The World Travel & Tourism Council's operating committee has appointed Gloria Guevara president and CEO.
Gloria Guevara
This is Guevara's second stint as WTTC's president and CEO, previously occupying the role from 2017 to 2021. She served as interim CEO during WTTC's annual Global Summit in Rome last September, after previous CEO Julia Simpson was unable to attend due to personal reasons.
Guevara has more than three decades of experience in the public and private sectors. She has served as Mexico's secretary of tourism, chief special advisor to the Saudi Arabia minister of tourism, and special advisor on government affairs at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Guevara has also held board positions at American Express Global Business Travel, HSBC Mexico, Playa Hotels and Resorts, and Palace Company.
In her second WTTC stint, Guevara said she's focused on "delivering a dynamic new era for the organization and fostering close collaboration between public and private sectors."
"My priority will be to help unlock potential, investment, growth and jobs in the sector; rebuild a stronger, globally representative WTTC; deepen engagement with members; and ensure that WTTC continues to deliver world-class research, advocacy and other services to the travel and tourism industry," she said.
WTTC chairman Manfredi Lefebvre praised Guevara's leadership, saying her experience is "exactly what WTTC needs as we enter this next chapter."
"Her return enables us to strengthen our talented team, expand our membership and drive global advocacy with renewed energy and focus," he said. "Over 15 new companies are currently in the membership pipeline, alongside organizations returning after previously stepping away. The strong demand from countries wanting to host our annual Global Summit demonstrates WTTC's continued relevance and the value we provide to members across the travel and tourism sector."
WTTC's next Global Summit will be held in Malta in October.
In December, WTTC relocated to Madrid from London, where it had been based since 1990. The organization cited challenges linked to Brexit as making the U.K. less attractive, and said Madrid offered a more favorable tax environment, government support, easier visa processing for employees and overall lower operating costs.