Expat Expo tries to bring providers together with potential customers

Many Americans, Canadians and people from all over the world have been living in Mérida for the last 10 years or so. Ever since, thousands more have arrived to make La Ciudad Blanca (“The White City”) their new home.

If you have been here for decades, or just arrived last week, you will agree that there is always something you need to find: goods, services, information, assistance.  Therefore, the Expat Expo aimed to be the key for recently arrived ex-pats – or for long-term residents — to finding your feet fast and keeping up to date with products and services specifically dedicated to the foreign community.

The two-day Expat Expo held Jan. 30-31 at the Meson de la Luna Hotel in Altabrisa featured about 23 exhibitors trying to market their goods and services to Merida’s growing expat community. From a language school offering Spanish classes to immigration law advisers and translation services, the expo tried to connect sellers with potential buyers.

“We kept seeing people running up against the same problems in locating goods and services; that’s how we got the idea for the expo,” said Cathy Quinn, who along with her husband Steve, were the event organizers.

“This (was) a trial to see what works,” she continued. “If it’s successful, we may try to do it twice a year, possibly including locations in Centro and at the beach.”

A wide array of specials and discounts were offered by exhibitors:

The Property Professional Mexico Real Estate was offering discounts of 2% on commissions.

Yucatan Expatriate Services was offering 10% off of visa services and 15% off of assistance fees for IMSS and INAPAM.

Home Care was offering a 10% discount on maintenance services, and the first month free on maintenance contracts.

Planned Pethood was offering low cost spay & neuter coupons and 10% off on stock from the clinic.

HealthNet Connect was offering 15% discount on membership.

Ezaxis International was offering 10% discount on all translation services and free pickup and delivery on all IT services.

Haus was offering 10 – 20% discount on Delta faucets, Berloni kitchens, Victoria and Albert, Hunter Douglas blinds, Blanco sinks, Dacor, Thermador, Teka and Frigidaire.

Mr. Nicholas Lavroff was offering 50% discount on prints on canvas. Normally $300 USD gallery pricing was reduced to $150 USD for the Expo.

More info about future plans for the Expat Expo can be obtained by contacting Cathy Quinn at cathyquinn@healthitinerary.com.

By Alejandro Azcarate and Robert Adams for TYT

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