to Queretaro with "high-speed Internet access...laptop safes, work desks, pampering bath amenities and in-room tea and coffee making services. Additional on-site amenities include in-room dining, valet and laundry services, concierge and travel desk services.

The DoubleTree by Hilton Queretaro features a 24-hour business center and flexible meeting and conference space that can accommodate up to 75 guests for business meetings, conferences, training seminars or social events."

Photo credit: Doubletree Hilton

New TSA Regulations for Children Under 12 Years Old

What airport security measures have been revamped for kids 12 and under? FareCompare breaks down the new, relaxed regulations and how it'll change.

There's also some improved security screening for adults being tested in some markets: "TSA-approved express security lane for passengers with a single carryon bag (no purse or laptops, please)."

Photo credit: HuffingtonPost

Why Virgin America Remains the Top Voted Domestic Carrier

Gadling - Virgin America's inflight entertainment is part of the reason that the airline has been able to remain a traveler favorite against other domestic carriers. "The seatback system lets passengers browse live television, catch up pre-recorded shows, watch movies and participate in a whole host of other fancy activities from ordering food to browsing around a real-time Google map."

Read more about how the airline is constantly adapting to keep up with the needs of travelers.

FYI on wifi for travelers to Mexico- "Virgin America’s onboard wifi service is available throughout the US. For guests traveling to Mexico, coverage currently does not extend 100 miles beyond the U.S. border."

Photo credit: http://wifi.virginamerica.com 

Tip for Women Business Travelers

From the American Society of Travel Agents is a tip for business travelers in getting around an unfamiliar city:

"While at the front desk, grab a card or matchbook from the front desk with the hotel's name, address and phone number on it, and keep this card on you at all times. This is especially helpful in foreign countries where your taxi driver might not speak English or in case there are several hotels with similar names in the area."

Mexican Consumer Confidence Up for August

Comparing Mexico's consumer confidence from August 2010 to August 2011, consumer confidence rose 4.7 points.

IMF: Mexico's Economy Remains Stable & May Show Growth Amidst Global Economic Problems

With countries still dealing with the effects of the global economic crisis, Mexico's economy has overcome the global economic crisis and reverted to pre-crisis levels according to the IMF.

What factors have been at play to pave the way for Mexico’s economic success throughout this financial crisis?

Siemens Mexico: Over a Century of Accomplishments Doing Business in Mexico

Siemens is a engineering conglomerate with 3 main sectors in Industry, Energy, and Healthcare. Siemens currently employs more than 405,000 worldwide.

In an interview with Mexico Today, Siemens Mesoamerica CEO Louise Goeser speaks about Siemens doing business in Mexico. She speaks about Mexico being the most open economy with free trade agreements and having a central location. Watch the video and read the article to find what other factors make Mexico attractive for investment and Mexico's competitive advantage for business over other countries, like Brazil, China, and India.

"The 2012 World Economic Forum in Puerto Vallarta" via Mexico Today

From Mexico Today - "The Mexican destination of coastal Puerto Vallarta will host the 2012 World Economic Forum of Latin America. The meeting will take place April 16-18, 2012, with an agenda that will address Latin American’s global economy and upcoming presidential elections."

Take a look at the article for more about the economic forum and the implication and importance of Mexico's timely hosting of this event.

Taiwan Looks to Build Trade Ties with Mexico

In an effort to boost trade between Mexico and Taiwan, "Taiwan's representative to Mexico Lee Sing-ying ordered his office to arrange a city tour for the delegation. The tour included visits to some local information technology malls, shopping malls, and the Trade and Investment Institute (Promexico) in order to let delegation members learn."

Virgin America's Flights to Puerto Vallarta Begin December 2

More flight options coming to Mexico - starting December 2nd, "Virgin America will fly to Puerto Vallarta two times a week (Mondays and Thursday) from its San Francisco hub. Puerto Vallarta will be Virgin America's third destination in Mexico; It also flies to Cancun and Los Cabos."

Photo Source: USA Today

"Beaded Volkswagen with Mexican Indian Art to Embark on U.S. and European Tour in 2012" Via PR Newsire

From PR Newswire- In an "interview with MexicoToday, executives from the Museum of Popular Art in Mexico City and father and daughter Huichol Indians behind the making of a unique Mexican Huichol indian-inspired beaded Volkswagen car announced the target U.S. and European cities where the beaded Volkswagen will be potentially touring in 2012, and share insights about the story behind the project, an exclusive walkthrough of what each Huichol symbol means on the car, and a call to learn and appreciate the value of the unique art, religious sites, and the role of women in the Huichol culture."

What a unique way to draw attention to Volkswagen.

For Business Travelers Looking to Extend Their Stay in Riviera Maya

If you're already in Riviera Maya for business and can afford to extend your stay for some vacation time - you should look at LivingSocial's deal for a resort stay close to Puerto Morelos.

Taking Advantage of Hotel Points (And Why They Might be Better Than Airline Miles)

Huffington Travel highlights reasons for business travelers to take advantage of hotel points, don't underestimate the power and reach of this rewards system. The writer delves into the reasons hotel points can beat out mileage points in: higher value, exchange rates, more options, airline transfers, constant promotions, and elite status.

How to Board a Plane Infographic

HuffingtonPost - Interesting interactive tool built by a particle physicist to time 5 different boarding methods for airplane flights. Take a look & test this tool out - interesting concept. I've always been a fan of the back to front boarding model. Airplanes should be hiring people like this!

"Baja Sun Energy Plans At Least $500 Million Solar Investment for Mexico" via Blooomberg

Mexico continues to be seen as a country attractive for investment. Via Bloomberg- "Baja Sun Energy SRL said it will invest more than $500 million in a solar-panel factory and energy farm in Baja California that will sell power on both sides of the Mexico-U.S. border."

Read more from Bloomberg about the opportunity Mexico presents for the North American solar market.

Photo credit: pv-tech.org

Mexico May Ease Foreign Investment Caps

From GulfNews on Mexico foreign investment caps:

Mexico wants to revamp decades-old laws to ease limits on foreign investment in markets with little or no competition such as the airline, telecoms and energy sectors.
"We think that investment restrictions have to be revisited systematically in tandem with the country's economic growth," Jose Antonio Torre, deputy minister for competition and standard-setting at Mexico's economy ministry, said.

The last time these caps were reviewed was 1993.

FedEx Expands its Freight Service Operations Within Mexico

Via MarketWatch - The logistics service giant FedEx is expanding its operations of its Freight subsidiary to service three more markets in Mexico: Toluca, Puebla and Veracruz. With this expansion, the company is reducing "transit times by an average of 50 percent for customers shipping in the southeast region of Mexico. Shippers also have the option of extended pick-up times in these locations and Villahermosa."