Los Cabos takes aim at new markets

IAN STALKER

Los Cabos wants to make tourism inroads into the eastern part of this country.
Rodrigo Esponda, who oversees the Los Cabos Tourism Board, told a recent Toronto gathering that his Pacific coast destination sees nonstop flights from eight Canadian cities, most of them in the West.
“We need to get more people from the East Coast … I’m sure with your help we’re going to,” he said.
Los Cabos refers to two towns, Cabo San Lucas, which often draws partyers attracted to its many bars, and San Jose del Cabo, the quieter of the two.
The towns are some 30 km apart.
Esponda said Los Cabos isn’t a tropical destination, being found in a desert-like setting home to mountains and which borders both the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortes.
Golf helped put Los Cabos on the tourism map, with Esponda noting the destination now has 15 courses and four more are in the works. Golfers can play courses designed by the likes of Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.
Also found are three marinas.
Esponda added that Los Cabos now has 16,000 hotel rooms and 4,000 more are in the works, making it the “fastest- growing [tourism] destination in Mexico.”
Among hotel brands that have recently decided to establish a Los Cabos presence are the likes of Grand Velas, Park Hyatt, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, and Four Seasons.
Some 70% of the hotels in the destination are EP properties, and Esponda reported that 200 rooms is the average for a hotel in Los Cabos, leading to greater “personalized service.”
Some properties are for adults alone.
Los Cabos is seen by some as an expensive destination, but Esponda said visitors can find hotels that are “very moderately priced.”
Meanwhile, Esponda said those vacationing in Los Cabos are virtually certain to enjoy sunny weather as the destination only sees about five days of rain a year.
Esponda also labelled the destination that he’s promoting “very romantic” destination.