13th Latin American Political Forum
PRELIMINARY Program
Tuesday, June 9 – Hotel Real Intercontinental – Room: Real – Costa Rica
2.30pm – 2.40pm Official Opening of the 13th Latin American Politican Forum on Meetings Tourism. – Arnaldo Nardone, Director FIEXPO Exhibitions Group.
2.40pm – 2.50pm Welcome Remarks – Costa Rica Tourism Board.
2.50pm – 2.55pm Introduction by the Moderator.
2.55pm – 3.10pm TOPIC 1 – “None of This Happens Alone: The Real Architecture Behind a Global Event”
This keynote will provide a direct and honest perspective on what it truly takes to build, scale, and sustain a world-class global event. The presentation aims to demonstrate that major events can generate millions for a destination, enhance its international visibility, and stimulate economic growth ,but none of this happens by chance. Behind the visible impact lies a complex structure of risk, pressure, investment, logistics, public-private coordination, and institutional commitment. The objective is for politican leaders to understand that attracting and sustaining world-class events requires vision, coordination, responsiveness, and genuine support from the destination and its institutions.
Keynote speaker – Michael Blackman – Managing Director, ISE / Integrated Systems Events – United Kingdom.
3.10pm – 3.50pm Interventions by Ministers and other participating authorities representing each destination or entity.
3.50pm – 3:55pm Introduction by the Moderator.
3.55pm – 4.25pm Panel discussion – “From Influence to Impact: Transforming Collaboration into Measurable Results” This high-level session will focus on moving from discourse to execution, examining how collaboration between the public sector, institutional leadership, and industry can translate into concrete and measurable results for destinations and their economies. The discussion will explore governance barriers that limit implementation, and the mechanisms that can be established to ensure follow-up, transparency, and impact. It will provide a space to align responsibilities, priorities, and success indicators, reinforcing the role of the meetings industry as a driver of economic and social development.
Moderador: James Lancaster – AMI Editor & Editorial Director, Northstar Meetings Group UK/EMEA – Canada.
4.25pm – 4.45pm Coffee break.
4.45pm – 4.50pm Introduction by the Moderator.
4.50pm – 5.05pm TOPIC 2 – “Strengthening the Meetings Industry to Accelerate Sustainable Development in Latin America and the Caribbean”
This presentation will offer a strategic perspective on the potential of the meetings industry as a catalyst for regional development. Drawing from his experience in integration, trade, and investment policies, Jaime will address how this sector can contribute to economic growth, territorial integration, investment attraction, opportunity generation, and the acceleration of sustainable development agendas across Latin America and the Caribbean. The session will position the meetings industry within a broader conversation on competitiveness, regional integration, and public policy. Keynote Speaker: Jaime Granados / Head of the Trade and Investment Division, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) – United States.
5.05pm – 5.40pm Interventions by Ministers and other participating authorities representing each destination or entity.
5.40pm Closing of the Forum.
Presentation of the Forum Award 2025. 6.00pm Departure of transfer for authorities.