Rosarito Beach Hotel Plans Specials To Promote Ongoing Tourism Increase

MEDIA CONTACT:                          
Ron Raposa                                                                      
ronraposa@hotmail.com

Following last year's 17 percent increase in U.S. visitors, the landmark Rosarito Beach Hotel has a number of price promotions, packages and special events planned to continue the ongoing upswing this year.

With Easter week a popular time for vacation and holiday getaways, the hotel offers a weekday package from $79 that includes an oceanfront room and two dinners for adults, plus free stay and dinner for two children under 12. The Easter weekend rate starts from $109.

This year, Cinco de Mayo weekend coincides with the spring edition of the very popular Rosarito-Ensenada 50-Mile Fun Bike Ride and oceanfront packages are offered starting at $79. The offer is both for people wanting to spend Cinco de Mayo in the holiday's home country and those involved in the ride, which has attracted hundreds of thousands over more than 30 years.

On July 7 the Flying Samaritans will hold its third annual July 4th Beach Barbeque at the hotel. The gala seaside event attracts hundreds from the city's 14,000-member expatriate community as well as visitors from the U.S. All profits benefit the group's free clinics.

"We've got many other promotions this year, including our Spring Romance spa and wine package from $99, plus those who spend a $100 at the hotel get a complimentary Fast Pass to speed their return border crossing," said hotel sales and marketing director Daniel Torres.

More details on these promotions plus many others offered at the legendary hotel are available at www.rosaritobeachhotel.com

The Rosarito Beach Hotel and Resort is a Baja landmark that has hosted millions of visitors since opening in 1925. With more than 500 rooms and suites, its amenities include restaurants, bars and an elegant spa. A luxurious 18-story tower with 271 suites opened four years ago.

The Rosarito Beach Hotel also offers time shares and full ownership of luxury suites through its condo-hotel program.

www.bajainvestment.com

Expatriates Express Confidence in Baja California

By Ron Raposa

About 70 community leaders in Baja California’s expatriate community recently attended the first summit of the "Baja Image Committee." It was organized for foreign residents who want to promote a positive and accurate portrait of the region.

The two-day summit, entitled “Building Baja’s Tomorrows Today,” was held June 8th and 9th at the Rosarito Beach Hotel, Mexico, which provided free lodging and meals for those attending.

The event was a response to requests from many of the thousands of expats who live in the region. Many have expressed a desire to do more to help convey an accurate picture of life in Baja California, especially to people living in the United States.

The summit featured testimonials from many of those residents, including some who said reports of scattered drug-related violence in recent years had made some friends and relatives reluctant to visit.

Those concerns are considered a large factor in the decline in tourism and visitors over the past several years, although a strong rebound was noted this past Easter and Memorial Day weekend, the traditional beginning of the summer season.

The summit included a panel discussion, as well as presentations on methods of gathering and distributing accurate and positive information, plus using social networks.

Hugo Torres, head of the Baja Image Committee and a former Rosarito mayor, said that “always telling the truth” is critical for such efforts to succeed. It is essential that government officials work hard to correct any problems that do exist, he added.

Baja California State Tourism Secretary Juan Tintos and Arturo Martinez, director of visitor assistance, told of government efforts to make visitors more comfortable and welcome, including the 078 assistance number which is in operation 24 hours day seven days a week.

Steven Kashkett, U.S. Consul General for Baja California, also attended to give an off-the-record briefing.

Rosarito resident Ken Bell, who leads the expatriate committee of the Baja Image Committee, pointed out that much work remains after the summit to accomplish goals that have been established.

Bell, as well as Rosarito’s tourism delegate Cesar Rivera, were summit moderators.

Other speakers included Emerson College Professor Gregory Payne, who has established a "Rediscover Rosarito" project that he said can be applied to all of Baja California. “You’re all your own TV networks,” Payne said, referring to the access that everyone has to post videos on YouTube and similar sites.

Chris Hill, of the "Live Mexico" campaign, and representatives of Allison & Partners public relations also spoke.

Expatriate residents from Rosarito, Ensenada, San Felipe and Tijuana who attended the summit are expected to share information and strategies for promoting a full, accurate and positive regional image with others in coming months.

www.bajainvestment.com

Rosarito 2009 Crime Rate Falls 21% To A Baja California Best 5-Year Low

By Ron Raposa





ROSARITO BEACH, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO---For 2009 Rosarito had the largest year-to-year decline in crime of any city in Baja California --- 21 percent --- and was the only city to reach a five-year low, according to state figures.









“These are very encouraging figures for Rosarito, especially in difficult economic times, when crime historically increases,” said Mayor Hugo Torres.









Calling the fight against crime a lifelong challenge for any city, Torres, who ran in 2007 on a platform of public security, said strong efforts will continue this year to reduce crime.









Those efforts, he said, will include increased policing in certain areas, more emphasis on neighborhood watch and private security, plus sports and other programs to keep city youth from delinquency and drug use.









Baja Gov. Jose Guadalupe Osuna Millan told the San Diego Union that Rosarito’s reduction in crime was one of Baja California’s success stories.









Overall, Baja California crime declined by an average of 10 percent in 2009 from 2008 and was lower than the level of the previous two years. The state’s rate was the same as 2006 and higher only than 2005.









Rosarito led all Baja cities in major categories for 2009, recording a 24 percent year-to-year decline in robbery and burglaries, 38 percent in violent crimes and 56 percent in murders, from 61 to 27, according to the Baja state figures.









Five of the killings were between members of rival drug cartels as the government makes it more difficult for them to operate, and three were of police officers.









Torres said that the drug-related killings are very troubling but even with them Rosarito has a lower homicide rate than many U.S. cities, including New Orleans, St. Louis and Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. (Based on FBI figures for 2008, the latest published)









“Understandably, much of the media coverage in the U.S. has focused on the crackdown on organized crime --- it’s a vital international issue,” he said. “But that has helped create a misleading impression about security here.”









Since taking office, Torres has led efforts to replace more than half of the city’s police force while expanding its size from about 150 to 230 officers.









He also established a special tourist police force that uses bilingual traffic tickets that can be mailed in from the U.S., an ombudsman office and a city department for visitor assistance.









The mayor also brought in former Army Capt. Jorge Montero to lead the police department as director of public security. He has praised his work as well as the support of the City Council









Torres also cited federal and state support plus a close working relationship with the Rosarito office of the state attorney general, which is responsible for most reporting and investigation of crime.









“Prevention is the key to crime reduction,” said Torres, who added that the city’s focus would remain on public security.









Rosarito also is working on expanding positive activities including sports and drug prevention programs for youth. Torres has personally talked to more than 15,000 of the city’s 23,000 school children and plans to visit the remainder this year.









Many programs have begun to benefit city youth, including the start of construction last year on the city’s first Boys & Girls Club.

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