DESTINATION
Monterrey, Mexico
Evolving into a first-class meetings destination By GiAnna Wyatt
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he emerging city of Monterrey is the capital of the state of Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Set against a mountainous backdrop, Monterrey boasts new infrastructure, modern hotels and a futuristic events center, Pabellon M. Yet the city is also known for its working-class culture and iron and steel industry. While the works have been shut down for decades, Monterrey has embraced that industrious history and blended it with 30,000 incoming businesses, including banking, telecomm and retail. Monterrey’s industrial past is exemplified by one of the city’s biggest attractions, The Horno Tres, also known as The Blast Furnace No. 3. The furnace was a large part of the steel production, and its building was declared a national monument. Today, the building functions as an interactive science center and technology museum, celebrating steel. Groups can dine in a sky-high restaurant called El Lingote, overlooking the beautiful park at the foot of the museum. It’s those kinds of experiences that have made Monterrey extremely popular with tourists and meeting groups. An average of 6.8 million visitors a year enjoy the city’s impressive architecture and award-winning cuisine. Points of cultural interest include Macoplaza, featuring
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celebratory statues of Spanish conquistadors; Monterrey Cathedral; The Mexican History Museum; The Monterrey Contemporary Art Museum; and the former palace of the governor. There are over 100 hotels and 11,800 guestrooms within the destination. For years, the Cintermex, accommodating 18,900, and the Convex Center, accommodating 3,000, have been the go-to venues for large groups. The latter facility, Monterrey’s convention center, houses 100,000 sq. ft. of total function space including 55,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space and 31 meeting rooms. Last year, the Pabellon M opened in the city center, presenting a new opportunity for groups in Monterrey. Pavilion M offers over two million sq. ft. of mixed space with an avant-garde design. There are a total of eight meeting rooms and three ballrooms with four breakout spaces. The massive campus includes the auditorium, which hosts up to 4,266 people. The egg-shaped structure is unique to the city, with a 52-story tower designed by architect Agustin Landa Vertiz. “Pabellon M was inspired by the area’s history with [materials] like glass, concrete and steel,” says Martha Pelayo, part of the commercial development team for FACILITIES & DESTINATIONS 2018 WINTER / SPRING