Latin America, Caribbean Quick Takes | Jan./Feb. 2021
Mexican Zoo Finds Success in Drive-Thru Safari
Just one week into reopening, Zoo León welcomed more than 600 cars through its new experience “Visita Segura,” which translates to “safe visit.” The popular Mexican zoo had closed for several months in 2020 due to the pandemic, giving the team time to figure out a safe, yet exciting way to welcome visitors once again.
The new experience offers visitors an opportunity to still appreciate the amazing animals at the zoo from the safety and comfort of their vehicles. Guests are asked to reserve and purchase their tickets prior to the day of their visit, and they can even purchase upgrades that include popcorn and soda to enjoy during the experience.
Once visitors arrive to the zoo, they will check in their vehicle and receive a USB device to plug in their cars for a guided audio tour. Zoo personnel also ask all visitors to bring and use hand sanitizer throughout the experience.
The zoo had to make several adjustments to provide a smooth and spectacular experience for all, including altering some of the landscaping so visitors could have the best visibility of animals without stepping out of the car, which is not allowed during the drive-thru experience. The experience proved so successful in 2020, Zoo León is working on audio guides in other languages for foreign visitors.
Topgolf Opens First Latin American Location in Mexico
Topgolf swings into the Latin America market with the grand opening of its location in Monterrey, Mexico. The $22 million investment was led by Ventura Entertainment and completed last summer.
“It’s been a long wait for this day, but the minutes, months, and years have all been worth it. We’re the first Topgolf in Mexico and Latin America, and we’re so proud,” says Juan Carlos Montemayor, operations director at Topgolf Monterrey.
Topgolf has the largest open-air restaurant in Monterrey. In a space of more than four hectares, there are 90 hitting bays, divided into three floors. The first floor features a bar in addition to the children’s play area. The second floor offers a sports bar. The third floor is home to the sky bar terrace, which features live music, as well as an unbeatable view of the Sierra Madre.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Topgolf Monterrey adopted stricter hygiene measures in its operations in order to provide its visitors with a safe environment. Topgolf Monterrey is equipped with protective bay dividers and social distancing floor markers lining walkways. Bays, golf clubs, and game screens are disinfected after each group, and common areas are disinfected every hour by roving cleaning teams. In addition, the staff wears masks and face shields.
Topgolf now sports more than 60 locations around the world.
