Mazatlan is one of the top hot spots for Mexico tourism.  Since 2002, this historic coastal city has undergone an extreme renovation, making tourism the top local industry, and making it actually surpass the longtime standings as the shrimp capital of the world.  In 2004, the city’s occupancy rate was at 41 percent, but has consistently jumped an estimated 10 percent each year.  And the hotel association expected to close 2007 at nearly 70 percent occupancy.

 Credited to all the new tourism, The Mazatlan Hotel Association and the State of Sinaloa hosted the 13th Annual Gran Fiesta amigos de Mazatlan in November, honoring national and international travel partners.  The four-day fiesta started off with a dinner catered by Los Arcos Restaurant in Machado Square (also known as the art and cultural hub of the city).  It was followed by a gala dinner the next evening held at The Inn at Mazatlan, where fireworks and a 14-piece band accompanied the dinner.  The band played the region’s own brand of Latin music named “Banda,” a cross between polka music and mariachi. 

 The ceremony was finished off on the last night with The Annual Deer Awards ceremony at the El Cid Marina Beach Hotel & Yacht Club.  The Awards honored airlines and tour operators for their contributions to Mazatlan’s growing popularity.  Frontier Airlines won a Golden Deer Award for their direct flights, and the tour operator Pleasant Holidays also was awarded.  Guests of the fiesta were offered excursion options from Pronatours, such as day trips to nearby pueblos in the Sierra Madre mountains.