Mexico City: 007 film ‘Spectre’ good for business in capital

Crew members work on the set during rehearsals of a scene from the James Bond film “Spectre,” on a closed street, in the historic center of Mexico City, Thursday, March 19, 2015. The latest 007 movie began filming in Mexico City this week. AP

MEXICO CITY — Mexico City officials said Thursday that recent filming for the upcoming James Bond movie “Spectre” was a business boon for the capital’s colonial core, despite complaints over lost sales blamed on street closures.

Hotel occupancy in the historic center rose 30 percent during the filming and the number of visitors to the district was up 53 percent, the city government said in a statement.

It added that producers agreed beforehand to pay 225 businesses up to $2,500 a day in compensation for closures, and most of those had to shut down only for a few hours. Media publicity is also expected to boost business by bringing added interest in the cobblestoned quarter, it said.

“We are in position to affirm that the event not only did not hurt but rather improved commercial conditions for businesses in the center of the capital,” the government statement said.

Some businesses in the historic center complained that street closures during the March 19-April 1 film shoot prevented store and restaurant employees from reaching work and also kept many customers away.

The head of the city’s small business chamber said proprietors reported a 60 percent fall off in sales during the first week of filming. TVJ