Expedia Awards Mexico Tourism Partners for Successful Partnerships

With substantial growth in bookings to Cancun and Riviera Maya, Expedia is looking to award its travel partners for the hard work they've put in to attract travelers to Mexico. The online travel company is holding a partner appreciation event for over 250 members of the local hospitality community. Lodging partners from across Cancun, Riviera Maya and Cozumel that took the top places in their respective markets for room nights booked on Expedia and Hotels.com sites in the first half of 2011 will be recognized by the Expedia executives.

Pablo Castro, the director of market management, Mexico & Central America, Expedia said,“We are very excited to celebrate the successes that these hotel partners have achieved through their participation in Expedia’s online travel marketplace...by capitalizing on Expedia’s unparalleled global reach, valuable insights and targeted marketing opportunities, these hotels have successfully extended their visibility and attracted new travelers to their properties, growing their bookings through Expedia’s channels as a result.”

Photo credit: GR Solaris Cancun & Spa

Among the award recipients are:
All-inclusive
• GR Solaris Cancun & Spa, Cancun
• Blue Bay Grand Esmeralda, Riviera Maya
• Sabor Cozumel Resort & Spa, Cozumel

European Plan
• Gran Melia Cancun, Cancun
• Fairmont Mayakoba, Riviera Maya

November Holiday to Celebrate in Mexico

If you happen to be traveling in Mexico on November 1st and 2nd, you'll be sure to run into some festivities for the Day of the Dead or Dia de los muertos.

The Cheap-O-Air blog highlights how to celebrate Day of the Dead in Mexico:

While Americans are busy belly aching over eating too much candy after Halloween the previous night, traditional Mexicans are celebrating yet another grand festivity. Dating back to the ancient indigenous times, the festivity celebrates the souls of the dead. They believe they return each year to visit living relatives; to eat, drink and be merry, as though they were alive. This national holiday keeps with tradition by building private altars using sugar, skulls and items the dead once loved.

Picture credit: Pasajes

Mexico Tourism Ministry Announces New Flight Routes from Europe and Latin America

Today Mexico’s tourism ministry announced new flight routes from Europe and Latin America in an effort to boost tourism and decrease the nation's dependency on visitors from the U.S.

Aeromexico, British carrier Virgin Atlantic, Spanish airline Air Europa, Brazil’s TAM and Chile’s LAN are initiating new routes in Mexico this summer, which include: Gatwick, Britain-Cancun; Lima, Peru-Cancun; Sao Paulo, Brazil-Mexico City; and Madrid, Spain-Mexico City.

Traveling to Mexico: Checked Luggage Fees

The spike in jet fuel prices at the height of the recession led many airlines to implement additional charges to recoup revenue, including the much detested fees for checked luggage. The folks at Business Travelers Services have put together a table that details fees and specifications for a number of airlines.

For Americans traveling to Mexico, American Airlines and Virgin America carry the largest bag fee for the first piece of luggage ($25), while Delta airlines charges the highest fee for the second piece of checked luggage ($60 online/$75 at the airport).