By Olga Ramudo,
Chair, WTE Miami; Senior Vice-President (Florida and Latin America) at Gray Dawes/Express Travel

Welcome to day 1 of WTE Miami 2024! We are thrilled to have such a great turnout for our second edition of the show. With two packed days ahead of us, there will be endless opportunities for one on one meetings with destinations, airlines, tour operators, MICE, hotels, agencies and more. We have the entire tourism industry under one roof!

We will be kicking off today with opening remarks from Master of Ceremonies U. Desmond Alufohai, Director of Protocol and International Affairs Division, Miami-Dade Aviation Department as well as a number of industry greats from Miami and Colombia. This will be followed an introduction by Rolando Aedo, Chief Operating Officer, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau and a keynote presentation from Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, CEO & President Miami Host Committee, FIFA World Cup 2026;  Best Selling Author of “Making Waves”. As you grab your first coffee of the day, stop by and get a taste for the main themes of the show this year.

Our Guest Country Colombia will be a particular highlight of the show. This incredible destination has brought its wide range of attractions to Miami, and is becoming a favorite among American travelers. You will definitely want to take the time to stop by their stand and meet with their partners and co-exhibitors, including Avianca, the official airline of the show this year.

We also have a world-class line up of speakers and conferences for you, covering highly relevant topics such as the luxury market and the very much anticipated FIFA World Cup 26. This afternoon at 3:00pm I will have the honor of being the moderator for a session that tackles a topic particularly close to my heart: women in travel. Get inspired by these industry leaders and the stories of how they overcame the challenges they were met with in their careers. Let’s all work together to build a better environment for women in travel and business more broadly for the future.

Don’t forget to take the time to explore the show floor thoroughly, in addition to the meetings you’ve planned you might run into some surprises! Our industry is one based on relationships, and there is nothing like a face to face meeting to solidify a partnership or build a new one. No time like the present!

Wishing you all the very best for the first day of the show. Seize this unique opportunity and take advantage of all WTE Miami has to offer!