Cancun Offers Tax-free Meetings

In an attempt to draw visitors back to Cancun following the damage caused by Hurricane Wilma last year, the Mexico Tourism Board is offering exemptions to the usual 10-percent value-added tax to participants in all conventions, trade-shows and large meetings.

The tax normally applies to food and beverage, accommodations, entertainment and event services. According to the MTB, event planners should contact hotels, motels or venues registered with the Mexican internal revenue service to request an application for the exemption. The application asks for the show's name, venue, hotels and motels to be used, start and end dates, and all services to be provided during the event.

Cancun completed a $20.3 million beach recovery project in April and its 12 miles of coastline have since been reopened and are available for use.

Patricia Mancera Lopez, spokeswoman for the Cancun Convention & Visitors Bureau, said most facilities in the city have been repaired.

"In fact, many hotels and resorts have taken this opportunity to not only repair, but to upgrade their facilities as well," she said. "All of the area's attractions have reopened, and most of the restaurants have reopened as well."

Cancun Intl. Airport is undergoing two renovation projects. Before the hurricane, it typically handled 170 flights a day and 800,000 passengers per month, according to the Cancun CVB.