The SITE Global Conference 2025 is around the corner, scheduled for March 3-6 in Tulum, Mexico. Here, a Mexico-based incentives expert has some tips for attendees.
Ahead of its Global Conference 2025, SITE’s Head of Membership & Chapters Dallas Lyons connected with David Diaz Escalante, CEO of Procesa Event Management and Incentives—with offices throughout Mexico and in the UAE—to find out about the ancient Mayan destination of Tulum and why it’s the perfect spot for the convention.
Q: Why should incentive professionals be excited right now about an incentive destination like Mexico?
A: Mexico continues to expand its services and incentive experiences.
Emerging destinations continue to be hidden jewels when creating memorable activities. For example, if you are a wine-lover, we have Parras, Mexico. This beautiful town is home to the oldest winery in all of Latin America, Casa Madero. Here, you can find excellent award-winning wines and a great hotel inside Casa Madero. There are some other essential wineries too, like Parvada and Don Leo: to mention just a couple.
You have colonial cities such as San Miguel de Allende; or experience the woods of Tlaxcala, where you can observe fireflies as they light up the night during a group excursion.
Q: How can incentive professionals integrate elements of Mexican culture into their incentive programs in responsible and respectful ways?
A: Mexicans are proud of our traditions, and there are many unique things to experience all over Mexico.
The Day of the Dead [for example] is something that has become popular all over the world because it seems like a party. Still, the day is meant to show respect for people who are not with us anymore.
In Mexico, we say “you die twice”—the moment you leave this world, and the moment the last person in the world remembers you. Remembering and having contact with them is like preparing your house for a special guest: you have everything that this person liked when they were alive.
Other magical moments happen this time of year too, such as when butterflies arrive during their annual migration from Canada. They fly across all of Canada and the US to come to Mexico for the winter.
It is something magical that you must experience once in your life; but the funny fact is that ancient people thought that the spirit of your loved ones came back from the dead to visit you once a year in the body of a butterfly. Guess when this happens? Yes, during the Day of the Dead.
Other ways to integrate elements of Mexican culture includes researching things yourself, to educate those who may participate in your incentive program. Or find a local partner who can help create a meaningful experience for your group.
Q: Do you have any tips for members already planning ahead for SITE Global Conference?
A: If this is your first time in Cancun and Riviera Maya, Mexico, you can’t miss the Mayan cultural heritage. Visit the pyramids of Chichen Itza, explore the Cenotes [underground caves and rivers], and Tulum itself is a great spot.
If you have been there, I also recommend spending some days in Mexico City. There, you can find the Teotihuacan Pyramids and even schedule a balloon ride over them.
There are also plenty of museums: Mexico City has the second most museums in the world, behind London.
After that, you can visit Guadalajara, a mixture of colonial modern elements in a single city, with a lot of restaurants.
Forty-five minutes from Guadalajara, there’s a little town named Tequila: where Tequila was born. You can experience the Tequila-making process and learn all about it.
Guadalajara is next to Chapala Lake, the biggest lake in Mexico. This is where a large community of Canadians and Americans live. And three-and-a-half hours from there, you will be at Puerto Vallarta, a fantastic beach with a Mexican town flavor.
Q: What will SITE Mexico be doing as a chapter to build on the excitement and energy around #SITEGC 2025?
A: We will be working closely with everyone in the incentive industry to be part of this experience.
Especially exciting right after Global Conference, SITE Mexico will run an educational program for emerging Mexican and other regional destinations to grow and to be prepared for incentive groups.
During this event, our primary focus will be on new incentive experiences. This program will help locals rediscover themselves and develop memorable experiences.
We will share this educational program with chapters in Latin America. This collaboration will undoubtably increase SITE’s brand awareness and membership in 2025.
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