MCALLEN, Texas - McAllen can benefit from the FIFA World Cup being staged in Monterey next summer by accommodating spectators in its hotels.
This is the view of Elizabeth Suarez, president of McAllen Economic Development Corporation and McAllen Chamber of Commerce.
“We've got the World Cup coming to Monterrey. We're working really closely with the City (of McAllen) to be able to land some of that lodging activity,” Suarez said, in a report to an MEDC stakeholders meeting.
"We know that that whole of northern Mexico quarter is going to be saturated, and they are in need for some reliever service from hospitality. So we'll be coordinating all of those efforts, and we continue to work together.”
FIFA World Cup 26, as it is being marketed, takes place in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada between June 11 and July 19. It will be the first time three countries have hosted the tournament.
The draw for the tournament has yet to be made as not all the qualifying games have been concluded. As hosts, the U.S., Mexico, and Canada automatically qualify.
Monterrey is scheduled to host two Group F games, on June 14 and June 20. The games will be played in the Estadio BBVA stadium, located in Guadalupe, Greater Monterrey. Its capacity is 55,500 and is home to C.F. Monterrey.
McAllen EDC’s Stakeholders Committee meets quarterly at the offices of McAllen Chamber of Commerce. In addition to MEDC staff and directors, it comprises invited stakeholders from the community who are asked to give updates on the activity of their organizations.
Suarez spoke about bringing more tourists to McAllen when asked how it is that sales tax revenues for the city are up but bridge crossings are down.
“How do we have close to 13% fewer (bridge) crossings, but we have an increase in retail? Do we have lower (hotel) occupancy, and, I guess revenue year-over-year? Are we being supported by government money with the border obstruction efforts?” Suarez was asked.
Suarez confirmed that state and federal border security personnel are helping fill the hotels.
She responded: “There is a steady business flow, and that continues. We haven't seen a big change there. You know, even just talking to the DoubleTree team, they continue to grow those government contracts. They're about 70 to 80% government contracts of their property. Those have been steady.
“There are different players also, and so, like, they’re dealing now with the Coast Guard in a really big way. We hadn't seen that government money supporting us. So, government is continuing to keep up those heads and beds, and that's been important on the border.”
Suarez said it is also important to distinguish between vehicular traffic crossings and pedestrian crossings at the Hidalgo International Bridge.
“This (report) is only looking at personal vehicles. It's not looking at the pedestrian crossings. And when we look at pedestrian crossings, those are high and there's a lot of pedestrian movement that is then shuttled into McAllen. So, they're walking in, they're picking up a bus there. And so that activity is not reported here. And so we anticipate some of those trends have kept retail sales on the grow.”
Adrian Villarreal, president of IBC Bank in the McAllen, gave his analysis.
“I think what we've talked about and seen is that because of the crossing issues, yes, they're still coming but they're just coming fewer times. But when they're coming, they're shopping. This weekend there was a national holiday. So all hotels, I understand, were full this weekend. All of them. And there were a few stores, high-branded stores in the mall, this weekend, where, on Saturday, they were leading their company sales in all of North America. And that was that was driven by the Mexican national holiday,” Villarreal said.
“So, I think on the occupancy-side part of it, they're just not coming as often. But when they’re coming, instead of coming, say, six times a year, seven times a year, they're coming two or three times a year. But when they're coming, they know that opportunity is not going to come as often, so they shop. So, I'm not surprised that retail sales are still mainly up because there's always that demand to come over here and shop, especially those brand labels.”
Suarez agreed with Villarreal’s analysis.
“I know Ike mentioned yesterday at our meeting that Dillards (in McAllen) has performed for this year in the top three in the (national) network of Dillards. And so that's a big deal, and we continue to hear that story. So I think you're right.”
The “Ike” Suarez referred to is Isaac ‘Ike’ Tawil, McAllen city manager.
Suarez said there is a lot that McAllen’s Convention & Visitors Bureau is doing to support heads and beds.
“We are a finalist for the Democratic State Convention. We were one of four cities that were invited to make a last pitch. So we'll be in Houston this weekend with the CVB team to support that. We've also been working really closely with the Governor's Office and his tourism team. We were at Formula One promoting McAllen. We were one of three cities that were invited to do that. Leigh is doing a phenomenal job on that front, and we have upped the ante on sports tourism. We're doing a lot to bring more Mexico tournaments. That's a big game changer for lodging, and it's an important investment. So we continue to grow those opportunities.”
The “Leigh” Suarez referred to is Leigh Wooldridge, vice president of McAllen Convention & Visitors Bureau.
