After the killing of a major drug-cartel leader by Mexican army soldiers in western Mexico February 22, the popular incentive-group destination of Puerto Vallarta saw cartel members lash out violently in the streets, setting fire to stores, cars and buses and blocking local streets as well as routes to Puerto Vallarta International (PVR) Airport, the seventh-busiest airport in Mexico.
This caused federal and municipal authorities and the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico to issue shelter-in-place advisories not only in Puerto Vallarta but also in nearby Punta Mita and Riviera Nayarit, where other luxury hotels reside.
Many of the resorts across this area of western Mexico routinely host U.S.-based meeting and incentive groups, and have security gates at their entrances as well as fences or walls around the perimeter of their properties.
Additionally, the U.S. State Department issued a shelter-in-place advisory for other resort destinations in Mexico: Baja California state, which includes Cabo San Lucas, and the state of Quintana Roo, which includes Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen and Tulum. However, there were no reports of violence in those destinations as of midday February 23, and all facilities and services report they are operating normally.
As of late morning February 23, Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP) reported that “Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR) maintains operational conditions within its facilities, consistently prioritizing passenger safety,” and no violent incidents were reported there.
However, there were at least 47 cancellations of the approximately 65 flights scheduled into and out of the airport February 22. On February 23, the major airlines serving the airport—Air Canada, American, Delta, Southwest and United—cancelled nearly all of their flights in and out of PVR as well.
Flights are expected to resume February 24, said Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on the afternoon of February 23. Ride shares from companies such as Lyft and Uber were also suspended in Puerto Vallarta; it is unclear when those will resume.
The Effect on Incentive Groups
In a February 23 email to Meetings Today, Kate Patay, VP of global engagement for Terramar DMC, which has a presence in several popular meeting and incentive destinations in Mexico, noted that “we do have a couple of groups in that area [Puerto Vallarta] and all are safe at their resorts… Emergency preparedness plans were activated early Sunday morning.” She added that her office maintains ongoing communication not only with the firm’s personnel at host properties but also with local authorities.
