Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - With an average of 70% hotel occupancy, 135 cruises making their calls in the destination, and new flights from Houston and Denver with Southwest Airlines and from California's Orange County with Alaska Airlines, 2015 was a banner year for Puerto Vallarta.

According to Convention and Visitors' Bureau Director, Miguel Andrés Hernández, Puerto Vallarta hosted 102 events during the 2015 calendar year; including meetings, conventions and conferences. He added that visitors have generated more than $30 million going to local businesses, including restaurants, bars, local transportation providers, art galleries, shops, and tour operators; and almost $30 million for the destination's hotels. This represents a 350% increase from 2014.

And speaking of hotels, ten properties have opened in the past 18 months, including the Grand Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta, Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta and Hotel Mousai.

Looking ahead, Estudio 6 will open in March 2016 on Puerto Vallarta's main road, Francisco Medina Ascencio Blvd. The 114-room business economy property will target corporate travelers as well those looking for longer stays in suite-style rooms.

In addition, properties like the Villa del Palmar, Friendly Hotel and Villa Premiere have reported million-dollar investments in renovation plans for the coming year.

Miguel Ángel García Beltrán González, director of the Puerto Vallarta International Port (API) reported that 2015 saw 135 cruises making their calls in the destination, an increase of 25 cruises over the previous year.

Close to 1.8 million international visitors vacationed in Puerto Vallarta during the same period, representing an increase of nearly 19 percent with an additional 282,975 in international arrivals over the previous year.

More to Come in 2016

The Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board and the Riviera Nayarit Convention & Visitors Bureau will host the 22nd edition of Gala Vallarta from January 27-29, 2016.

Offering a unique environment to promote, improve, and consolidate commercial relationships with Puerto Vallarta and the Riviera Nayarit businesses, the gala is designed to provide local hotels and destination management companies the opportunity to do business with international buyers.

More than 200 local providers will participate in this year's event, with almost 130 international buyers representing 60 companies.

The objective is to continue to stimulate the captive market represented by North America, as the event's participants are mainly from the United States, Canada, and Mexico - the three main feeder markets for visitors to our region.