Centro de Convenciones William O. Jenkins, Puebla’s Convention Center in the Historic Heart of Latin America
Stretching over 355,209 ft² and with a 5,000-person capacity, this iconic convention center boasts history, connectivity, and functionality, all in one place.
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▖▚▮▘▗❚ Right in the middle of downtown, in a city where every corner has historical echoes, Centro de Convenciones William O. Jenkins makes its mark as an exceptional venue. It is Latin America’s only convention center located within a site declared Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. It isn’t just an event center; it is the gateway to Puebla’s soul.
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The center’s architecture is a nod to the past. The building, work of renowned architect Javier Sordo Madaleno, blends neoclassical elegance and industrial vibes, all wrapped in a modern exterior that harmonizes with the Historic Center’s colonial style. The facility is proudly covered in green, yellow, and orange tones, inspired by Puebla’s traditional Talavera ceramics.
In fact, the remains of an old ceramics workshop were uncovered during the center’s construction, a true testament to the connection between what was and what still throbs through the city.
▘▗❚Functional and Historic Space
Inside, the center offers 12 halls, two open-air esplanades, gardens, and an auditorium with space for up to 3,500 people. In total, it encompasses 355,209 square feet of construction on only one hectare and can hold 5,000 attendees at one time.
The unique design allows the venue to host everything from conferences and conventions to large-scale cultural events and corporate functions, all in a setting that is truly historic, not an artificially staged ambiance.
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But its location may be its true advantage. Being in the heart of the Historic Center means attendees have direct access to more than 2,600 historic buildings, all within walking distance. Museums, cafés, galleries, hotels, churches, markets, patios, and rooftops with views—Puebla is a setting that needs no further embellishing.
And when it comes to logistics, the Jenkins center also breaks the mold. The city is home to some 101 four- and five-star hotels, which all together make 6,754 rooms available. Both land and air transportation connections make getting here from any corner of the country a breeze—especially from Mexico City, which is only 81 miles away.
▘▗❚A True Asset for the Meetings Industry
In the world of MICE tourism (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions), context is just as important as contents. And Puebla offers both. According to the Informe de la Industria de Reuniones en México, 2023 (Meetings Industry Report for Mexico, 2023) from the Secretaría de Turismo (Tourism Department, Sectur), this industry represents 1.6% of the country’s GDP and generates more than 900,000 direct and indirect jobs. In this context, Puebla doesn’t just want to be on the map, it wants to be the place to meet.
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Puebla is betting on not only competing with traditional destinations, but on offering something distinctive—authenticity, vibrant history, local identity, and singular venues.
Data from the Secretaría de Desarrollo Turístico del Estado de Puebla (the state of Puebla’s Tourism Development Department) show that reinforcing event infrastructure has not only focused on large complexes such as Centro Expositor, but also with spaces like the Jenkins, combining practical solutions with meaningful contributions.
▘▗❚ The New Leader
in Meeting Tourism
Puebla understands that organizing an event means more than just filling up the conference schedule, it means creating experiences. And the city has abundant resources to do so. Its vibrant cultural life, cuisine, handicraft traditions, and network of professional service providers make this metropolis fertile ground for groundbreaking events.
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Centro de Convenciones William O. Jenkins is not just another convention center. It is proof that infrastructure can also have a soul, that events can be more memorable when the ambiance supports the message, and that in Puebla, the past is not just the subject of dry history books, it becomes part of the future.
For the love of Puebla
Think big
