Carlos Monge, President of Nature Tours has written a letter that was sent out by the mayor’s office.  That letter forward by the Office of Communications is entitled “TRAVEL COMPANY PRESIDENT RESPONDS TO TIMES-PICAYUNE STORY REGARDING MAYOR NAGIN'S UPCOMING TRIP TO MERIDA, MEXICO:

Monge closed his letter by stating, “I am happy to provide any additional information, should the Times-Picayune wish to tell an accurate story.”

Here is Monge’s letter that takes issue with the accuracy of the Times Picayune story: 

As president of Nature Tours, I am very upset by the story that was in Saturday's Times-Picayune regarding Mayor Nagin's planned trip to Merida in December. This article contains a number of errors and misconceptions. 

It is clear that the Times-Picayune based its story on a proposed itinerary that I sent to Lisa Ponce de Leon, the City's Director of International Relations. This is not the final itinerary, which is being developed by the City of New Orleans and the City of Merida and will include far more than the events that I have planned for Mayor Nagin.  

There are a number of other inaccuracies. While the Times-Picayune story indicates that the delegation will stay on the executive level of the hotel, at the request of Ms. Ponce de Leon, we sent a revised quote for deluxe rooms, the least expensive in the hotel, far in advance of your story. As to the "private tour" referenced, it is most cost-effective to operate the tour as private when there are more than four participants - especially since I have rented a van for the day for the delegation to attend all business appointments. This van will include the "in bus cooler" the story references because of the extreme temperatures at Chichen Itza. It will cost $7 per delegate and will contain water, sodas and juices only.

As to the open-bar during lunch, most people who have spent time in Mexico know that the all-inclusive system is common, with an open bar all day and night at many hotels (though not the Hyatt Regency Merida, where the delegation will stay) and for one hour during lunch on a tour. This is not exclusive for this delegation; other tourists receive the same treatment.

The newspaper also references the offer to host Mayor Nagin at the Hacienda San Antonio Millet. This offer came from a tour operator in Merida who visited New Orleans and would have been at no cost to the city and would have taken place only after all business is done. The Mayor has declined this offer.

This is the third time I have made arrangements for the City of New Orleans. On both the trip to Panama and Mexico City, the delegation had a full agenda for day and evening.
I am happy to provide any additional information, should the Times-Picayune wish to tell an accurate story.
 
Carlos Monge
President
Nature Tours