The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) is excited to announce an expansion in Latin America with a new conference series launching this month in Mexico, Colombia, Peru, and Chile. HSMAI chartered its Brazil chapter in 2014 and this expansion is being led by a new Latin American Advisory Board formed in 2022.

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HSMAI Latam, led by Gabriela Otto, managing director of HSMAI Brazil and now also Latam, aims to support the performance of sales, marketing and revenue management professionals in the hospitality industry.

"This significant framework brings the association’s decades of experience to other continents and countries and will accelerate growth and increase opportunities for professional development across Latin America," said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHBA, president and CEO, HSMAI.

To lead this expansion, HSMAI has appointed a diversified board representing various segments of the hotel industry in each country. The members of the new councils bring vast experience and knowledge, and share the desire to strengthen the sector in their country. They are:

• Colombia: Esther Bustamante, CEO of Area 7 Hotels Latam; José Bayona, general manager of Embassy Suites By Hilton Bogota; Nicolas Heftre, director of revenue, Cluster, Sofitel Colombia; and Oscar Restrepo, regional administrative director, NH Hotels.
• Chile: Danilo Toledo, general manager, Accor Invest Chile; Augustine Lake, regional manager, revenue management Hispanic countries of Accor Hospitality; Pilar Aguero, general manager, Australis Hotels; Alvaro Castilla, CEO, Dyego Almagro Hotels; and Frank Pruvost, CEO, Franck Pruvost Consulting.
• Mexico: Stephanie Ocampo, senior director, global sales & field sales of Wyndham Hotels; Aldo Martinez, regional director of sales & marketing, IHG Hotels & Resorts;  Jesús Martínez, CEO, Eventum Meetings; Victor Alvaréz, director of sales, Holiday Inn Dalí Aeropuerto; and Abraham González, revenue manager, Mexico Choice Hotels.
• Peru: Lynn Mora, head CRM and customer data, Palmais House of AiA; Cesar Urrutia, revenue management manager, Hilton Lima Miraflores; and Waldin Duran, regional sales manager, Accor Peru.

In addition to expanding the association’s presence in each country, HSMAI Latam aims to mobilize the tourism industry and bring strategic development opportunities to sales, marketing, and revenue management professionals across Latin America. "I’m proud to be spearheading the expansion of HSMAI throughout Latin America, offering immeasurable opportunities for industry growth through shared insights, conversations, and best practices to increase profit," said Otto.

The HSMAI Strategy Conferences will take place September 7 in Mexico City, September 14 in Bogota, Columbia, November 21 in Lima, Peru, November 29 in São Paulo, Brazil, and December 5 in Santiago, Chile. At each, HSMAI will present its calendar of events, educational programs and networking opportunities, as well as hotel statistics and strategies for each market.

For more information, visit www.hsmailatam.org and follow the official profile on Instagram @hsmailatam and LinkedIn.