Promoting Puerto Vallarta through sports tourism is a mission driven by the governor of Jalisco (Pablo Lemus Navarro) and the directors of GS Sports Management with the celebration of the WTA 125.
As one of the most important tourist destinations in the country, Gustavo Santoscoy Arriaga found this location on the Mexican Pacific coast the ideal place to establish roots with a women’s “white sport” event that brings together local fans, as well as the Americans and Canadians who arrive in large numbers, at a strategic time in the calendar, right at the end of the spring break season.
After a difficult debut year at the Puerto Vallarta Stadium for the second edition of the tournament, the organizers moved it to the Sheraton Buganvilias complex, which facilitated logistics by having the courts just a few meters away from the players’ rooms.
“When we spoke with the people at the Sheraton, they agreed to everything a tournament needs. We want to return here, and if this category is maintained, we’re looking for ways to expand the commercial area, the fan base. It’s a place we loved, and we saw that in all the players. I hope we can stay in Puerto Vallarta, and at the Sheraton, for a long time,” said Gustavo Santoscoy during the final ceremony of the event won by Romanian tennis player Jaqueline Cristian.
The Sheraton Hotel is happy with the Vallarta Open
Although the initial agreement with both the WTA and GS Sports Management and the host hotel was only for 2025, the intention is to reach a long-term agreement with the goal of increasing the tournament’s category, either to 250 or 500, as is the case with the events held by the same owner in Mérida and Guadalajara.
José Luis Toca, project manager for the Sheraton Hotel, told ESTO that “we are happy to be able to host this type of event in Puerto Vallarta. We are pushing forward with all the support we have from the state and municipal governments to continue growing.”
“We have a great relationship with Gustavo Santoscoy. He made the approach, and we joined this because of our love for the sport and the destination. We are promoters of the destination,” he added.
The Puerto Vallarta WTA Boosts the City’s Economy
Puerto Vallarta’s presence in the eyes of the world has brought more tourists and increased the economic impact this week: “It’s an international event. We need everyone, the destination and the sport, to join in, to continue growing permanently. There is definitely interest in keeping the tournament in Puerto Vallarta and expanding.”
The WTA 125 only has three courts available, with no space for a commercial area. But part of the long-term commitment could lead to the construction of a stadium right on the beach and even a new complex right behind the hotel.
Alejandra Cornejo, Puerto Vallarta’s tourism director, echoed the same sentiment, reinforcing the destination’s commitment to making this tournament its main annual sporting event. “We want it to stay here for a long time; we are very happy with the results,” she said during the finals, where she represented the municipality.
Source: esto
