This summer, León will host the most important meeting in Mexico's meetings industry.
With the participation of event organizers, destination representatives, hotels, venues, agencies, and meeting industry leaders from all over the country, the XVI National Congress of MPI Mexico Chapter was inaugurated, one of the most important gatherings of the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) sector in Mexico.
The Government of the People, led by Governor Libia Dennise García Muñoz Ledo, recognizes the relevance and impact of the meetings industry on Guanajuato's economic and social growth. Therefore, the Secretary of Tourism and Identity of the State of Guanajuato, María Guadalupe Robles León, emphasized that holding this congress reaffirms the industry's confidence in the state and strengthens the state strategy to promote and consolidate meetings tourism as a driver of economic development, job creation, and destination promotion.
“It is an honor for Guanajuato to once again host the XVI National Congress of MPI Mexico Chapter. After having been the host for the first time in 2013, today León opens its doors again to the professionals who drive the present and future of the meetings industry, confirming the confidence that exists in our state to host national and international events,” said the Secretary of Tourism of Guanajuato.
After explaining that tourism is Guanajuato’s third-largest industry, accounting for 8.1 % of the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the Secretary of Tourism explained that within this vast economic ecosystem, the meetings industry alone accounts for 3.5 % of GDP, reflecting its ability to generate investment, employment, and development; therefore, she reiterated that:
“In Guanajuato, we understand that meetings tourism goes far beyond organizing congresses and conventions. It is an industry that generates employment, strengthens companies, drives innovation, and creates opportunities for thousands of families.
”But its greatest value lies in the legacy it leaves. Each event brings together talent, shares knowledge, sparks new ideas, and strengthens collaborative networks that endure long after a conference concludes," said the Secretary.
During the opening ceremony, state and municipal authorities, along with representatives from Meeting Professionals International (MPI) Mexico Chapter, welcomed attendees, highlighting Guanajuato as a competitive, innovative destination with the necessary infrastructure to host national and international events.
It is worth highlighting that the Secretary celebrated that for the second time León is hosting the meeting point for planners, buyers, specialized suppliers, associations, and industry leaders, who are participating in a program that this year includes more than 20 conferences, networking spaces, engagement activities, and experiences showcasing the tourist, cultural, and gastronomic richness of Guanajuato.
Because the National Congress of MPI Mexico Chapter represents an opportunity to strengthen strategic alliances, drive new business, and position Guanajuato as one of the leading destinations for meetings tourism in Latin America.
“Here alliances are born, investment opportunities are generated, best practices are exchanged, and solutions for different industries are built. That is the true legacy of meetings tourism,” said the Secretary.
With actions like these, the Ministry of Tourism and Identity reaffirms its commitment to promoting tourism with vision, capable of generating prosperity for Guanajuato families and positioning the state as a national and international benchmark for holding congresses, conventions, and large-scale events.
Guanajuato and its Meetings Industry, a Replicable Model
In her participation in the Panel of Secretaries of Tourism, Robles León, Secretary of Tourism and Identity and Vice President of the Association of Secretaries of Tourism of Mexico (ASETUR), reiterated that strengthening Meetings Tourism in Guanajuato can be replicable and thus bolster the growth of the entire sector.
During the talk moderated by Eduardo Chaillo, which included MPI Mexico President Hugo Rosas, MPI Bajío President Ricardo Sánchez, and the Secretary of Tourism of Michoacán and President of ASETUR Roberto Monroy García, there was agreement with the head of Tourism in Guanajuato, who reiterated the relevance of coordinated work with the business sector and public administration to continue boosting the MICE sector.
“They made us understand as the State Government that industries are fundamental to continue strengthening the meetings industry, and this has changed the landscape for Guanajuato; we have already begun to change the way we view the meetings industry in Guanajuato, and this can be very easily replicated; therein lies the key to involving events,” said the Secretary.