Jose R. Ferreras, CMP is the Vice President, Business Development - LATAM for I&MI Media and, as such, is responsible for the development of business in Mexico, Caribbean and Latin America. I&MI Media is a complete suite of integrated print and web media targeted globally to MICE buyers of international destinations and venues. Through his efforts, Jose has the opportunity to interface with over 200 leading Latin American suppliers and connect them with global MICE planners. Jose is a veteran of the travel industry having worked for Melia International, Starwood Hawaii, Ritz-Carlton, and IHG in addition to spending 15 years as an Incentive Travel Planner. In 1998, Jose received his CMP designation and since then his passion to share the value and benefits of the CMP program has only grown. Jose has also been a member of Site Global for over 20 years and presently chairs the Global Alliances and Sponsorship Program Committee.

Latin America continues to enjoy an impressive growth in the regional corporate meetings and events industry and will be hosting major global events in the coming years. This is mostly due to the positive economy from key players in the region such as Brazil, Chile and Colombia who presently enjoy tremendous corporate growth requiring deployment of meetings and events to reach business objectives. This unprecedented growth is raising performance expectations for meeting professionals. The region enjoys having Argentina and Brazil in the TOP 20 destinations for the Global Association Meetings Market according to the ICCA ranking with Colombia and Peru closely behind.

I clearly understand the tremendous advantages to the wealth of continuing education, network opportunities and overall industry recognition of the CMP Program. I feel it is my duty to support the Latin American MICE community  that is presently creating new expectations of the meeting industry by introducing them to the CMP Program as a unique opportunity to raise their industry knowledge.

I would love to see an outstanding growth of CMP Program in the region.