The geographical, political and economical importance of Mexico as an intercontinental bridge has turned it into a vibrant, dynamic and cosmopolitan megalopolis where business and trade are at the top of the agenda. However controversial or difficult to evaluate, the North American Free Trade Agreement signed by the U.S., Canada and Mexico, has suffered from global changes since its implementation in 1994; the openness of Mexico's economy is a testament to its historical ability to adapt. Recent political changes have resulted in a national and international focus on the economy and the fortification of relationships with overseas partners at both ends of the supply-demand chain. The federal government's desire to bolster its ever-closer ties to the U.S. is dependent on innovation in security, infrastructure and education to improve the quality of life of a developing Mexican population. The clash of social classes and the constant struggle between modernity and tradition that appears to play out on every street corner creates an incredible cultural backdrop to an avant-garde and sophisticated city that thrives on contrasts. Mexico's capital, known as the D.F. (dey efe), represents the natural entryway for the North American market. A booming manufacturing economy and a strong and durable base of natural resources that is slowly opening up to foreign partnerships, provides the city with a crucial position in the concert of nations.
Facts
to Know Before You Go
Currency:Mexican
Peso
The Mexican Peso (MXN) is freely converted into any major international currency. It is highly recommended not to obtain your Mexican pesos outside of Mexico, since the exchange rate tends to be, in most cases, unfavorable. Better to get your pesos right upon arrival in Mexico City, at the international arrivals terminal of the airport with major overseas bank branches, ATMs and exchange bureaus or at the front desk of your hotel.
Many high street banks in Mexico are now recognizable global brands such as HSBC, Scotiabank and Santander and even some of the local-sounding ones are owned by multinationals (e.g. Banamex by Citibank). All have an extensive network of ATMs throughout the city. Major international credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Diners Club) are accepted at most of the city's commercial outlets, restaurants, shops and hotels.
Traveler's checks are easily exchangeable as well, but not necessarily preferred. Pesos can easily be exchanged back into dollars at the airport. Keep in mind that unlike in many Mexican beach resorts and border towns, U.S. dollars are rarely accepted as means of payment in Mexico City, except for tips at hotels.
Transportation:
Benito
Juárez International Airport is Mexico
City's major point of entry for most business
travelers to the Mexican capital. Public transportation,
taxis and private cars will take you to any
part of the urban sprawl, but taxis are your
best bet, considering the overcrowding in buses
and the subway. Be sure to get one of the Authorized
taxis (yellow and white colored), Sitio
300 being most convenient. You'll need to
pay for the service in advance. Right after
passing through immigration and customs you'll
find a ticket booth on your left hand side (also
yellow and white colored) where you'll be asked
your destination, upon which the rate is based
(between $20 and $45 to the major business districts).
Upon paying, you'll get a paper ticket to be
handed to the driver, and told where to board
your taxi (all the way to the left, as you look from the arrivals terminal towards the street). Tipping taxi drivers
is completely at your discretion. Do avoid getting
an unauthorized cab directly on the street (usually
old Volkswagen beetles, green and white colored).
Information:
The only English daily newspaper in Mexico City is The News, offering Mexican and international coverage and a decent business section. It is available on newsstands, in the citywide cafeteria chain, Sanbourns, and in airports. International editions of major U.S. newspapers are offered at the same locations, plus some news outlets, mostly in the Polanco, Lomas, Santa Fe and downtown areas. The major newspapers in the city are El Universal, Reforma, Milenio, El Economista, El Financiero, Crónica and La Jornada, which is the most liberal of the dailies at this level. For the intrepid Spanish reader, a large number of subject-specific and politically one-sided publications, (e.g. Esto or Record for sport and El Sendero del Peje for left-wing banter) are widely available.
Expansión is the top business magazine in the country, with in-depth analysis of the economic and financial markets of Mexico and Latin America, although it is only available in Spanish. Chilango, published on a monthly basis, has amongst its contents the Mexico City edition of Time Out Magazine, with a concise but rewarding English section.
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A
grande dame on Mexico City's hotel scene, the Four Seasons
has a remarkable internal courtyard, an oasis of tranquility
contrasting with the city's hectic rhythm. Its location
on Mexico City's most important thoroughfare, Paseo
de la Reforma, is one big advantage for the business
traveler, given its proximity to the major business,
commercial and entertainment areas of the city. Superior
and deluxe rooms offer multi-line phones and high-speed
Internet connections. The Business Center is open 24/7
and provides printing and color scanning services, plus
two boardrooms (reserve in advance). The Spa and Health
Center, right next to each other, are perfectly juxtaposed
with the bar on the courtyard level, with one of the
best tequila reserves around town.
JW
Marriott Hotel Mexico City
Andrés Bello 29
Col. Chapultepec Polanco
52 55 5999 0000 marriott.com
Home
to the most important private business meeting center
in town, the Club de Industriales, this hotel provides
spectacular views over Chapultepec Park, and—on
non-smoggy days—over the entire city, especially
from one of the five Terrace Suites located on the
top floors. When it comes to business trips, the JW
Marriot keeps its reigning place among the city's
choices. It accommodates a whole executive floor with
54 rooms on top of twelve junior suites and a presidential
one. All rooms have wireless plus broadband Internet
connections and two telephone lines. The executive
floor rooms and all of the suites have 24/7 access
to the lounge, where amenities such as continental
breakfast and butler service are readily available.
Meet a business partner in the Lobby Lounge for a
drink or blow off steam in the spa or fitness center.
Novotel
Mexico Santa-Fe
Antonio Dovali Jaime 75
Col. Centro de Ciudad Santa Fe
52 55 9177 7700 www.novotel.com
Ten
years ago, Santa Fe, located in the hilly westernmost
part of Mexico City, was nothing more than the site
of a prestigious private university. Once the most
important litter dump in town, today this area of
D.F. is synonymous with affluence and business. From
Coca-Cola to 3M Worldwide to Standard & Poor's,
almost all the important names in business are moving
here, but there still aren't many accommodation options
in this financial center. The Novotel has more than
100 rooms that come with Wi Fi Internet and Juda view
ports. Seven conference rooms with capacity for up
to 150 people and the major advantage of being blocks
away from one of the best shopping malls in the city
(Centro Comercial Santa Fe), make the Novotel a sure
bet when business brings you to this side of town.
Sheraton
Centro HistóricoHotel
Av. Juárez 70
Col. Centro
52 55 5130 5300 www.sheratonmexico.com
This
addition to D.F.'s business-oriented hotels, the Sheraton
Centro Histórico Hotel is convenient, especially
if your trip involves meetings at government offices
or any branch of the public administration, given
its proximity to the old historic quarter of town
where most of these are situated. Its best rooms are
the Corner Suites, which feature state-of-the-art
technology and awesome 180-degree views. It also provides
rooms with small, handy kitchenettes for longer stays.
In the spacious lobby, the hotel hosts one of Mexico
City's most memorable restaurants, especially for
lunch, Los Canarios. It offers a wide range of Mexican
haute cuisine, and is a very good place for treating
clients to a good caballito of tequila (that's
the glass into which it is poured). The Sheraton boasts
an original Diego Rivera mural, "Tarde de Domingo
en la Alameda," which was almost lost to the
severe earthquake that shook the city in 1985.
W
Mexico City
Campos Elíseos 252
Col. Chapultepec Polanco
52 55 9138 1800 www.starwoodhotels.com
The
W brand has proven to cater to business travelers
with a twist (think "Sensory Set Up" meetings
with aromatherapy), and this first Latin American
outpost is no exception. All of its 237 rooms, including
the apartment-like Lofts and Presidential/Extreme
WOW Suites, offer an oversized work area, wireless
broadband Internet connections, fax, scanner and printer,
plus the usual W Whatever/Whenever 24-hour, butler-style
service. Cherry colored rooms with pretty comfortable
hammocks go along perfectly with the in-house Away
Spa, offering a wide range of massages, body and facial
treatments. The W has a respectable number of meeting
rooms, and its Sunday brunch at Solea restaurant tends
to be pretty rewarding. To wrap up your stay, the
W hotel, ideally located in the heart of Polanco's
upscale shopping and entertainment district, houses
the Whiskey Bar, a fine place to mingle among Mexico
City's beautiful people for a drink or two.
HOTEL SPECIALS Four
Seasons Hotel México, D.F. With plenty of modern
amenities to keep both business and pleasure travelers
satisfied, this gem of a hotel is an oasis in
the middle of a sometimes chaotic Mexico City.
Dine in the elegant Reforma 500, lounge in the
comfortable Presidential Suite or relax with a
spa treatment featuring a unique tequila rub. Stay at the luxurious Four Seasons in the heart of Mexico City. Book online now and save.
Where
to Dine
Au Pied de Cochon
Campos Elíseos 218
Col. Chapultepec Polanco
52 55 5327 7756
12/20
$$$$$
Adjacent to the Presidente Intercontinental Hotel, right down in Campos Elíseos, another top-of-the line Polanco street, Au Pied de Cochon is a sure bet for all kinds of purposes during a business trip. Open until late at night, it provides a good spot for the after-drinks munchies. At lunchtime it is a preferred place for expats and locals alike, dealing with serious issues, from mergers to bankruptcy. And at night its stoic ambience offers the perfect background for a smart or casual business dinner; it's also pretty romantic, if you need to consider that option as well. Yes, you guessed right, pork is among its specialties.
Bakéa
Sierra Ventana 700-5
Col. Lomas de Chapultepec
52 55 5520 7472
15/20
$$$$$
With
only fifteen tables, an internationally awarded menu
inspired by Basque, French and Mexican cuisines and
a discrete, hard-to-find location, Bakéa is
arguably one of the best—if not the best—restaurants
in the city. Owner and executive chef Vicente Etchegaray
has consolidated a small culinary emporium that well
deserves a visit, especially while in the city for
business. Their dreamy crème brûlée
will definitely soften even the toughest client.
El Cardenal
Palma 23
55 21 81 15-17
16/20
$$$$$
Regarded as the best Mexican restaurant in the city, El Cardenal serves refined versions of national classics like Chilaquiles (fried tortillas in a tomato and chili sauce) and delicacies such as Tortilla de escamole (ant larvae omelet) and Maguey cactus worms in an upper class setting The menu offers a huge choice that also varies in accordance with seasonal availability of fresh ingredients, e.g. cuitlacoche (known as Mexican caviar), to create specialty dishes. The restaurant started in the heart of the Downtown area (Centro Histórico) and now also resides in the new Sheraton with an equally young sibling in the business area of Lomas de Chapultepec,. They are full at lunchtime, so reserving a table is a must.
El Malayo
Plaza Rio de Janeiro 56
Col. Roma Norte
55 14 76 86
18/20
$$$$$
For those whose business interests may involve the media or pop culture industries, this is a new target for your ¨be seen¨ expense account. The menu at El Malayo changes every month in order to offer exquisite dishes from across the entire South East Asia region. The tom yum soup with seafood, grilled scallop salad in lemon-grass dressing and organic chicken in green curry are noted favorites. In a tucked-away but easily accessible and finely decorated location, El Malayo enjoys an undisturbed view of the fountain and public art that set off the beautiful Plaza Rio de Janeiro. This relaxed establishment provides a very quiet setting for an important business lunch or dinner in a chic neighborhood.
The
first restaurant of Mexican nouvelle cuisine's top representative,
chef Mónica Patiño, has been a meeting
place for the city's smart set for more than five years.
It's been keeping up its high standards, and given its
privileged Polanco setting, business types are especially
drawn here at lunch time. The menu boasts a surprisingly
tasty "merger" between Mexican ingredients
and pan-Asian recipes. Service is impressive and personal;
the restaurant is considerably small but has a rewarding
Japanese-like garden, which is refreshing in the hot
and steamy springtime, when tables can be arranged there.
Shu
Santa Fe 55
Col. Lomas de Santa Fe
52 55 5292 4834
16/20
$$$$$
Following
a boom of Asian-inspired restaurants all over the city,
Shu is becoming the focal point for the business-oriented
community in Santa Fe. From the renowned Japanese chain
Suntory, Shu is the incarnation of a renewed concept
which brings the hip vibe of 21st-century Tokyo to the
heart of Mexico, wrapped up in a very selective sense
of goût. In the lobby of the Fiesta Americana
Santa Fe, it has floor-to-ceiling windows, which give
the whole place a glowing atmosphere. Strictly Teppanyaki
tables sprawl in the black-and-white dining room. There's
a perfect wine cellar, which is no reason to underestimate
their fine sake selection.
Every
city needs a pair of lungs, and Mexico City is no exception.
A former royal palace, the seat of an empire and, at
one time the scene of a brutal confrontation between
American and Mexican forces, Chapultepec Park provides
the city with much needed CO2 and a very diverse set
of entertaining options. The Castillo, the former residence
of Maximilian of Habsburg, now houses the National History
Museum. Here you also find the National Museum of Anthropology,
the Tamayo Museum of Contemporary Art and the Museum
of Modern Art. Chapultepec also boasts a major zoo and
the oldest roller coaster in the country. The perfect
backdrop for all these museums are more than 1,600 acres
of greenery, along with lakes, running paths and plenty
of picnic space. Even if it's just for a run, a short
walk, a quick lesson on the country's history or a much
needed break from business meetings, Chapultepec provides
the ideal answer. Its proximity to Polanco makes it
also handy for those staying on the hotel strip there.
Founded
in 1994, this enchanting museum—a former hacienda
in the once remote town of Xochimilco, now part of the
big megalopolis—is home to the biggest private
collection of works by Mexican maestro Diego Rivera.
Dolores Olmedo, who used to live in this house, was
the most important collector and promoter of Rivera's
work; Olmedo posed for Rivera on several occasions,
and some even say they were lovers. Olmedo managed to
open the museum, her lifelong dream, before her death.
Along with 137 paintings of Rivera's and 25 from his
former wife, Frida Kahlo, the Museo Dolores Olmedo has
a rich collection of pre-Hispanic pieces pertaining
to different cultures from central Mexico and some religious
art from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Among
the highlights of the museum are its extensive gardens,
where you can meditate about Mexico's millenary culture
among peacocks and xoloescuintles—an endangered
species of hairless dogs, dating back to the Aztec Empire,
and hard to spot outside select zoos.
An excellent example of high class Cantina culture, Restaurante Bar Alfonso's is located behind the French-Colonial architectural jewel of the Central Post Office in the exciting Centro Histórico (Historic Center or downtown) area, which is being rejuvenated by Carlos Slim. Recently reopened, this drinking hole was originally frequented by the ruling Spanish classes, a nationalistic trend that still reigns more in style and on the classy menu than in exclusivity. Spanish wines fill the select wine list; staff prepares fantastic traditional Spanish cuisine like Paella and Gambas al ajo (shrimps in garlic). High ceilings and the original Colonial bar furniture create a smart, Mediterranean atmosphere that is often supported by live music.
Terraza
del San Angel Inn
Diego Rivera 50 y Altavista
Col. San Ángel Inn
52 55 5616 1402 www.sanangelinn.com
San
Angel used to be a small provincial town in the outskirts
of Mexico City, just like Tacubaya or Coyoacán.
Now all of these little towns have been swallowed up
by the city. San Angel, however, has managed to preserve
the flavor of a tiny provincial village, with cobblestone
streets, colonial architecture, picturesque churches,
former haciendas and plenty of jacaranda flowers during
springtime. Walking through San Angel is refreshing,
especially in a city as chaotic as Mexico City. Saturdays
are especially lovely with the weekly Bazar del Sábado
Market, around San Jacinto square, where you can get
everything from elaborate handicrafts to upscale jewelry
and valuable paintings. The perfect way to experience
some of San Angel is the terrace of San Angel Inn, a
splendid restaurant, strong on Mexican specialties,
housed inside a former hacienda. The terrace is surrounded
by lush vegetation and welcoming colonial arches. There's
a fountain in the middle and plenty of cozy couches,
chairs and tables. Sipping a good añejo tequila
here while listening to mariachi music (a group is generally
performing at sunset) is what Mexico is all about. Next
to San Angel Inn is the Casa Estudio Diego Rivera, the
former studio of Mexican painter Diego Rivera, built
by modernist architect Juan O'Gorman.
Zinco
Jazz Club
Motolinia 20
Col. Centro
52 55 5512 3369 www.zincojazz.com
Zinco Jazz Club has positioned itself at the top of
entertainment options in the city for those who enjoy
live music, especially jazz. Housed in the former security
vaults of a bank, Zinco's acoustics and atmosphere are
unique. With a rich program that includes out-of-town
performers every Thursday night, Zinco is the right
place if you're in the mood for a smooth and easygoing
night. A light snacks menu and a wide selection of drinks,
predominately scotches and bourbons, are provided by
hip waitresses, most of them Argentineans. Be sure to
make a reservation if you want to get a seat—Zinco
is frequented a lot, regardless of the day of the week.
With its undeniable Latin flavor as well as the spice of an exotic Caribbean atmosphere, Caracas bears an easy-going character and friendliness and is an important spot for the oil, finance and corporate industries which call the city home.
Although it's known best for having nearly perfect weather, sandy beaches and miles of blue Pacific coastline, this city has several other facets, provided you know where to look. So pack your sunscreen and get ready to roll.
