My job as a travel writer would be a lot more difficult without the support of public relations (PR) experts. These knowledgable folks help journalists like me with everything from news updates to interviews and press trips. One of my favorite PR experts, Paola Cuevas, very kindly agreed to talk about what travel will be like now, during and after the pandemic, as well as where the deals are and some insider Mexico travel tips.
Paola knows what she’s talking about. This New York-based industry expert is a senior director at CIIC, an award-winning public relations and marketing agency. She works on a lot of accounts that are pretty glamorous in a variety of fields, including travel and tourism, food and beverage and lifestyle brands. A pro in the hospitality and tourism industry with over eight years of experience, Paola has spearheaded campaigns for an array of hospitality accounts including the Los Cabos Tourism Board, the Ecuador Ministry of Tourism, Acapulco DMO, Marriott International Hotels, Mexico Grand Hotels and the Quintana Roo Tourism Board. Paola was born in Mexico City and has been living in New York City for eight years.
Now that we’re all grounded by the pandemic for a while, what do you miss the most about traveling?
This is the longest I’ve been without traveling somewhere for the past two years. I miss being able to book a last-minute flight to see my parents in California or booking a low-cost flight to Europe without having to worry about my health and all the travel restrictions. I’m not used to planning my travels or vacations with a lot of time in advance, so I miss the spontaneity and freedom.
I never thought I’d say this, but I miss the airports, waking up early to catch a flight and even red-eye flights!
How do you think travel will be different in the months ahead?
I believe there will be more travel restrictions in the near future as each country is trying to figure out how to reopen post-COVID-19. We’ll need to plan with more time in advance and consider more carefully each country’s restrictions and rules and hotel cancellation policies before booking anything. It will be harder to plan spontaneous trips and we’ll spend more time planning for our future vacations to make sure we squeeze the most out of them and take advantage of every second of the experience.
Instead of booking low-cost flights or low-fare hotel rates, travelers will pay more attention to hotels’ and airlines’ safety and cleanliness protocols and prevention measures to guarantee their safety. There will be a rise in luxury travel, where people are willing to pay more for a villa or private residence in exchange for exclusivity, more personalized attention and being isolated from the crowds and strangers.
The positive thing is that I think we will emerge better and more conscious travelers post-lockdown. We will appreciate more the places we visit and travel with a purpose. We will be more conscious of who we support, to ensure our money is helping the local communities recover from the crisis. For example, we’ll want to support boutique and family-owned hotels, local restaurants instead of chains, ecotourism initiatives, and sustainable tour operators and activities. I’m optimistic we will travel more responsibly!
How are you working with your clients to prepare for the new realities of travel?
For the past couple of months, we’ve been working very closely with our clients to launch their health and safety protocols to prepare for reopening. Our hotels and destination clients are implementing strict sanitary measures and initiatives to welcome back travelers.
As hotels prepare to reopen there will be great deals travelers can take advantage of once we can travel again. Some examples of deals include Vista Encantada Spa Resort & Residences’ Dine Out All Inclusive Getaway where children under 12 stay for free; Palladium Hotel Group’s Heroes Without a Cape promotion, offering frontline healthcare workers and law enforcement up to 40% discount, and Mexico Grand Hotel’s Capeless Heroes package, offering up to 60% discount to healthcare workers.
I assume that since you work in travel PR that you love traveling. What first got you into travel?
I love traveling since I can remember. My parents always enjoyed traveling, so growing up we took at least once or twice a year a family vacation. My best childhood memories are from our family road trips.
When I started university, I chose as my major International Business because I thought it would allow me to travel. Once I started taking the finance, accounting, and calculus courses I realized it wasn’t for me and I switched to a journalism major. Years later, I discovered my passion for travel PR during an internship at the Mexico Tourism Board, where I realized I could promote destinations and hotels, and this would give me the opportunity to travel for work and continue my passion for exploring the world.
What’s on your travel wish list for the first place to visit on vacation, once we can travel “normally” again?
I can’t wait to go back to Mexico City and Queretaro to visit my family and grandparents. Another destination that has been in my bucket list for years, and I was hoping to visit this year, is Colombia. Many friends have visited Colombia recently and it looks like such a fun, vibrant and beautiful country. Another reason why I’ve been wanting to go to Colombia for a very long time is Andres Carnes de Res; it’s been on my list for years! I’m also really looking forward to exploring more of South America, including Peru, Argentina, Chile, and Brazil soon.
You have a dream job doing public relations for the travel and hospitality industry, and you have some amazing clients. What are some of your most exciting memories traveling for work?
I’m very lucky to work in the hospitality and travel industry and get the opportunity to experience the best of destinations and hotels to share with media.
One of the best memories I have from a business trip is of the last press trip I escorted for the Mexican Caribbean. The press trip focused on sustainability and one of the places we visited was Isla Contoy. Isla Contoy is an uninhabited island and protected national park where only 200 visitors per day are allowed. There are no cars or plastic and sunscreen is not permitted. We had the most delicious meal prepared by local tour guides and learned about the flora and fauna of the island. Very few people know of this place. It is a little piece of paradise on Earth!
Another one of my favorite press trips was to Hacienda Encantada Resort & Residences in Los Cabos. We hosted a trip for influencers and we organized a very fun itinerary for them to create content. We spent a full day in a boat to visit The Arch, snorkeled, and had a spa treatment at the resort. We also took a private tequila tasting and cooking class at one of The Residences.
As part of my job, I get to attend conferences and international tourism trade shows. The last trip I took before the lockdown was to Madrid to attend FITUR on behalf of the agency. My colleague Amy and I spent a full week in Madrid to meet with clients, hotel and destination representatives and learned the latest news and trends in the travel industry.
You’re originally from Mexico City. (One of my favorite cities on earth!) When was the last time you visited and what are your favorite things to do there, beyond the usual tourist attractions?
The last time I visited Mexico City was over a year ago. I’m looking forward to returning as soon as the lockdown is over and restrictions are lifted. My favorite thing to do in Mexico City, beyond the tourist attractions, is to eat! Mexico City has the best food in the world. There are endless choices, from high-end gourmet restaurants to delicious street food vendors. Whenever I travel to Mexico City, I always go straight from the airport to eat tacos al pastor. Local markets including Mercado del Carmen, Mercado Roma, and Mercado San Juan are also a must when I travel to Ciudad de Mexico. I also enjoy going out in Mexico City, they have the best bars and nightlife scene.
For first-time travelers, one way to experience the city and its energy is to walk around and get lost in neighborhoods like La Condesa, Roma, San Angel, or Coyoacan. One of my favorite places to visit and I always recommend to first-time visitors is Mercado de San Angel on the weekends, cobblestone streets where you can buy art and handcrafts from local artists and painters.