Pictured above: The Cathedral of Santa María la Menor in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Questex Travel Group, publisher of International Meetings Review, kicked off its fourth annual Latin America Meeting and Incentive Travel Exchange in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on June 18. The event brought together top-producing, Latin America-based meeting planners and incentive buyers to meet with leading global suppliers for two and a half days of exclusive networking opportunities and pre-scheduled one-to-one private appointments.
Buyers were welcomed the evening of June 18 with a networking reception and lavish dinner hosted by the Real InterContinental Santo Domingo, as well as a presentation by the SITE Florida and Caribbean chapter. Then on the following day buyers were treated to a Dominican cultural expedition including native markets, crafts, and an authentic lunch at a typical ranch location in Bayaguana. Participating suppliers arrived from across the globe set up private meeting spaces.
The evening was capped off with a welcome reception hosted by MITUR, the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism, for all attendees at the Lulu Tasting Bar in the Colonial Zone. Lulu Tasting Bar is named for the lady who arrived on the island chasing after the pirate Johannes Frederikzoon.
The event officially opened June 20 with a full day of pre-scheduled, private one-to-one appointments, and an informative educational session presented by Santiago Gonzalez, regional director of the Latin America and Caribbean office of the International Congress and Convention Association.
“This is the MICE industry’s only event that brings global suppliers to Latin America to meet one-on-one with pre-qualified, Latin America-based buyers,” says Jill Birkett, event director, Questex Travel Group. “No other organizer offers the private, one-to-one meeting concept, which gives suppliers optimal networking and relationship building opportunities.”
Suppliers at the event represent cruise lines, tour operators, destination management companies and sought-after incentive destinations, hotels, resorts and spas across the globe.
Sponsors include Aeromexico, Barbados Tourism Marketing, Inc., Connect DMC, Copa Airlines, Costa Rica Tourism Board, Delta Air Lines, El Embajador, Embassy Suites by Hilton, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana, K&M Destinos, Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism (MITUR), MASCO, Real InterContinental Santo Domingo, Maui Jim Sunglasses, Paradisus Resorts, Puntacana Resort & Club, Renaissance Santo Domingo Jaragua Hotel & Casino, Society for Incentive Travel Excellence, Sheraton Santo Domingo, The Westin Punta Cana Resort & Club and VisitScotland.
The Questex Hospitality and Travel Group serves every B2B segment of the industry, from investment and development to management operations, sales and marketing of hospitality and travel products to destination development and marketing, via proven demand generation, learning, loyalty and rewards solutions as well as a network of live events. This division of Questex is supported by its digital media staff and is aligned around three broad market segments; hospitality, travel and meetings. For more info, visit GlobalTravelExchanges.com.
