Biography

Alicia Astudillo, marketing director for IVI Destination Management for the past ten years, is a professional’s professional. She can see the “big picture” and orchestrate the company’s marketing strategies throughout Latin America, but she also can roll up her sleeves to make sure an IVI proposal is precisely matched to a client's needs. IVI places a strong emphasis on marketing, and the company’s steady growth is due in large part to having Ms. Astudillo's steady presence in the wheelhouse.

Alicia began her career with a job as Sales Assistant and continuously has added to her skill set, and taken on increasingly more important responsibilities, ever since. She started in the hospitality business by working at service-oriented hotel chain such as Westin and Intercontinental hotels.

Ms. Astudillo says she "fell in love" with the destination management business nearly 20 years ago, and has become a consummate professional in this demanding arena. She admits to being addicted to continuing education, and has completed dozens of courses conducted by the Association of Destination Management Executives (ADME), Society of Incentive and Travel Executives (SITE), Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and Hospitality Partner in the Financial and Insurance Conference Planners (FICP HP). She also has competed specialized courses on ISO 9000 quality standards, and works hard to ensure that IVI Destination Management annually earns certification as the industry's only DMC to meet ISO quality standards.

Alicia earned the rare honor of becoming the first in Mexico to become a Destination Management Certified Professional. She currently is one of the international team for reviewing and rewriting the Best Practices in Destination Management Book produced by ADME.

Alicia leads an exceptionally talented and experienced team of marketing professionals, and makes sure that IVI’s role as the leading DMC in the Americas is visible in the marketplace. Ms. Astudillo’s program includes having IVI spokespeople and exhibit booths to promote the company's capabilities at the MICE industry's important trade shows worldwide.

Ms. Astudillo was born in Acapulco, where Mexico’s tourism industry began. She has lived briefly in inland metropolitan areas, but greatly prefers being surrounded by the sounds and breezes of the sea. In her leisure time, Alicia enjoys oil painting, reading a good book or taking in a movie.

Alicia is proud of her country, but she is strongly opposed to the old-fashioned Latin view of 'mañana' (tomorrow), where time is irrelevant. In her personal life, and with her professional marketing team at IVI, she has completely eliminated this concept And no-one appreciates this more than IVI's clients.

Personal Favorites

Local Attraction – My favorite is simply admiring the scenic beauty of the white sand beaches and the clear, turquoise-colored Caribbean sea in Cancun and the Riviera Maya All my life I’ve lived in seaside destinations – Acapulco, Los Cabos and Cancun – the these are the best of the best.

Recreational Activity – Enjoying a good movie is a nice alternative to fun in the sun. Most visitors don’t realize this, but Cancun has first-class movie theaters. And they also serve as excellent back-up venues in case of bad weather.

Restaurant – Two of my many favorites are the Café des Artistes in Puerto Vallarta and the Trattoria Da Giorgio in Los Cabos. Chef Thierry Blouet has made the Café des Artistes his city’s premier fine dining restaurant with a relaxed “gourmet bistro” ambiance, imaginative versions of both Mexican and French food, and great service. Trattoria Da Giorgio inhabits a hilltop Mediterranean villa overlooking Palmilla Bay. It serves authentic Italian food, almost all of it home-made on the premises. Both are a foodie’s paradise!

Local Tour – I actually have many favorites but will mention just two. Chichen Itza. This treasure is one of the best-preserved archaeological sites in Mexico, and it’s just two hours away from Cancun. During its golden years it was the most important political, economic and religious center for the Mayan civilization. You can do the trip on one day or preferably stay overnight and enjoy the light and sound show. Chichen Itza recently was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, after a worldwide voting via the Internet. The other one is in Costa Rica, in the Cloud Forest, there is a tour that takes you to Braulio Carrillo National Park, where you can opt for an aerial tram tour or a simple walk (that turns out an amazing experience). This is a 'must' tour if you are visiting Costa Rica.

Local Event – The amazing night-time show at Xcaret. It’s impossible to describe in words, but this is a magnificent show on a giant stage where 300 costumed performers use music and dance to review Mexico’s history and culture from the Aztecs to the country’s independence from Spain. It simply is the best show you can see anywhere in Mexico.