Meet Me in McAllen!

The McAllen Hospitality Forum, a team of professionals from the hotel, car rental, restaurant and convention services industries, were privileged to have at yesterday's monthly meeting the Mayor of McAllen, Richard Cortez. Mayor Cortez spoke of his style of leadership, his desire for input with ideas from the public and of his resulting vision for McAllen. Mayor Cortez is committed to facilitating additional features in McAllen that will make people want to come here. Some of the attractions that can happen within just a few years are:
The development of 67 acres into a mixed use destination. This property is right in the middle of town but currently "under water." It's a holding lake for our water. This lake will be moved to less valuable land by 2012.
The development of additional parks including soccer, softball, and tennis facilities that will serve not only our local population, but bring in tournaments from around the state.
McAllen is fortunate to have this type of leadership in place and we all left this meeting determined to do our part to make McAllen better than ever. Let's meet in McAllen!

Felipe Calderon President of Mexico in Cintermex

Today we have the visit of President of Mexico Felipe Calderon, who will attend the Expo CANITEC, which brings together the cable companies, equipment suppliers and industry profesionales in an event that offers solutions in technology and trends heading devoted to cable to cable television, where professionals share the improvements for the next generation in content. The building is highly protected by the guards of the President, but expected a large attendance at the event.

Fin de semana largo..........

En este mes de mayo habra un fin de semana largo para muchas familias ya que niños de pre-escolar y primaria tendran libres del dia 01 al 05 de mayo y es bueno para aprovechar las ofertas y comprar los regalos del dia de la madre en McAllen,,

Los invitamos para que crucen por el puente anzalduas,, mas rapido y mas seguro!!!


que tengan un excelente martes....

Your next convention/meeting belongs here at the McAllen Convention Center

There are many reason why your next convention/meeting belongs here at the McAllen Convention Center

The McAllen Convention Center opened in 2007, offering 174,000 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting space, and now McAllen is being recognized internationally as a prime destination city for conventions, conferences, and meetings.

Whether you are planning a tradeshow, convention, corporate meeting or special function, McAllen Convention Center is an ideal location.

The McAllen CVB’s sales staff and convention services team remain dedicated to making meeting planners’ lives easy and their events successful.

Fast Facts:
1) McAllen has over 600 restaurants
2) Over 6,850 area hotel rooms
3) Access to over 20 professional golf courses
4) McAllen Miller International Airport has over 27 daily flights
5) Close to South Padre Island
6) Eco-Tourism steps from the convention center
7) Enriched Mexican American culture
8) Historic Downtown District with Dining & Entertainment

Contact our sales and services team to answer your questions and tell you more about what the McAllen and Rio Grande Valley area offers to your meeting.

Let's Meet In McAllen!
Victor Castillo
Director of Convention Sales
McAllen Convention & Visitors Bureau
(956) 776-8599 Cell
(956) 682-2871 Office
http://www.mcallencvb.com
vcastillo@mcallencvb.com

Staycations Promotion will be offered again for Summer of 2010

Not sure what to do this summer? The McAllen Chamber of Commerce along with other Rio Grande Valley Cities will be offering residents a chance to save some green this summer by vacationing in our area. The McAllen Chamber will provide residents with a package containing coupons to local restaurants and activities in the area upon check in at participating hotels. Log on to www.mcallencvb.com for updates regarding this special promotion.

Caintra

Tomorrow will be held the Caintra monthly meeting where the topic will be the services and programs of the Center for Competitiveness of Monterrey and the Caintra community. They also are promoting a discount card, similar to our Value Card.

More and more people are saying: "Let's Meet In McAllen!"

More and more people are saying "Let's Meet In McAllen!" The City of McAllen is already recognized internationally as one of the fastest growing cities in America, and one of the friendliest cities in America. But that's not all, McAllen is a prime destination city for conventions, conferences, and meetings.

The question is: Is McAllen big enough to host your convention? The answer is Yes!!

The Texas Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) held its 2009 Annual Convention in McAllen accommodating 2,000 high school students during the 4-day event. Texas HOSA Executive Director, Janet Villareal, says they had a great time! "The Convention Center was a magnificent setting for our conference. I have not received nothing but positive comments about McAllen. This is truly a wonderful city to bring your conference to."

The McAllen Convention Center, offers 174,000 square feet of high-tech, state-of-the-art multifunctional meeting space, 59,400 square feet column-free exhibit hall, 23,800 square feet lobby concourse, 16 breakout rooms, and an elegant 10,148 square feet ballroom.

With abundant hotel rooms and a myriad of restaurants, night life, attractions and destinations eager to "show off" for visitors, McAllen is ready, willing and able to handle almost any event, large or small.

Wildlife and nature groups are also saying "Let's Meet In McAllen!" The North American Nature Photography Association recently awarded the 2011 Annual Convention to McAllen. Reasons behind the decision included its tropical climate, abundant birding locations, and the new McAllen Convention Center that is perfectly located and surrounded by shopping and restaurant areas. The traditional architecture and contemporary spirit will not only delight your eyes, it will enrich your senses and make you want to bring your next big event and say "Let's Meet In McAllen!"

The McAllen Convention and Visitors Bureau is pleased to offer assistance and services for conventions and meetings that utilize 100 or more hotel nights in McAllen properties. If your event brings in 500 or more hotel room nights in McAllen you may qualify for some of our incentive packages which include complimentary meeting and exhibit hall space. advance planning assistance, delegate packets, name badges, registration assistance, printing, mailing and marketing, and much more.

The bottom line is that McAllen is an affordable opportunity to host a convention in South Texas. 26 successful events held last year are just an example to make your organization say "Let's Meet In McAllen!"

Contact Information:
Victor Castillo
McAllen CVB Director of Sales
vcastillo@mcallencvb.com
(956) 682-2871 Office
(956) 776-8599 Cell

McAllen Chamber Installs Solar Panel Array

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce building now boasts a 10-panel solar array, generously donated by Green Mountain Energy. The switch will officially be turned on today by McAllen Mayor Richard Cortez at the official dedication ceremony.

We're very excited and appreciative to have received the array from Green Mountain Energy, and look forward to leading the way towards more energy efficient living in the City and Valley by reducing our carbon footprint. There are way too few alternative energy sources in the Valley now-hopefully more businesses and homeowners will begin to consider installing panels, those bird-friendly wind turbines, or other alternative sources.

Music After Hours Pre-Event Concert

Music After Hour this Friday, April 23rd will be at the McAllen Convention Center. We will have 2 stages, one on each side of the reflecting pool where local DJ's will spin their music from 5pm to 11pm. This Music After Hours show is a pre-event concert for the DeadMau5 concert on Saturday, April 24. For more information on this, please contact Greg Schuller at 956-687-2787.

We have been having a whole lot of rain in McAllen the past two weeks-well, a whole lot for us! Everything is incredibly green and the temperature is probably 5 to 7 degrees cooler than usual. This makes it a great time to be outdoors. If you like birding, fishing (the lakes are really full of bass) or any type of sports like golf, hiking, baseball, biking etc., this is the place to be. Actually, I like to swim but have not hit the pool yet because it's been so cool (I'm getting chicken in my old age) but now's the time to start. I'm also remembering a great kyaking trip we took in the Rio Grande last summer-and looking foward to doing it again. Let's meet in McAllen and have fun!

McAllen Chamber of Commmerce Getting Green Energy Right on Time for Earth Day...

"Commemorating the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 10 A.M. the McAllen Chamber and Green Mountain will unveil the Chamber’s first solar array and the first to power a Chamber in the entire Rio Grande Valley."

The McAllen Chamber of Commere is taking another step towards going green. It has acquired solar energy capabilities. "That's one small step for the McAllen Chamber of Commerce, one giant leap for the city of McAllen." I don't want to take away from crediting Neil Armstrong famous quote, "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." I'm simply borrowing this quote to make a point of a small accomplishment that may lead to major positive changes in the community and overall in the enviroment.

Get involved in your community and give a little back to nature,"Go Green..."

http://www.earthday.org/

McAllen's Vida Verde Earth Day Festival this Saturday at Quinta Mazatlan

For all nature enthusiasts, here is one festival you don't want to miss. Live shows, crafts, etc. Check out the website for more information about the event schedule. It's a "green" thing. McAllen, Texas's Vida Verde Earth Day Festival! Celebrate the wonders of Planet Earth during the third annual VIDA VERDE Earth Day Festival at Quinta Mazatlan! People of all ages will enjoy FREE festival activities all day long. Date: Saturday, April 17, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. FREE! http://www.quintamazatlan.com/events/special/vidaverde.aspx

Vida Verde Earth Day Festival! "Save the Date..." This Saturday April 17, 2010

To all nature enthusiats, here is one festival you may not want to miss. Live shows, crafts, etc. Check out the website for more information about the event schedule. It's a "green" thing.

Vida Verde Earth Day Festival!

Celebrate the wonders of Planet Earth during the third annual VIDA VERDE Earth Day Festival at Quinta Mazatlan!

People of all ages will enjoy FREE festival activities all day long!
Date: Saturday, April 17, 2010Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.Fee: FREE!

http://www.quintamazatlan.com/events/special/vidaverde.aspx

McALLEN STAYCATION PROMOTION

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce along with the Hidalgo County Coop will soon announce their STAYCATION PROMOTION 2010, in this promotion you will be able to take advantage of great prices in hotel rooms rates and many other attractions throughout the Rio Grande Valley. Please stay in tune for more information on STAYCATON PROMOTION.

Thank you,

Teo

McAllen hotel occupancy

Today I received an email which said the hotel occupancy of Holy Week and was very happy to know that despite the events of recent times, the Monterrey people confirmed that McAllen is their favorite city for shopping.

Special Music After Hours Show

Next Friday, April 23rd, Music After Hours will be at the McAllen Convention Center performing on 2 stages from 5pm to 11pm. Over 20 local DJ's will be performing at this DeadMaus pre-event outdoor show. The McAllen Chamber of Commerce, the City of McAllen, M3 Productions and Energetik are all working together to make this event happen. This event is FREE and open to the public. Let everybody know about this show and we will see you there.

People meeting in McAllen can now enjoy baseball at both the collegiate and professional level. With the season just beginning I'm happy to brag about our University of Texas Pan American team. We have a new athletic director and a new coach who bring a really high degree of professionalism to this prestigious University-recently more famous for academics than athlethics. UTPA has a rich history of success in baseball and I expect it to regain that stature. Let me know if you want a schedule of games. Our pro league team, the Roadrunners, has won it's league in recent years past and also provides a quality experience. Both teams play in a relatively new and very comfortable stadium. So, let's meet in McAllen and let's go out to the ballgame! By the way, if you are bringing a group to McAllen and want a group outing to the ballpark, we can make that happen. Call me or email at 956-682-2871 jdeuser@mcallencvb.com

Hundreds of devotees of nature photography visiting McAllen in 2011

Hundreds of devotees of nature photography are visiting McAllen in 2011. They will explore history, culture and natural diversity combined in one place, McAllen.

The Seventeenth Annual Nature Photography Summit and Trade Show is scheduled to take place in McAllen, March 9-13, 2011. The summit includes portfolio reviews, workshops, a trade show, vendor sessions and an awards celebration.

The North American Nature Photography Association or NANPA is an organization dedicated to photography of nature. Established in 1994, the association has more than 3,000 members currently. It annually sponsors many events and conferences, such as NANPA Road Shows, in the United States. Their official website is http://www.nanpa.org/

Stay up to date by visiting LetsMeetInMcAllen.com

Dining in McAllen....

McAllen has over a hundred restaurants that offer a variety of cuisines! Come join us for dinner...log on to www.mcallenchamber.com for a complete list of restaurants.

McALLEN HISTORICAL BOOK

Just to give you an idea how proud the citizens of McAllen are about their city, McAllen Centennial Publications, is planning on a publication on the history of our city. Come and join us for a 15-minute program on a dynamic book about the first 100 year of McAllen's History. For more information please call 682-2871.

Thank you,

Teo