Day 5, unfortunately, was the final day of the study abroad program. It is amazing to me how quickly the week has gone. I have enjoyed every moment and could not be happier with how everything went.
The morning session consisted of a presentation by Mr. Gordon Frederick Viberg, former President and CEO of Presidente InterContinental Hotels Mexico. His presentation was regarding the current international financial crisis and its impact on the Mexican tourism industry. Mr. Viberg’s intimate knowledge of the issues currently pervading the world economy, as well as the Mexican tourism industry, provided a level of insight into the current climate within Mexico and the future likelihood of success and growth that we had not yet received. Mr. Viberg’s candor and honesty, filled with optimism, left all of the Illinois students with a nice conclusion as to issues we had discussed and considered all week.
Following Mr. Viberg’s presentation, all ten student teams made their presentations (see Day 1). They were all wonderful presentations and very enjoyable to view. I was struck by the consistency in the analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for Mexico City tourism. It led me to believe and hope that if those particular areas were properly addressed by the community, private industry, and the government, Mexico City could become a significant international tourist destination.
After a farewell lunch in which we shared a heartfelt goodbye with our IPADE friends, many of the Illinois students, including myself, took a field trip to Teotihuacan, where the Pyramid of the Sun, the third largest pyramid in the world, and the Pyramid of the Moon are located. Both pyramids were a sight to behold. In particular, the Pyramid of the Sun, from which we walked the narrow steps to the top of and had an opportunity to view Teotihuacan and its vast landscape. I will include pictures in a forthcoming post.
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