Alejandra Durán
Executive Director
Ministry of Tourism of El Salvador
Executive Director
Ministry of Tourism of El Salvador
Alejandra Durán is Executive Director of CORSATUR, leading El Salvador’s international tourism promotion. With 26 years of public and private sector experience, her career includes institutional management, diplomacy, communications, and strategic planning. She has specialized in international trade, export logistics, and sustainable tourism, and speaks fluent French and English. She believes tourism drives economic development and job creation.
Founder & CEO
Vibe Adventures
Alex Veka is Founder and CEO of Vibe Adventures, a travel technology company developing a B2C platform for booking multi-day guided trips, flights, and other travel components in one journey. In 2026, Vibe Adventures won the Global Startup Pitch by Phocuswright, WiT, and PhocusWire. Alex has lived and worked in several countries and focuses on travel technology, entrepreneurship, online distribution, and scalable digital products.
Associate Consultant
Euromonitor
Alexis Aranda is an Associate Consultant at Euromonitor International, specializing in research and analysis across Travel and Tourism and consumer goods, with a focus on Mexico. His work supports companies and industry stakeholders with market intelligence and strategic analysis. With experience across multiple industries, Alexis brings a broad perspective to understanding consumer trends and market opportunities in Mexico.
Regional Sales Director
SiteMinder
Alfredo Rodríguez is Regional Sales Director at SiteMinder, leading commercial strategy and operations across the Americas. His work combines business growth, team development, and technology adoption to help hospitality companies navigate an increasingly digital and competitive environment. With experience in technology and hospitality, he specializes in turning digital transformation challenges into business opportunities.
Director of Operations
Dharma
Andrea Suárez is a hospitality professional with experience in operations, sales, and technology-driven solutions. As Senior Sales Representative at Dharma, she helps hospitality businesses improve and scale through specialized services and technology. Previously, she served as an Operations Manager, overseeing teams, guest experience, property operations, and processes. Her approach focuses on using technology, automation, and AI to improve efficiency and guest experiences.
Regional Manager
Adventure Travel Trade Association
Tourism professional with 16 years of experience in international promotion, destination marketing, and sustainable tourism product development. His work spans nature, adventure, community-based, and sustainable tourism across Latin America and Japan. He currently serves as Regional Manager for ATTA and Strategic Director of Fundación ATUCA, while also teaching and researching tourism management at Universidad Externado de Colombia.
Travel & Hospitality Industry GTM Lead
Stripe
Andrew has almost 20 years of travel and technology experience. He consulted for travel companies at Bain and Co., led strategy efforts at Expedia and Meta, built partnerships at Sonder and Hopin and now leads Stripe's Travel & Hospitality efforts. He has a BA in Economics from Columbia University and an MBA from Kellogg (Northwestern).
Deputy Director of Domestic Tourism
Ministry of Tourism of the Dominican Republic
Ángel del Rosario Pichardo is a Dominican tourism professional, consultant, and speaker specializing in sustainable and territorial tourism development. He holds a degree in Tourism and Hotel Management and a Master’s in International Business Administration. He currently serves as Subdirector of Internal Tourism at the Ministry of Tourism of the Dominican Republic.
Spa & Wellness Director - Dominican Republic | Luxury & Lifestyle Brands, Meliá Hotels International | Founder, Belle Spa Academy
Meliá Hotels International
Arabelle Rosario is a wellness hospitality executive with more than 20 years of experience in spa, wellness, and hospitality. As Spa & Wellness Director at Meliá Hotels International, she leads wellness strategy, operations, brand development, and guest experience across multiple resorts. She is also Founder of Belle Academy, an education and consulting platform, and advocates for recovery, regeneration, and longevity as key trends shaping wellness hospitality.
Co- founder & Chief Partnerships Officer
Wheel The World
Arturo Gaona is the Chief Partnerships Officer and a co-founder of Wheel the World, a company at the forefront of accessible travel. Arturo has been instrumental in expanding the platform’s diverse offerings, enabling more people to discover accessible travel experiences worldwide. Before embarking on his entrepreneurial journey, Arturo built a distinguished career in the medical devices industry, where he held key roles in sales, marketing, and training across Latin America.
Editorial Director
Food and Travel Mexico
Arturo Torres Landa has nearly 15 years of experience as a travel and culinary journalist and photographer. He currently serves as Editorial Director of Food and Travel México, a leading specialized media outlet. Arturo believes in the power of well-crafted storytelling to inspire travelers and strengthen brand messages. His work focuses on producing high-quality, informative content while using media to highlight and elevate the efforts of the hospitality and tourism industry.
President & Executive Director
Matto Grosso do Sul Tourism Board
Tourism specialist in Ecotourism and Public Tourism Management, with 26 years of experience across Brazil’s private and public sectors at municipal, state, and federal levels. Since 2017, he has served as President Director of the Mato Grosso do Sul Tourism Foundation, leading public policies, destination positioning, and sustainable tourism development. He is also the author of “Destination Design.”
Chief Marketing & Communications Officer
The Data Appeal Company
Chief Marketing Officer at The Data Appeal Company, leading marketing, communications, and partnerships following the acquisition of Mabrian Technologies. With 15+ years of experience in business, marketing, market research, and tourism, he has focused on using AI, technology, and data to improve decision-making and sustainability. Today, Data Appeal Mabrian serves clients in 60+ countries and monitors 5,000+ destinations worldwide.
Executive Director
Ecobiósfera Expeditions
Claudia Eugenia Virgen Montesinos is a Mexican specialist in sustainable tourism and biodiversity conservation, with more than 30 years of experience in protected areas and rural communities. Since 2007, she has served as Executive Director of Ecobiosfera El Triunfo, leading ecotourism, conservation finance, community capacity-building, and public-use planning initiatives in Chiapas.
SVP, Institutional Relations, Government and Industry Affairs
Aeroméxico
Cuitláhuac Gutiérrez is Senior Vice President of Institutional Relations, Government and Industry Affairs at Grupo Aeroméxico, with more than 25 years of aviation industry experience. He previously served as IATA Country Manager in Mexico and Executive Director of CANAERO. His career includes leadership roles at Mexicana de Aviación, Grupo Aeroméxico, and SkyTeam. In 2025, he was elected President of CANAERO, representing Mexico’s aviation industry.
Co-Founder
WeatherPromise
Daniel Price is co-founder of WeatherPromise, a global platform helping travel brands drive bookings, revenue, loyalty, and engagement by giving travelers confidence to book regardless of weather. Since its founding in 2022, WeatherPromise has expanded to guarantee trips in more than 100 countries across six continents, partnering with brands including JetBlue Vacations, Marriott, and Vrbo. Daniel holds a BA from Yale University and an MBA from Columbia Business School.
Founder & CEO
Trove Tourism Development Advisors
Danny Cohanpour is CEO of Trove Tourism Development Advisors, a global tourism marketing and strategy agency. Trove operates across Destination Marketing and Destination Development, covering advertising, branding, trade marketing, tourism strategy, capacity building, training, and research. Danny is a recognized tourism thought leader and frequent speaker at major industry events, including World Travel Market, Arabian Travel Market, and the Caribbean Tourism Organization.
Strategic Consultant and Economic & Political Analyst
Faro21 Consultores
Enrique de la Madrid Cordero is a Mexican analyst, consultant, and corporate advisor recognized for his insight into global trends shaping Mexico. A UNAM law graduate with a Master’s in Public Administration from Harvard, he has served as Secretary of Tourism, Director of Bancomext and Financiera Rural, and held leadership roles in the private sector.
Bureau Chief
Business Traveler
Aviation editor and publisher with 19 years of journalistic experience, recognized for driving editorial success at globally renowned publications.
Director of the Sustainable Tourism Advanced Research Center (STARC)
Universidad Anáhuac Cancún
He holds a PhD in Tourism and an MBA, with 23 years of experience in Mexico’s Ministry of Tourism, including seven years as Undersecretary of Tourism. He also served as Regional Representative for the Americas at the World Tourism Organization. For the past 18 years, he has collaborated with the Anáhuac Universities Network. He currently leads the Sustainable Tourism Advanced Research Center at Anáhuac Cancún, focusing on tourism research, sustainability, and strategic development.
Managing Partner
Experiencias Genuinas
Gerardo Ibarra is a Mexican tourism consultant, travel writer, and social entrepreneur focused on regenerative tourism. As managing partner at Experiencias Genuinas, he advises destinations, governments, and businesses on regenerative strategy, product design, and territorial development. He also serves as Director of Operations at Dopamina.Travel and founded Ruta Origen. A lecturer, mentor, and writer, he promotes community-based tourism and regenerative travel across Mexico and Latin America.
Corporate Social Responsibility Manager for the Americas
RIU Hotels & Resorts
Jorge Vieyra is Corporate Social Responsibility Manager for the Americas at RIU Hotels & Resorts, leading sustainability, community development, and child protection strategies across North America and the Caribbean. With a background in Psychology from Universidad Anáhuac, he connects corporate strategy with field-level social initiatives.
Area Sales Manager
HBX Group
Julio Andrés Morales is Area Sales Manager at HBX Group (Hotelbeds), leading commercial strategy and business development across Latin America. A Business Administrator and Economist with specialization in Finance and Executive Management, he has more than 17 years of travel and tourism experience. His career spans sales, finance, operations, and general management, with expertise in distribution, strategic partnerships, and commercial transformation.
US Travel Sales Manager
Airwallex
A seasoned sales leader with over nine years of cross-industry expertise in FinTech, SaaS, and Travel, Kim specializes in driving business growth through strategic partnerships and revenue generation. As a bilingual Ecuadorian-American, expert NGO consultant, and avid traveler, she brings a distinct global perspective to business strategy and cross-cultural leadership.
VP Partner Services
Forbes Travel Guide
Lourdes Hainlin joined Forbes Travel Guide in 2014, leading the expansion of its Star Rating system across the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America, and the global cruise industry. She currently oversees partnerships and commercial relationships in these regions, Florida, and the Verified Luxury Residential Program. A Florida International University graduate, Hainlin was born in Cuba, raised in New York, and speaks fluent Spanish.
Founder & President
Instituto Aupaba
Luciana De Lamare is a Brazilian tourism executive and a leading voice in regenerative tourism and territorial development, with more than 20 years of experience across public, private, and nonprofit sectors. She is President and Co-founder of Instituto Aupaba, applying regenerative design to tourism and territorial development alongside local communities. Her career spans destination management, tourism planning, hospitality, marketing, and public policy.
Marketing, Sales & Brand Storytelling
Bark Europa
Lucky Harthoorn works across marketing, sales, and storytelling for Bark EUROPA, a historic tall ship offering ocean crossings and expeditions to remote regions worldwide. Her work promotes an unconventional travel experience where journeys last weeks rather than days and travelers become active voyage crew. Sailing from Antarctica and the South Atlantic to the Pacific, EUROPA requires no previous sailing experience.
CEO
China Travel Online
Marcus Lee is CEO of China Travel Online, a leading China outbound travel platform under CBISN, supporting global destinations and tourism providers entering the Chinese market. The group spans technology, China Ready, media, luxury, and MICE, with more than 100 destinations listed. He has advised Chinese municipal governments and served as China Chief for the Pacific Tourism Organization and Samoa Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to China.
Tourism Researcher
Universidade de São Paulo
Dr. Mariana Aldrigui is a professor and researcher at the University of São Paulo, where she has taught Tourism since 2006. She coordinates the Global Travel & Tourism Partnership in Brazil and leads its expansion across Latin America. Her research focuses on tourism public policy, urban tourism, data intelligence, and tourism education. She previously served as Head of Information and Data Intelligence at Embratur and chaired FecomercioSP’s Tourism Council.
Executive Director
Alianza Mesoamericana de Ecoturismo
Mark Willuhn has more than 30 years of experience in nature conservation, ecosystem services, and nature-based solutions across the US, Mexico, and Central America. His expertise includes sustainable tourism, protected-area planning, ecological restoration, carbon projects, organic agriculture, and conservation finance. As Executive Director of Sustainable Alliances / Alianza Mesoamericana de Ecoturismo, he leads fundraising efforts supporting conservation initiatives in Southern Mexico.
Founder
Travel 2 Care People and Planet
A passionate tourism advocate with more than 35 years of experience across the industry, focused on making tourism more sustainable and responsible. His work combines sustainable tourism, responsible marketing, communication, content creation, consulting, training, and mentoring, supporting businesses and destinations in implementing and credibly communicating sustainability practices. He founded Travel 2 Care People & Planet, a global digital magazine.
Maestra en Ciencias Penales
ECPAT Mexico
She is a consultant specializing in children’s rights, with extensive experience in research, prevention, and national and international advocacy addressing trafficking and the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC). Since 2002, she has coordinated ECPAT Mexico. She led civil society efforts before the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in Geneva, including Mexico’s 2010 alternative report and the 2011 NGO delegation. She has contributed to more than 25 specialized publications.
Director of Market Intelligence & Insights
Amadeus
Olivier Ponti is Director of Market Intelligence and Insights at Amadeus and a leading expert in travel research and destination marketing. With more than 20 years of experience in business intelligence and tourism, he analyzes travel data and global trends to identify emerging behaviors, forecast travel patterns, and assess the impact of events on destinations.
Co-Founder & Board Member
NAO Travel Collection
Paola Prieto is a Mexico-based luxury travel leader serving clients worldwide. She is Co-Founder and Board Member of Nao Travel Collection, a member of the Abercrombie & Kent Global Advisory Board, and a partner at Albatros Travel. Having traveled to more than 100 countries, she specializes in creating personalized journeys combining discovery, authenticity, and excellence. She has received recognition from Virtuoso and Four Seasons for her work in luxury travel.
CEO
The Human Collection Hotels
Paola Waschbusch is CEO of The Human Collection Hotels, leading a curated portfolio of independent boutique hotels in Mexico focused on meaningful guest experiences, local culture, and wellbeing. With more than 20 years in international luxury hospitality, she has held leadership roles with Leading Hotels of the World, InterContinental, Starwood, Meliá, and Marriott.
Founder & CEO
Bamba & Baboo Travel
Paul Sarfati is Founder and CEO of Bamba Travel and Baboo Travel, with more than 20 years of experience building and scaling travel businesses. Under his leadership, Bamba served over 300,000 travelers across 70+ countries. Through Baboo, he connects travel advisors and travelers with local experts to create personalized experiences. His work focuses on AI, automation, and innovative business models to improve how travel is planned, sold, and delivered.
Co-Founder & COO
Zatlas
Pedro Guerra is Co-Founder and COO of Zatlas, a vertical SaaS platform with embedded fintech for the hospitality industry. Zatlas helps hotel chains optimize online distribution by automating how payments from OTAs and booking engines are collected, validated, and reconciled. Its client hotels operate more than 120,000 rooms across Latin America and the US. Before Zatlas, Pedro led operations for DiDi Pay and worked as a strategy manager at Accenture and corporate banker.
Head of Incentives and Support for the Film and Audiovisual Industry
FILMA Jalisco
He holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy and specializes in film policy. He currently serves as Head of Incentives and Support for the Film and Audiovisual Industry at FILMA Jalisco and is a PhD candidate in Public Policy and Development, researching Mexico’s film policy evolution from 1992 to 2024. He also teaches graduate courses on public spending and economic policy. In 2019, he received the INAP Award for best public administration research in Mexico.
International Sales Manager
Rovos Rail
Rovos Rail International Sales Manager - Latin America, the Caribbean and Asia.
Regional Manager for the Americas
Planeterra
Richard Bazán is Regional Manager for the Americas at Planeterra International Foundation, focused on strengthening community tourism and connecting local enterprises with travel markets. With 14 years of experience across public, private, and nonprofit sectors, he specializes in tourism-led local development, cultural identity, and inclusive value chains. He holds degrees in Tourism Administration and Public Management, with further studies in destination marketing and product management.
Founder & Chief Strategist
GLP Films
Rob Holmes is Founder and Chief Strategist of GLP Films, an award-winning content marketing agency focused on sustainable and regenerative tourism. GLP helps destinations position themselves as leaders through sustainability storytelling, strategic communications, and targeted distribution to reach responsible travelers. Rob is a sought-after strategist and speaker whose approach centers on helping destinations and brands embrace sustainability and become successful, impact-driven organizations.
Founder
Summit Mexicano de la Hospitalidad
Rocco is an experienced hotelier with more than 30 years of international experience across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and Mexico. He has worked with leading luxury brands including Jumeirah, Four Seasons, Hilton, Aman, IHG, LUX* Resorts, and Starwood. He currently consults on hospitality projects across Mexico and Latin America and founded the Latin America Hospitality Summit, with its third edition scheduled for 2027.
COO
Mindtrip
Rudi loves off-the-beaten-path travel. When he’s not managing operations at Mindtrip, he’s out seeing the world and exploring new cultures. Before joining the Mindtrip team, Rudi was COO at Roadster and at Carwoo! He was also Head of Vehicles for eBay Motors, and VP and General Manager of AOL’s automotive properties. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Cornell University and an MBA from UC Berkeley.
Managing Partner
Coraggio Group
Sara Meaney has spent nearly three decades leading change, helping people and institutions see themselves differently and align behind a shared direction. As Managing Partner of Coraggio and SVP of Miles Partnership, she guides destination organizations, governments, and mission-driven institutions through strategy, organizational effectiveness, and transformation. As Wisconsin's Secretary of Tourism, Sara led record-breaking gains in visitation, economic impact, and return on investment.
Founder & CMO
Rutopía
Sebastián Muñoz is the founder of Rutopía, a Mexico-based travel company connecting travel advisors and travelers with authentic, community-led experiences across Mexico. His work combines product development, travel technology, and collaboration with local tourism businesses to support inclusive and sustainable travel. Through Rutopía, he connects rural and Indigenous hosts with international markets, helping their experiences become part of thoughtfully designed trips.
VP Strategic Partnerships
Cloudbeds
Sébastien Leitner is Vice President of Partnerships at Cloudbeds, where he leads global partnerships and industry relations. He also oversees Cloudbeds Horizon, the company’s global education initiative for hospitality schools and universities. With deep hospitality expertise, he developed his career with Le Meridien, Swissotel, and Expedia before joining Cloudbeds in 2017. He has served as President of HEDNA and, since 2024, Chairman of WYSE Travel Confederation.
Founder and Director
Sustentur
With over 25 years of experience, Vicente Ferreyra is a leading authority on sustainable and regenerative tourism in Mexico and Latin America. He is Founder and Managing Director of Sustentur, a Certified B Corp consultancy, and has led more than 100 strategic initiatives with organizations including UN Tourism, UNEP, the IDB, GIZ, WWF, and major hospitality brands.
Membership Manager Mexico & Caribbean
International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA)
Virginia holds a B.A. in International Relations, a M.A. in Marketing, and a M.Sc. in Transport and Maritime Management, and is pursuing a PhD in Tourism. Since 2024, she has served as Mexico Membership Manager for IGLTA, strengthening its presence across Mexico and the Caribbean while promoting LGBTQ+ welcoming tourism, diversity, and inclusion.
Auditor, Trainer & Sustainability Specialist in Tourism and Events
GDS Movement
Master’s Degree in Sustainable Tourism with over 30 years of experience across the tourism industry, including events, hotels, DMCs, tour operators, and travel agencies. She was the first Latina to join the Global Destination Sustainability Movement and the first Spanish-language GSTC trainer for MICE. She is also a GSTC-accredited auditor, Sustainable Events Professional, international speaker, panelist, and trainer.
Chief Sustainability and Institutional Dialogue Officer
Grupo Xcaret
Iliana Rodríguez Cavazos is a tourism executive passionate about nature, Mexican culture, and people’s well-being. With 33+ years at Grupo Xcaret, she has led Sales, Public Relations, Corporate Social Responsibility, Sustainability, Communications, and Public Affairs. Since 2019, she has served as Grupo Xcaret’s Chief Sustainability Officer, contributing to international tourism and sustainability organizations and initiatives.
Co-Founder
Bushman Expeditions
Mario Dib is the Founder of Bushman, a Mexico-based expedition and experience company creating private journeys and small-group expeditions across Mexico, Peru, Nepal, and beyond. With a background in commercial strategy, marketing, and sponsorships for leading sports and entertainment organizations in Mexico, Mario now develops immersive travel experiences rooted in local knowledge, meaningful encounters, and deeper connections with each destination.
Secretary of Tourism for the State of Jalisco
Michelle Fridman Hirsch has served as Jalisco’s Secretary of Tourism since December 2024, leading global initiatives around FIFA World Cup 2026, ITB Americas, Michelin Guide’s arrival, and 100 international events in 2026. Previously, she served as Yucatán’s Secretary of Tourism (2018–2024), advancing sustainable tourism and international recognition.
Director of Revenue Management
Almar Resort
Rodolfo Gómez is a hospitality executive specializing in Revenue Management, Commercial Strategy, and Growth. As Director of Revenue & Growth at Almar Resort in Puerto Vallarta, he leads pricing, distribution, direct channels, digital commerce, marketing performance, and business development. His expertise includes hotel openings, OTA strategy, CRM, digital media, wellness, and lifestyle concepts, combining data-driven strategies with guest experience and sustainable growth.
VP, Market Management, LATAM & Caribbean
Expedia Group
Salim is a multicultural senior executive with extensive experience across the travel and technology industries. Fluent in Spanish, English, French, and Portuguese, he has held leadership roles in hospitality and technology companies at both corporate and property levels, covering technology, operations, sales, marketing, and general management. Most recently, at Sabre, he led overall business development across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Managing Director, Reset Tourism Fund
UnTours
Sarah Payne is Managing Director of the Reset Tourism Fund at the UnTours Foundation, leading its global impact investment portfolio. Since joining in 2023, she has helped expand the fund’s flexible, affordable, and catalytic financing for small tourism businesses. With an MBA in Economic Development and a background in history, business, and social entrepreneurship, Sarah serves on purpose-driven boards and advocates for more inclusive and regenerative approaches to tourism and finance.