Eyeing Westside investors, Baja California is in Century City today, Nov. 18, with a goal of capturing the attention of major players across a wide range of evolving industries in the increasingly economically driven area.
The all day forum will conclude with an evening mixer, bringing together influential players from both sides of the border in direct real estate, residential, hotel, retail, healthcare and wellness, and investment sectors, according to the organizers.
Held at the Intercontinental Los Angeles in Century City, the event is being keynoted by Baja California Governor Francisco Vega.
The event will also feature guest speakers from across Mexico including Baja California’s Secretary of Tourism Oscar Escobedo, Mexico’s Ministry of Tourism Director of Investment Agustin Garcia and business owners from select Baja wineries and hotels.
American panelists and cross-border success stories are also scheduled to be presented at the event and include Robert Westermann of One Eighty, a senior living home that caters to Americans with plans for Baja expansion, as well as Frank Carrillo of SIMNSA, a healthcare plan that provides Americans with health coverage in Mexico.
“Attendees will leave the event with a comprehensive overview of existing and new opportunities in Baja California, and will have the opportunity to network directly with investors, banks, government agencies and other key players in cross-border investment and tourism,” said Baja California Tourism Secretary Oscar Escobedo.
A panel on Mexico’s wine country will bring together Gerardo Turrent of Cuatro Cuatros, Luis Guillermo Pereria from Encuentro Gaudalupe Hotel and winemakers Gustavo Ortego of El Cielo and Hans Backhoff of Monte Xanic to discuss how the Guadalupe Valley has recently transformed into a world-class wine tourism destination.
“Panelists and speakers will share successful experiences and best practices ranging from prominent winemakers in Valle de Guadalupe to experts from both sides of the border in health and wellness tourism, tax and legal framework and much more,” said Baja California Tourism Assistant Secretary Ives Lelevier.
Five years ago, there were approximately 150,000 visitors to Baja California’s wine country, and so far this year, there have been more than 600,000 visitors, event organizers explained.
This year’s harvest festival Vendimia attracted 65,000 visitors attending more than 52 events over two weeks.
Medical tourism has long been popular in Baja and a panel discussion will feature at the forum.
“Baja has been a leader in medical tourism for about 60 years. We receive approximately 1.2 million tourist patients per year,” said Baja California’s Director of Medical Tourism, Gaston Tessada. “We’re excited to bring together experts in medical treatment, insurance, wellness tourism and even senior care and assisted living to provide an in-depth overview of this booming industry.”
The event will conclude with a mixer featuring Baja California wines and Baja Med cuisine by some of the state’s world-renowned chefs including Flor Franco, Elsa Flores and Diego Hernandez.
In the month of August alone, approximately 19.8 million Americans crossed into Baja California, marking an almost 19 percent increase over the same period in 2013, heavily driven by California visitors.
“As California to Baja tourism growth continues, this ushers in increased cross-border investment opportunities,” organizers stated. “Approximately six years after the global economic crisis, the market is slowly returning, both on the investment side as well as the homebuyer’s side, yet the demographics of the buyer and its desires have shifted, opening the door for new opportunities.”
Last minute tickets for the event can be purchased at the door and information can be found at bajainvestmentforum.com/2014.
