For the first time since 2008, hotel occupancy is up by one percentage point, marking the first increase in two years. Largely cited as a mark of the global economy, tourism has been hampered for the last few years, but is continuing to steadily rise throughout the nation.

Tourism Secretary Gloria Guevara said it “was a fantastic year for tourism.”

Hotel occupancy clocked in at 87.3 percent for the period of January to April of 2010. To read the full story, click here.

The Hilton empire has extended their reach into Mexico with an announcement yesterday that they will begin construction shortly on a new Doubletree by Hilton full service hotel in Mexico.

The multi-year management agreement with Consorcio Hotelero S.A. de C.V. includes terms of construction that are slated to begin within the month, with an estimated completion time somewhere around March of 2011.

“Doubletree by Hilton, Merida is another fine example of our efforts to expand the Hilton Worldwide portfolio of brands throughout Mexico and Latin America,” commented Danny Hughes, senior vice president, Caribbean, Mexico and Latin America, for Hilton Worldwide. “This agreement comes on the heels of the recent opening of Hilton Mexico City Reforma - the first managed Hilton property in the city center.  Now, we announce another great milestone for Hilton Worldwide as we bring the Doubletree by Hilton brand to this exciting country, and are pleased to being doing so with such reputable hospitality professionals.”

To read the full story, click here.

The Wall Street Journal recently named Mexico as one of the top ten foreign investment areas in the world, in a huge nod to the country.

“Mexico has moved back into the world’s top-10 most attractive countries for foreign direct investment as U.S. companies seek low-cost production closer to home, consulting firm A.T. Kearney said Monday.
 

Mexico’s attractiveness for investment ranks 8th worldwide this year, up from 19th at the end of 2007, according to A.T. Kearney’s FDI Confidence Index for 2010, which is based on a survey of global business executives.”

To read the full article, click here:

Secretary of Clinton continued to praise Mexico’s progressive nature, this time, in the realm of online innovation. The US Secretary of State, highlighted Mexico as a leader in social media responsibility, a priority for the Secretary under the Obama administration.

“And in Mexico, a single email from a private citizen who was fed up with drug-related violence snowballed into huge demonstrations in all of the country’s 32 states. In Mexico City alone, 150,000 people took to the streets in protest. So the internet can help humanity push back against those who promote violence and crime and extremism.”

To read the release, click here.

PBS’ popular program The News Hour, recently did a profile on the multitudes of Americans enjoying their retirement in Mexico. The country has long been a hotspot for American ex-pats, but in recent years, retirees have discovered the joys and wonders of enjoying their twilight years in Mexico.

To read the full article, click here.

Peter Ferry of the Chicago Tribune makes a compelling case for Americans to travel to Mexico by car. According to the writer, it not only makes fiscal sense, but it is sure to also make for a great time. With security and influenza being a non-issue, as Ferry puts it, there has never been a better time to visit Mexico, by plane, car, or any mode of transportation. To read the full article, click here.

The University of Queensland recently published a story about one of it’s students, Alison Rae, who recently studied abroad in Mexico at the Tecnologico de Monterrey. Her tale is one of fun, adventure, and cultural understanding, even in the face of the H1N1 health crisis.

According to the student,

“I would definitely recommend Mexico as a place to go on exchange – the culture and way of life is very different to Australia but a great experience.”

With swine flu interrupting her first Mexican adventure, Ms Rae will resume her travels once the end-of-semester exams are complete.

“It happened a week before the assessment period, my brother was just about to arrive and we had plans to travel for about three weeks,” she said.

“I had to leave Mexico a few weeks early, so there were a few places I didn’t get to see and I’m also keen to explore Central America.”

To read the full story, click here.

Relaxing is a tough job, but somebody has to do it. Mexico’s top spas were recognized among the best in a recent finding published by ABC News.

“Only two spas in the Eastern U.S. made it onto Travel + Leisure’s top 10 list of the world’s best destination spas. Canyon Ranch in Lenox, Mass., was No. 4 on the list and The Lodge At Woodloch in Hawley, Pa., was 10th. Spas in Arizona, California, Mexico and Texas took the other spots, beginning with Mii amo, A Destination Spa At Enchantment, in Sedona, Ariz., in first place. Maya Tulum Wellness Retreat & Spa in Mexico was second, followed by Miraval, Arizona Resort & Spa, in Tucson.”

To read the full ABC News article, please click here.

Forget Maui… Mexico has been named the most popular travel destination according to a recent study by Forbes’ Best Traveler.

“In a year when economic indicators took Grand Canyon-sized plunges, it should come as no surprise that fewer Americans jetted off to foreign lands than they did the previous year.  Oscar Fitch, CEO of the Mexico Tourism Board, attributes the increase in Americans’ travel to Mexico to the southern neighbor’s “added value, proximity and diversity.” In tight economic times, Fitch adds, “Mexico’s proximity to the U.S. and Canada makes it a perfect choice for North Americans seeking shorter vacations or destinations closer to home… [and] Mexico offers travelers more value for their money, regardless of their budget.”"

To read the full article, click here.