Mexico City and Madrid firms have been awarded a contract as a private joint venture to manage the convention centers of Los Cabos and La Paz in Baja California Sur, the lower half of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula. Trade Fair Institution of Madrid (IFEMA) and Actidea, S.A. de C.V. were declared winners of an international bidding contest.

“I’m sure they will be able to optimize this incredible infrastructure to stimulate the meetings and events industry in the state,” said Luis Genaro Ruiz Hernandez, state minister of tourism. “The meetings and events industry is a fundamental complement to diversify the tourism product of both destinations.

The convention center in Los Cabos has yet to be fully refurbished after damage by Hurricane Odile in 2014. The La Paz venue needs upgrading to be competitive in today’s economic climate, especially in the areas of catering and audiovisual equipment.

“Now the next step is to establish contractual conditions in order to start with repairs, maintenance and equipment of both convention centers,” Genaro Ruiz said.

IFEMA has more than 30 years’ experience as an event organizer of trade shows, conventions, large congresses and sporting events, making it one of Spain’s biggest players in that arena. Actidea boasts two decades of coordinating and producing high-level events in Mexico and internationally

The Los Cabos Convention Center, which opened in 2012, features more than 58,000 sq. ft. of event space and can host groups of up to 6,000. The La Paz Convention Center, smaller but only two years old, offers 32,000 sq. ft. of event space and a capacity of 3,200 attendees.

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