Mexican magic
With a truly impressive array of large, first-class venues, excellent hotels and glorious heritage sites, this city in western Mexico is full of surprises – including an outing to Tequila. By Sally Trelford
Our arrival at Expo Guadalajara may just have been the most welcoming and fun of any show round I’ve ever attended. Showered with colourful paper confetti drifting down from the mezzanine level above to the rousing sounds of Mexican music, it wasn’t long before we were sipping cantaritos and listening to Carlos Villegas, corporate events and congresses manager, talk inspiringly of ‘The magic of events’.
Expo Guadalajara is the second largest convention centre in Latin America with 117,000 sqm of space across 57 halls and accommodating up to 20,000 people. This large, flexible venue has hosted fashion and trade shows, concerts and many prestigious events across various sectors. It will host one of the world’s largest medical events in 2027, when 15,000 are expected to attend the 26th World Congress of Dermatology, and has recently announced that it will host ICRA, the International Conference on Robotics and Automation, in May 2028.
The premier event in robotics and automation, ICRA offers a platform for cutting-edge research, emerging technologies and collaboration among the brightest in the field. Expected to attract more than 8,000 delegates from across the world, the successful bid was spearheaded by Professor Eduardo Bayro-Corrochano, President of the Local Committee, with the support of the Guadalajara Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The city is known as a hub for innovation and technology - the ‘Mexican Silicon Valley’ – and is home to a cluster of tech companies including Oracle, HP and Siemens.
With 3,300 hotel rooms within walking distance and 28,000 in the city, the airport is just 30 minutes away.
Expo Guadalajara was opened 37 years ago but other large venues have opened more recently including the futuristic PALCCO (Palace of Culture and Congresses). Offering almost 55,000 sqm of event space including a 5,000-seat amphitheatre and two theatres, this is a stylish venue with towering white walls, high ceilings and a charming new cabaret style lounge.
Another impressive venue is Conjunto Santander de Artes Escénicas, the University of Guadalajara’s cultural centre. With 52,000 sqm of event space, its largest hall seats 1,700 while an outdoor amphitheatre seats 800.
The city’s beautiful Akron Stadium will host fixtures in the FIFA World Cup 2026 while Jalisco Paseo Interactivo (JAPI) is a fun, newly opened and high-tech venue with exhibits designed to educate visitors about the province and some of its spectacular natural assets such as Lake Chapala and the Mountain Cloud Forest.
Guadalajara is home to beautiful heritage sites
Guadalajara is home to beautiful heritage sites
PALCCO
PALCCO
Conjunto Santander
Conjunto Santander
Guadalajara map
And talking of natural assets, tequila! I didn’t know there was an actual town called Tequila, where the infamous spirit has been distilled for hundreds of years from the locally grown agave plant.
This seems a missed marketing opportunity to me given its international popularity whether in margaritas, the local cantaritos (where it’s mixed with a variety of citrus juices over ice and usually served in a clay jar) or the usually unwise salt-rimmed shots in nightclubs the world over.
Located around an hour from Guadalajara, this charming town is ideal for an excursion to take a tour of one of the famous distilleries and perhaps stop at one of the many atmospheric haciendas in the area. Many have beautiful grounds for hosting parties and receptions. One stunning option is Hacienda el Carmen, which has the bonus of its own rum distillery.
“My favourite part of the trip was touring the countryside of Jalisco,” says Tyler Mullen, CEO of HMB Global, who also attended the recent fam. “We finished our day at the town of Tequila, where we toured Fábrica La Rojeña Distillery, the home of Jose Cuervo Tequila. We participated in guided tastings and explored the distillery’s fascinating history. There’s also the Jose Cuervo Express Train if you want to make it a day trip.”
There is plenty to see in Guadalajara itself, of course, including Guadalajara Cathedral and the Cabañas Cultural Institute, a UNESCO World Heritage site. And visitors will want to visit the vibrant Tlaquepaque area full of galleries, boutiques and gift shops. We had a fabulous lunch at the beautiful Casa Luna Restaurant – the food is a real highlight of any trip to the city - followed by a fun visit to a local potter, where we tried our hand at painting a clay skull.
Stefan Bohlander, VP Interkultur, scouting for possible venues for the complex World Choral Championships, says: “Unknown to most Europeans, Guadalajara is a real gem in Mexico and well worth discovering. Friendly people, a well-maintained city and very pleasant weather provide the stage for events of all kinds.
Guadalajara Cathedral
Guadalajara Cathedral
Take a stroll through colourful Tlaquepaque
Take a stroll through colourful Tlaquepaque
“Historic buildings such as the Catedral Metropolitana and Hospicio Cabañas compete with ultra-modern venues such as the Palace of Culture and Congresses. The city can host any type of event, and thanks to the very good and quick co-operation between the venues and the administration, even large events can be organised in the best possible way.”
Stefan Bohlander, VP Interkultur, scouting for possible venues for the complex World Choral Championships
Where to stay
There is a wide range of international hotels including Sheraton, Riu Plaza, Hilton Midtown, Hyatt Regency and JW Marriott. Most are recently opened, testament to the investment going into this city, and all are stylish and sophisticated with excellent meeting space.
Getting there
There are more than 60 destinations flying into Guadalajara although only Madrid in Europe. BA flies from Heathrow to Mexico City, where there are many connections, as there are from the US. I flew comfortably from Madrid with Aeromexico, which allowed me to travel from Gatwick.
For more information
The Guadalajara Convention & Visitors Bureau is the oldest in Latin America and has been in existence for more than 50 years.
The indefatigable María José Gómez, Business Manager, knows her city inside out and is experienced at assisting international association event organisers.
Expo Guadalajara
Expo Guadalajara
Guadalajara is developing fast
Guadalajara is developing fast
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