The thirteenth edition of the "Los Cabos VIP Summit", which annually brings together the best professionals of the hospitality industry started. Airlines, wholesale travel agencies, tour operators, online travel agencies, hotels, resorts, tourism companies and special guests have gathered with the purpose of firming up the image, positioning and appeal of the destination to attract more visitors and boost local economic progress.

 The VIP Summit 2019 brings together more than 350 industry professionals for three days of activities with 935 (approx.) business meetings to be held with the participation of more than 70 business partners from 14 countries, who will be working together with Los Cabos professionals to generate greater sales for the destination. Also this event is attended by more than 30 representatives from emerging markets from China, Russia, Australia, Europe, Korea, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Ecuador.

"Through the VIP Summit we seek to diversify our markets and bring together various members of the tourism industry to boost the promotion and competitiveness of the destination, making known the geographical, gastronomic, recreational and sporting activities, as well as the wide range of hotels and resorts as well as innovations and new experiences in the area, that together have placed us as one of the most important vacation destinations in Mexico, ”said Rodrigo Esponda, General Director of the Tourism Trust Fund of Los Cabos.

Within the framework of the current VIP Summit, different presentations are being held with the participation of prominent guests from the international leisure industry, including Nancy Trejos, Hospitality Editor at Skift; Felicia Feaster, Travel Channel and HGTV Digital Editor; Eric Mora, Destinations Editor for Travel Weekly, and Mindy Poder, Executive Editor for Travel Age West. Also a presentation on sustainable tourism will be given by María Claudia Lacouture, former Columbian Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism.

From November 11th to 13th, the 2019 VIP Summit takes place at the Los Cabos International Convention Center (ICC), a 72,000 Square Foot structure with capability to hold up to seven thousand people, with the equipment, furniture and facilities to host high-level professional events. In addition, it’s a building with sustainable architecture, 1,500 meters of green walls inside and out, with 1,900 photocells that generate clean energy.

For Cabo News Today, Translation; Tony Perez

Less than 15 days away from the red carpet gala inauguration of the Los Cabos International Film Festival (LCIFF) in its 8^th edition takes place November 13th to 17th at the Cultural Pavilion in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur with the Latin America Premier of  The Irishman by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro who is expected to be present for the screening and inaugural event, the organizing committee offered a press conference to publicize details of the festival.

Alejandra Paulín, Executive Director and Maru Garzón, Artistic Director of the LCIFF together with the President of the Culture Institute of Grupo Questro Alfonso Pasquel, chaired the meeting to which Eduardo Sánchez Navarro, president of the Questro Group and founder of the Festival, joined in.

• The Gala Red Carpet event will take place as in years before, at the Cultural Pavilion in Cabo San Lucas where the opening night screening also will be presented.
• For the second consecutive year, the public will be able to enjoy free screenings on Médano Beach in front of Casa Dorada Hotel on November 14^thand 15^thby booking 624 163 5764 or by mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Free exhibitions will also be shown down town San José del Cabo at Plaza Mijares in the heart of the art district.
• For the first time the festival extends itself to the state capitol La Paz with the presentation of two Mexican film classics: Macario and La Leyenda de Nahuala.
• The Green section of the festival continues with films such as Marona, Honeyland, Anthropocene and the documentary film The Human Epoch, that describes the impact that human beings have had on the planet giving rise to a new geological era.
• After Dark (Horror Film Genre) and the Los Cabos sections will offer interesting films like in years past.
• Confirmed.  Actress of the multi-award-winning film Roma directed by  Alfonso Cuarón, Yalitzia Aparaicio will be present during the festival and will receive the Fantastic Women Award, which focuses on strengthening inclusion as well as equal opportunities of women in the industry.

The inaugural film The Irishman will be shown on November 14th at 8:30 p.m. at Cinemex Hall 5 in Cabo San Lucas. Admittance is free.

• Filmmaker Ira Sachs, maximum exponent of New York’s independent cinema. His film career will receive recognition during the festival where his most recent film Frankie will receive its Latin America debut, and two other of his films will be shown Keep the Light On (2012) and Love is Strange (2014).
• Films will also be presented under the labels of Cinema in Development; Work in Progress; Los Cabos Competition, and Mexico First.

Finally it was confirmed that ticket prices for all screenings at Cinemex Puerto Paraiso will be offered at lower than normal costs and there will be special promotions for those who want to attend the galas.

For more information: http://www.cabosfilmfestival.com

For Cabo News Today, Translation; Tony Perez

Details on the 14th edition of Los Cabos gourmet food festival Sabor a Cabo, described as the sum of efforts by restaurants, chefs and sponsors, which have bet on this benefit event for the Red Cross, Firemen of Los Cabos and Los Cabos Children Foundation, were presented at a recent press conference. 

Gianmarco Vela, current president of Sabor a Cabo, highlighted several innovations that will take place during this 14th edition. One of them is that the public will be voting during the event in the following categories:

Most original stand

Best service Staff 

Select your three favorite dishes

Your favorite pairing

Favorite wine

“Now with the public's vote the participating restaurants will be able to obtain recognition by the attendees to the festival who are the all our special guests.¨

He added that a raffle was held among the 40 participating restaurants and each one now has to pair a dish with one of the participating wines. With this, the experience at Sabor a Cabo elevates to be a unique and exceptional gourmet festival in Mexico. ”

This year for the first time the festival has made alliances with seven hotels: Grand Solmar, Hacienda del Mar, Hacienda Encantada, Hotel Bahía, Mar Del Cabo, Playa Grande and Solaz a LUXURY COLLECTION RESORT.

Each hotel has prepared special tour packages with attractive rates for national guests and include: tickets for the event, with the option of an extended stay so that they can get to know Los Cabos through a week of gastronomic events that conclude with Sabor a Cabo Rural on 8 December.

Enrique Silva, coordinator of Invited Chef explained another new concept “Chef with Sabor a Cabo”, a cooking competition that includes six participating restaurants: Carbón Cabrón, Grand Velas, La Galería, La Roca, Nick-San y Sunset Monalisa.

“Each restaurants host chef has invited a guest award winning chef of some recognition among the world's top to become part of the team. They will have 45 minutes to prepare two dishes, one cold and one hot. Then by a draw the restaurants are divided into two groups and compete with each other.

Totuaba fish was chosen as the protein and to highlight local gastronomic elements, ingredients from the region will be used in the preparation each dish.

Three judges have been invited by Sabor a Cabo to deliberate the results of this contest: Jean George Vongerichten, Francis Reynard and Jonatan Gomez Luna. Each of them brings their knowledge and experience in international competitions such as Bocuse d'Or in order to take culinary art to the next stage.

Rodrigo Esponda, Director of the Tourism Trust of Los Cabos, commented on the importance of implementing this dynamic of guest chefs within the event.

“Every year this festival truly surprises and exceeds expectations. Both in gastronomic quality with excellent local chefs and now add 9 international chefs all focused in one place. Gastronomy is now a reason why visitors decide to take a trip to Los Cabos, for the pleasure of trying new flavors. Definitely Sabor a Cabo is the event that every foodie must attend. "

Without a doubt, the economic windfall that this festival generates is very important, especially if we consider that this year there are host hotels and a week of gastronomic events, it has been a lot of hard work in organizing. ”

Finally Gustavo Laborde, president of CANIRAC Los Cabos, said “Sabor a Cabo confirms the goodwill all CANIRAC members have for Los Cabos. The return to a gastronomic focus as the main ingredient and a spectacular concert; let’s make this festival sound worldwide! ”

There are still tickets available for individual sale or by table in the Chef View and Central areas, and can be purchased on the website www.saboracabo.com.

For Cabo News Today, Translation Tony Perez

The inauguration of the Four Seasons hotel took place, it is the starting point of the consolidation for the Costa Palmas development, in the municipality of Los Cabos, Governor Carlos Mendoza Davis, said that labor tranquility as well as social tranquility are what characterize Baja California Sur, in addition to its incomparable natural beauties, continue to be the main attraction for new investments to be added to the economic and social development that has characterized the entity in recent years.

Governor Mendoza Davis mentioned that during the more than four years of his administration, he has worked intensely to consolidate a better future for South-California families that today can be seen having better living conditions; and stressed that as part of that effort, investor confidence has been decisive, since their contribution has meant the generation of jobs demanded by those living in Baja California Sur.

“We are pleased that this certainty has managed to attract the Four Seasons brand. For us it is a source of pride and satisfaction that an investment of 800 million dollars is made, which means another point of support for greater growth and prosperity. In addition, we are pleased to know that this is a brand that has all the willingness to participate in the internal supply chain and structure that we are building in our entity, ”he said.

The state executive recalled that tourism is the engine that drives the development of Baja California Sur, because our natural vocation towards this sector has solid foundations in advantages such as the natural beauty, our culture and our climate; but above all, in the qualities of Sur Californians, who are open, friendly and generous people.

Accompanied by the Secretary of Tourism, Economy and Sustainability, Luis Humberto Araiza López, also by Jason Grosfeld, Chairman and CEO of Irongate - Costa Palmas developer and Vince Parrotta representatives of the Four Seasons brand. The Governor highlighted the opening of this tourist compound, located in the East Cape, in the community of La Ribera, municipality of Los Cabos, comes to increase the competitiveness of the destination and the entity, since it will offer world class services, a golf course, as well as a marina, which will give greater impulse of nautical tourism in the region.

It is estimated that it will generate five thousand direct and 10 thousand indirect jobs, for the benefit of more Sur Californian families, who now will have the opportunity to join formal employment.

In addition, the installed capacity of the destination will increase, since its four hotels and 600 residential units will allow up to five thousand travelers to be received, which is expected to generate an annual economic benefit of more than 25 thousand 500 million pesos.

Finally, Carlos Mendoza recognized the general director of the complex, Rodrigo Bretón, for the trust placed in the entity. He recalled that Baja California Sur is a national leader in economic growth, reflecting that it is a safe and reliable state for investments, "we are a land of realities and a promise of financial success for any investor," he concluded.

Translation by Tony Perez Dillon