Posts tagged with "Mexico"

1800 Tequila x Los Angeles Rams

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1800 Tequila, the world’s most awarded tequila line, today announces 1800 Tequila is the Official Tequila of the Los Angeles Rams, marking the brand’s first professional football team partnership. As two heritage brands with award-winning credentials and historical roots in Mexico and Southern California respectively, 1800 Tequila and the Los Angeles Rams unite to bring the best taste in tequila to game days.

1800 Tequila and the Los Angeles Rams are rolling out a playbook to help Rams fans celebrate game day at home with programs including:

1800 Play For Sweeps – A sweepstakes that challenges fans to showcase how they celebrate gameday on Instagram and Twitter, with the hashtag #1800PlayForSweeps. Prizes include $1,800 in merchandise credit to the official LA Rams Fan Shop during the month of October. For more information on how to participate, please visit here.

1800 Taco Tailgate – For the ultimate at-home tailgate experience, 1800 Tequila is teaming up with LA-based creator and actor Travis ‘Taco’ Bennett and popular Mexican food truck Mariscos Jalisco to launch 1800 Taco Tailgate. The contest allows lucky Los Angeles residents to win a visit from the 1800 Taco Tailgate for a doorstep delivery of 1800 Tequila cocktails and Mariscos Jalisco tacos on game day. Fans can enter ahead of the Rams Week Seven game when they host Chicago on October 26^th by posting on Instagram and Twitter with the hashtag #1800TacoChallenge. For more information on how to participate, please visit here.

1800 LA Rita – Rams fans watching the game at home can create a version of the 1800 LA Rita, 1800 Tequila’s signature LA Rams’ cocktail, by ordering 1800 Silver on Saucey, ReserveBar or Drizly and combining 1800 Silver, lime juice, agave syrup and fresh squeezed orange juice in a shaker, and shaking and straining into a salted rocks glass garnished with a lime wedge (full recipe available here).

On Athletics Club (OAC)

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On, the fastest growing running brand in the U.S., has announced the debut of its first professional run crew, the On Athletics Club (OAC). Coached by Dathan Ritzenhein, the inaugural roster includes Joe Klecker, Alicia Monson, Leah Falland (O’Connor), Emily Oren, Alicja Konieczek, Carlos Villarreal, Oliver Hoare and George Beamish.

Based in Boulder, Colorado, the team collectively holds two International Gold Medals, 22 NCAA National Titles, 29 NCAA Conference Titles and 43 All-American Honors. Three-time U.S Olympian and NCAA title-holder, Dathan Ritzenhein, will take the helm as the coach of OAC. After recently retiring from competition, Ritzenhein will help build an infrastructure for the club’s ongoing recruitment and developmental program.

“We’ve selected some of the finest athletes in our inaugural roster for the On Athletics Club, including national and international record-holders,” says Olivier Bernhard, On Co-Founder. “Our world-class, founding members include a multi-national group of top ranked athletes from the NCAA who have proven to be among the best in their field.

Under the tutelage and leadership of our professional management team, OAC is committed to supporting talented and disciplined individuals in their quest to become champions in their sport. We are excited to announce this significant milestone for our first residential program in talent development that will also bring some unique and exciting content for track fans to follow.”

All eight athletes will be based full-time at the OAC training facility in Boulder, Colorado and will train to compete in national and international competitions throughout the world. On’s Global Sports Marketing Manager, Steve DeKoker, and two-time U.S. Olympian and On’s Sports Marketing Specialist, Andrew Wheating, will join Ritzenhein in managing OAC operations.

Over the next ten months, the OAC team will have their sights set on the Olympic Games in Tokyo for individual representation of their respective nations. The mission for OAC remains to develop and support a group of talented and disciplined individuals in their quest to become champions in their sport.

On August 10, OAC will reveal its Draft Day video production. Created to bring a light-hearted approach to the selection process, the show will spotlight each athlete in a satirical fashion. Draft Day will be hosted by Ryan Fenton, a longstanding figure in the sport and podcast co-host of “Beneath the Grandstands,” and Alex Lohr, one of the best known voices in professional track in the United States.

OAC Founding Member Athletes:

Joe Klecker: University of Colorado graduate, bona fide All-American athlete, PAC-12 Champion, 7-time All -American and 2-time NCAA runner-up in cross country.
Alicia Monson: University of Wisconsin graduate, NCAA indoor 5,000m Champion, Milrose Games Champion and Big Ten record holder in 3,000m.
Leah Falland (O’Connor): Michigan State University graduate, captain of the 2014 NCAA Cross Country national championship team and winner of over a dozen Big Ten championship titles. Personal achievements include two-time NCAA Champion for the indoor mile and 3,000m Steeplechase.
Emily Oren: Hillsdale College graduate, nine NCAA national titles, a national force in the 3,000m Steeplechase and a Honda Women’s Collegiate Sports Award recipient.
Alicja Konieczek: Native of Poland, Western States College graduate, 9 NCAA Championships, ran for Poland’s IAAF World Championships team in 2019 and was the Summer Universiade Gold Medalist.
Carlos Villarreal: Native of Mexico, Gold Medalist at the 2019 Pan American Games in Peru, national U-23 Mexican record holder in 1,500m and the first Mexican U-23 to run a mile in under 4 minutes.
Oliver “Olli” Hoare: Native of Australia, University of Wisconsin graduate, 1,500m NCAA Champion, eight-time All-American and nine-time Big Ten Champion in Cross Country, indoor and outdoor track.
George “Geordie” Beamish: Native of New Zealand, NAU graduate, with personal achievements that include three-time NCAA Cross Country Team Champion and six-time NCAA All-American.

Follow On Athletics Club (OAC): Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Orlando

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Rolls-Royce Motor Cars announced today that Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Orlando has been honored as the brand’s 2019 Global Dealer of the Year. This prestigious award was bestowed on the business for its work in delivering the best-in-the-world owner experience to Rolls-Royce Motor Car owners in Central Florida. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Orlando, part of Fields Auto Group, was chosen out of 135 retailer dealers worldwide for its consistency in delivering a world-class luxury experience and helping lead the brand to the best performance in its 116-year history.

“We’re honored to be singled out as the best of the best from the most prestigious brand in the world,” said Dan Fields, Dealer Principal of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Orlando. He added, “we’ve invested in a beautiful new home facility and the best luxury staff in Central Florida. We are focussed on one thing, taking care of our clientele at every step of their ownership experience. Our clients demand the best and to be chosen for this award is an affirmation of our team and our way of doing business.”

Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, said, “I am proud to announce the results of our annual Global Dealer of the Year Awards. I congratulate all the successful dealers, but especially Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Orlando – a professional, well-organized and high-performing team, with outstanding achievement in all key areas of the business. A worthy overall winner.”

The Global Dealer of the Year is awarded to the top all-around dealer delivering excellence in Sales, Service, Bespoke, Provenance and all areas of customer service. “It’s not about the biggest dealer, this award recognizes the best. The best in all areas of client service,” said Martin Fritsches, President & CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Americas. He added, “I’m excited that we have an American dealer as Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Global Dealer of the Year.”

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars chooses the dealer of the year after careful consideration of a wide range of criteria. As a brand that values the luxury ownership experience above all else, service and owner satisfaction are at the top of the list. The company also reviews sales and operational performance as well as client satisfaction. Every aspect of the Rolls-Royce Motor Car ownership experience is expected to be effortless. That begins with the initial commissioning of a truly unique and exclusive motor car with one’s retail consultant.

Rolls-Royce motor cars are sold in more than 50 countries worldwide through a global network of 135 dealerships. The world’s premier luxury name delivered 5152 Bespoke commissions in 2019. Each one of these commissions is handcrafted by the men and women in Goodwood, Home of Rolls-Royce in England. In addition to being the home to the 2019 Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Global Dealer of the Year, the Americas has remained the largest region for Rolls-Royce deliveries for the past six years. The brand has 44 retail partners in the region, including 37 in the United States, 4 in Canada and one each in Mexico, Brazil and Chile.

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Dr. Murphy’s Food Hall Culinary Vendors

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Slated to open this August within the historic Cook County Hospital, Dr. Murphy’s Food Hall, 1811 W. Harrison St., operated by Hospitality HQ (HHQ), the bespoke culinary consulting and management group helmed by award-winning chef Akhtar Nawab, announced

today their diverse and exciting lineup of inaugural restaurant vendors. Named in recognition of Dr. John B. Murphy – one of America’s preeminent pioneering surgeons through the turn of the last century who studied, interned and taught at Cook County Hospital – the 10,000 sq. ft. destination includes an outdoor patio, a vibrant bar and lounge, as well as a range of chef-driven vendors. Nine of the founding restaurant vendors are minority and women-owned businesses (MWBE).

“Our team has worked hard to put together an amazing lineup of distinctive culinary concepts, from Southern and Indian, to BBQ and desserts,” said Chef Nawab. “We are proud to be home to a number of

local vendors launching their first brick and mortar locations or taking the chance and expanding their business with us during these times. We look forward to going on this journey with them together as a team and establishing ourselves as a part of the community.”

The inaugural vendor lineup for Dr. Murphy’s Food Hall includes:

Brekkie & Bake Shop

Introducing her new and first restaurant concept, Chef/Owner Taylor Bischof will bring Brekkie & Bake Shop to Dr. Murphy’s Food Hall. Serving high quality breakfast items made from fresh ingredients,

Brekkie & Bake Shop will offer a variety of breakfast sandwiches, bowls, overnight oats, and baked goods.

Crockett Cookies (MWBE)

Inspired by a nostalgic love of the iconic peanut butter cookies served in Chicago’s public schools, Owner and CEO Cheryl Crockett started Crockett Cookies by making lunchroom style butter cookies for family and friends. Fast forward to today and her company bakes over 5,000 of her famous cookies daily for local and nationwide orders. Dr. Murphy’s Food Hall will be home to the first Crockett Cookies storefront.

Classic Cobbler (MWBE)

Owned by Bran’Arla Johnson, Classic Cobbler is a family owned businesses specializing in home-made fruit cobblers and pies. The desserts are made with the finest quality ingredients and no preservatives, having been perfected across generations, beginning in the South before migrating to the Midwest. Guests of Classic Cobbler’s first brick-and-mortar location within the food hall will enjoy the cobblers’ and pies’ flaky, buttery crusts and just-right mix of fruits and spices.

Doc’s Bar (MBE)

At the heart of Dr. Murphy’s Food Hall sits Doc’s Bar, the best place to wind down in Cook County. Fun and laid-back with an elevated approach to hospitality, Doc’s offers ample seating at the bar as well as dedicated drink service throughout the food hall. The menu at Doc’s Bar features a selection of great local craft beers and wine by the glass or bottle, plus a range of updated twists on classic cocktails with nods to Chicagoland and beyond.

Jarabe (MBE)

Brothers Teddy and Alexis Vejar opened Jarabe in 2015 inside a small storefront in the Medical District as an off-shoot of La Adelita, one of Chicago’s original food trucks. Dr. Murphy’s Food Hall marks the second location of their popular taqueria, where the duo will continue in their ever-evolving expression of love for the regional food cultures of their native Mexico and the Mexican Diaspora. From tacos to burritos, everything at Jarabe is made from scratch and cooked to order using only the finest ingredients.

Kathmandu Momo Station (MBE)

Co-owners Rocky Shrestha and Sagar Gurung are bringing authentic Nepalese street cuisine to Dr. Murphy’s Food Hall with the third location of their celebrated restaurant. Kathmandu Momo Station will serve their award-winning dumplings, called momo, and expand upon their focused menu with additional ethnic and authentic Nepalese and Burmese flavors that will only be offered at the Chicago location.

Lexington Betty (MWBE)

Originally starting out as a food truck, Lexington Betty Smoke House has served authentic barbecue throughout the Chicagoland area for many years. Chef/Owner Dominique Leach brings extensive knowledge and experience of the craft of BBQ to the new location which will serve Lexington Betty’s famous beef brisket, rib tips, BBQ chicken and more.

Lil’ Delta (MBE)

An ode to the food, beverage, and culture of the Mississippi Delta region from co-owners Eldridge Williams and Robert Johnson, Lil’ Delta is the first spin-off of celebrated sister restaurant, The Delta, in Wicker Park. Lil’ Delta will feature fan favorites from the original location, including their signature Mississippi Red Hot tamales and hush puppies, along with new and exciting fare.

Maharani Indian Cuisine (MBE)

Maharani Indian Cuisine is the second location of Chef/Owner Amit Singh’s modern Indian concept, following his first opening within Inner Rail Food Hall in Omaha, NE in October 2019. Paying homage to Amit’s heritage, Maharani Indian Cuisine will serve a variety of modern Indian dishes including kebabs, biryani, curry plates, naan, and the signature thali, a bountiful plate inspired by traditional Indian buffets. Vegetarian, vegan, and allergy-free items are also available upon request.

Ottobagatto

A community and value-driven, no fuss, New York via Staten Island-style pizzeria, Ottobagatto’s first brick-and-mortar location in Dr. Murphy’s Food Hall will serve small pies, bright salads and Italian wrap sandwiches, called piadini, using thoughtfully sourced produce. Brought to Dr. Murphy’s Food Hall by Chef/Owner Ed Carew, Ottobagatto’s signature pizza dough is carefully made using a long fermentation technique, making their pizzas extra delicious and more nutritious than typical processed doughs.

Passion House Coffee

A small-batch specialty roaster founded by lifelong coffee professional Joshua Millman in Chicago in 2011, Passion House Coffee meticulously sources freshly harvested beans from farms around the globe, hand-roasting them to achieve balanced, complex, and beautiful flavors. Marking the third location of the beloved roaster, the Dr. Murphy’s Food Hall location will serve lattes, seasonal coffee, freshly roasted bags of coffee, and rotating pastries.

Viet Nom Nom (MBE)

Owned by Alan Moy, Viet Nom Nom is a Vietnamese-inspired quick service restaurant serving its own modern, healthful take on traditional classics like banh mis, summer rolls, and pho. The restaurant’s affordable and customizable menu features all housemade and from-scratch recipes, highlighting local ingredients, purveyors and community partners wherever possible. Viet Nom Nom packs flavor into every fresh, nutritious dish, seamlessly catering to the growing dietary needs of today’s modern diners with plenty of vegan, gluten- and dairy-free options. To provide all with the utmost confidence in public dining after

COVID-19, Dr. Murphy’s Food Hall will offer spacious seating areas, modular tables, an 800 sq. ft. outdoor dining space, a designated takeout/pickup area, integrated online ordering technology, and contactless payment systems.

Situated on Chicago’s Near West Side, Dr. Murphy’s Food Hall will be the only destination of its kind in the area, providing unique and delicious dining opportunities and accessible options to those visiting and working in the largest urban concentration of healthcare institutions, biotechnology hubs and technology-based incubators in the country. Dr. Murphy’s Food Hall is part of the Cook County Hospital’s transformative $150 million renovation, which will also include fully leased medical office space, a daycare center, and a 210-room Hyatt Place and Hyatt House Chicago Medical/University District hotel, the first combined Hyatt Place and Hyatt House hotels located in Chicago.

The project is led by Murphy Real Estate Services and its design and operating partners, including Hospitality HQ, Walsh Investors, MB Real Estate, Eimer Design, and Colicchio Consulting.

Dr. Murphy’s Food Hall will be open from 6:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. Sunday – Thursday and 6:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. Friday – Saturday. Coffee service begins at 6:30 a.m., Breakfast at 7 a.m., and Lunch and Dinner at 11 a.m. daily. For more information, visit www.drmurphysfoodhall.com

Private Jetaway × Elegant Mexico

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Private Jetaway™, a luxury travel company with private jet-to-villa turn-key packages, announced the partnership with Elegant Mexico™, whose portfolio offers luxury private villa rentals at the heart of Los Cabos and Punta Mita. The luxury travel services embracing the “new norm” include wellness-vetted private jet transport, world-class villa & staff, along with ground transportation and all the amenities befitting such an experience.

A fusion of private jet transport and luxury villa in a turn-key bow tied package. The “new norm” brings about wellness-vetted private jets and luxury destinations together in a safe intimate experience for families, friends, and colleagues. The partnership compliments flawlessly the personalized luxe travel experience being sought after.

“Understandably the world is slowly beginning to rise from a place of pause. The innate desire for families, friends, and colleagues to experience life’s moments with repose is at an apex. We’re here to make that experience comfortable and convenient,” says Wayne J. Rizzi, President of Private Jetaway™.

“We are thrilled to create this unique partnership with Private Jetaway which will provide guests with a luxury experience from door to door. With a substantial increase in interest for private villas, especially those with luxury resort amenities, we feel this partnership will provide a vacation experience that ensures a safe and secure environment with the space and privacy that cannot be replicated at a traditional resort,” says Sean Emmerton, President of Elegant Mexico.

Private Jetaway™, established in 2000, is a world-class luxury travel company offering wellness-vetted destinations, private jets, luxury villas, private islands, catamarans, and yachts. Since inception, Private Jetaway™ has partnered with world renowned luxury travel providers to bring about the extraordinary in turnkey bow tied “packages,” and to exceed the personalized expectations that world travelers anticipate.

Elegant Mexico™ are local luxury travel professionals with over 25 years of experience, operating in the affluent vacation destinations of Los Cabos and Punta Mita, Mexico. Committed to providing outstanding accommodation paired with exceptional service, we create personalized luxury vacation experiences for all our guests with unparalleled amenities and unexpected extras at every turn.(https://elegantmexico.com/)

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Follow Elegant Mexico: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Goya Boycott

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By Eamonn Burke

A boycott of Goya foods, a major producer of beans and an essential good for many families, has launched after its CEO Robert Unanue praised President Trump in a speech at the White House on Thursday:

“We are all truly blessed … to have a leader like President Trump who is a builder,” said Unanue.

Immediately, many prominent Hispanic figures such as Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez denounced Goya and Unanue, and hinted in a tweet she would boycott the company. Julian Castro, a former Housing and Urban Development Secretary, urged people do to the same despite the prominence of Goya in Latin American homes. The resistance comes from the public as well, as the hashtags #boycottGoya and #Goyaway have trended in recent days. Meanwhile, President Trump took to Twitter saying “I LOVE @GoyaFoods!”

Unanue, however, is not apologizing for endorsing Trump and is labeling the boycott as a “suppression of speech”. He was proud to support Trump, and also to say that Goya would be donating 2 million cans of food to American Food Banks. He also stated that he would be “honored” to be a part of the Hispanic Property Initiative, which was signed by Trump at the event with a goal of expanding “access by Hispanic Americans to educational and economic opportunities.” The CEO also has a extensive history of donating to Republican candidates and initiatives.

“If you’re called by the president of the United States, you’re going to say, ‘No I’m sorry, I’m busy, no thank you?’ I didn’t say that to the Obamas and I didn’t say that to President Trump.” said Unanue in an interview with Fox News on Friday. Republicans like Ted Cruz and Matt Schlapp and publicly defended the CEO while denouncing “cancel culture” on Twitter.

The unwavering support of Unanue is perplexing, when considering Trump’s history against Latinx people. In 2016, his presidential campaign was largely structured on restricting immigrants, especially from Mexico. In one speech he referred to the people coming from Mexico into the U.S. as “rapists.” He has relentlessly tried to end DACA, a program which protects immigrants, and offered little support to Puerto Rico in the midst of hurricane devastation. The Trump administration works closely with ICE and has detained immigrants at the US-Mexico border in concentration camps with inhuman men conditions.

It is also confusing when considering Goya’s history as a company. Goya is currently the largest Hispanic-owned company in the nation, but it began as a small store in Manhattan run by Spanish immigrants

As for President Trump, who is already unpopular with Hispanic voters, it is possible that he sees a reduction in the 26% of Latinx voters who support him.

Puerto Vallarta Reopens

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After new standards helped the State of Jalisco to obtain the WTTC ‘Safe Travels’ stamp, Puerto Vallarta reopens with health and safety protocols in place for locals and visitors

Last week, Puerto Vallarta’s reopening showed the first visitors renowned tourism intact and comforting health and safety protocols to meet the realities of a world of COVID-19.

Since local officials put Puerto Vallarta under quarantine in early March, the city has since undergone a multi-phase reopening process led by local officials following state, federal and international protocols. The process ultimately contributed to the State of Jalisco obtaining the “Safe Travels” stamp from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) last week.

The measures implemented in Puerto Vallarta began at Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport allowed the airport to receive the WTTC “Safe Travels” stamp. Some of the safety measures include social distancing being practiced by airport workers and thermal video cameras being used as people enter the immigration zone, and disinfectant mats used at all airport entrances and exits.

The health and safety of locals and visitors are of the utmost importance across Puerto Vallarta. In addition to the preventive and precautionary measures at the airport, the city is requiring extensive and continuous sanitization in hotels, public transportation, and public spaces. Restaurants must maintain physical distance between tables and patrons, and establishments must place disinfectant mats at entrances. Local officials are also distributing antibacterial gel and conducting temperature checks.

More than 45 hotels have reopened to visitors, with a maximum 30% occupancy, and are offering modified access to on-site restaurants, pools and beaches. A second group of hotels will open before or during July and the remainder will open in the last trimester of the year for the winter high season.

Connectivity has improved in a notable way since last week. Mexican airlines are offering continuous flights to main domestic destinations, including Mexico City (CDMX), Guadalajara, Tijuana, Aguascalientes, and Monterrey. Internationally, four airlines are connecting U.S. cities with Puerto Vallarta.

Given the dynamic nature of the situation, new measures are expected from Mexico’s federal and state governments, aimed at continuing to advance the reopening of activities in a gradual and safe manner.

With Puerto Vallarta entering Phase 1 of its economic and tourist reactivation and the reopening of its beaches, Villa Premiere Boutique Hotel & Romantic Getaway is ready to open its doors on June 22, adopting new hygiene and safety protocols to ensure safe spaces and experiences for its guests. For more information, please visit www.visitpuertovallarta.com.

San Miguel De Allende Reactivation

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San Miguel de Allende, a city known as the “Heart of Mexico” and located in the Bajio region, will enter Phase 0 of its Covid-19 Reactivation plan — activation of the local economy for the local residents — starting June 1.

During this initial phase of the plan, San Miguel will see most of the business infrastructure that affects local residents reopen, including restaurants, shopping centers, markets, public transportation, offices, and more. At this point, hotels, bars, cantinas, clubs, public or hotel pools will not yet reopen. All residents are asked to wear masks, practice social distancing, and apply extensive hygiene practices. Businesses will be required to implement international-grade sanitation protocols, including shoe-cleaning, a decrease in interior foot traffic, set-up of dispensers of antibacterial sanitizer containing 70% alcohol, provision of face masks for people without them and hourly disinfecting of public spaces. At no point can any groups gather inside or outside public spaces.

Access to San Miguel de Allende has been closed since March to non-residents, with city police filtering all its entrances (Querétaro, Celaya-Comonfort, Guanajuato, Dolores Hidalgo, and Dr. Mora). Those permitted to enter must not show symptoms of Covid-19 and be essential to the needs of the recovery phase the city is currently in.

San Miguel de Allende’s Mayor, Luis Alberto Villarreal García, clarified that San Miguel de Allende is not open to tourism. Phase 0 will reopen restaurants, operating at 50% capacity, and markets, at 30% capacity, for residents only.

“We still haven’t opened the doors to our visitors,” said Mayor Villarreal García. “San Miguel is not opening to tourism, not yet; We will do it gradually. Gradually and responsibly, as the number of infections marks us.”

Reinforcing the Mayor’s stance, San Miguel de Allende’s City Council has passed an ordinance stating that guest properties cannot push bookings on digital platforms until the city enters Phase 3. If they do so, said the mayor, they are putting public health at risk.

During this current Phase, businesses are asked to obtain their “Health First” certification, which the city launched on May 25. The certification accredits compliance with sanitary protocols for reopening. Hotels (which may start reopening as Phase 1), golf courses, activity centers, cultural spaces (which may open on Phase 3), must apply for the certificate HERE. Businesses will have to complete a series of paperwork and training sessions and have local health and safety officials evaluate each location for certification as an establishment that puts the health and safety of its patrons first. Certification is “free but mandatory,” stressed Mayor Villarreal García.

While recognizing the commitment of the people of San Miguel to safe recovery, the Mayor stressed that the beginning of Phase 0 does not imply a return to daily life as it was before. Rather, it is a different approach with attention to health care to avoid starting a lockdown again. “If we do it right in this first stage, we will be able to open other shops gradually,” Villarreal García said.

Yucatan × The Cruise Industry

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As a part of its strategy amid the COVID-19 crisis for attracting more tourists to Yucatán State and ensuring the permanence of cruise line itineraries that call there, Michelle Fridman, the state’s tourism minister, says Yucatán’s government has connected with cruise companies, port authorities and tour operators in North America and the Caribbean through an informative newsletter detailing the destination’s support for the cruise industry.

To that end, the debut Yucatán Cruise Newsletter aims to maintain promotion and interest in the Port of Progreso, the state’s main port of call, as a leisure cruise destination. The newsletter reports activities, statistics, and projections related to the cruise industry in Yucatan.

From 2015 to 2019, Progreso increased its reception of cruise ships with the arrival of 30 additional vessels, representing growth of 47.8% in the volume of annual passengers received. Passenger numbers rose to 470,418 in 2019, compared to 318,234 in 2015, an increase of 152,184 registered passengers, which places Progreso sixth among ports with the highest reception of cruise passengers in Mexico.

The State of Yucatán has extended its support to the cruise industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a humanitarian response, the Port of Progreso welcomed the Gulden Leeuw school ship, allowing 50 crew members to disembark and return to their homes. As cruise ports closed globally, Progreso showed solidarity by allowing 48 British passengers to disembark Marella Cruises’ Marella Explorer 2 ship on March 31. The Mexican Navy oversaw the transfer using maximum health-security maneuvers, directing passengers to Mérida International Airport and sending them home on charter flights.

Progreso continues with its port improvement plan and other urban projects. 53.4 million Mexican pesos (about U.S. $2.4 million) have been invested in the first part of the urban improvements in Progreso’s tourist area to provide passengers with areas for fun and recreation while visiting the state. Despite the COVID-19 outbreak, the “Puerta Progreso” project continues and construction work is expected to resume, with completion later this year of exhibition areas, a restaurant, and a beach club. All these improvements, along with the new International Malecon, confirm the Port of Progreso as one of the best destinations for attracting more tourists to the State.

As part of its commitment to the cruise industry, the Yucatán Tourism Board maintains its membership in the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) and continues to participate in its events, such as the first FCCA PAMAC session in Jamaica and Puerto Rico in 2020 and the Seatrade Cruise Global 2021.

Significant efforts to strengthen the global industry have also been undertaken by the private sector, including the “Destination Together” platform, whereby tour operators compare data and talk and interact to be ready when cruises return to Caribbean destinations.

In addition, tour operators and local private companies continue to strengthen other tourist attractions throughout Yucatán State, offering different experiences such as archaeological, nature and colonial jewelry micro-destinations near Progreso, to ensure that overseas visitors know more of what the state has to offer.

Coronavirus Slams Drug Cartels

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By Jason Tayer

Now that the coronavirus has essentially inhabited every region around the world, countless businesses and industries have taken major financial hits. Not only have legal industries been suffering from the pandemic, but underground, illegal trade systems have also been experiencing declines. Specifically, drug cartels, illicit powers over the production and sale of narcotics, traveling between the Mexico-U.S. border are undergoing a significant collapse stage.

These drug cartels are primarily suffering from a lack of resources along with means to make drugs in the production phase. According to the Washington Post, many of the chemical precursors used to manufacture these narcotics are supplied by China, and specifically from the city of Wuhan. With previous, open trade systems halting and borders closing over the past 2-3 months, it is no surprise that global and local drug trade has been negatively affected. Even within different Latin American cities and countries, drug transportation is slowing at considerable rates. While drug cartels slow production, criminal investigators can now take advantage of this time to try to shut down many drug cartels.

Government officials may gain more traction than ever in terms of seizing drug money and honing in on busting certain drug cartels. According to NBC News, cash seizures have more than doubled this year around the Los Angeles area. Again, without as much contact and access to China’s criminal gangs, many Latin American drug cartels are less able to launder money and utilize bank wires in a clean, less traceable manner.

On the contrary, the National Post suggests that stress and anxiety within the U.S. are actually leading to increased demand for narcotics such as meth and fentanyl. This increasing demand is outgrowing meth withdrawal treatment programs, and obviously not meeting the current supply of these drugs, so the industry is subsiding from both sides.