Pablo Menendez takes on the role of prize and Transformation Theater curator
Year after year, travelers’ behavior changes, reflecting a growing desire to discover more responsible, ethical and inclusive destinations and companies. A pioneer in addressing these issues within the tourism industry, WTM Latin America renews its thematic programming at each edition in order to highlight the most pressing debates and reward initiatives carried out in different parts of Latin America to provoke reflection, share best practices and encourage their replication throughout the region.
To continue fulfilling this important premise of offering quality content, WTM Latin America announces an important change for the next edition. In 2025, Pablo Menendez will take over the leadership of the Responsible Tourism Award and the Transformation Theater, continuing the work started by Gustavo Pinto, who, for almost a decade, consolidated these debates as a vital force in the Latin American tourism scene.
“The Responsible Tourism Award is one of our event pillars, and we are very proud to recognize initiatives that inspire positive change in Latin America. We thank Gustavo for the excellent work that consolidated this project as a reference in the industry. We are confident that Pablo’s experience and strategic vision will bring new energy and innovation to these important debates for the tourism industry,” says Bianca Pizzolito, Event Leader at WTM Latin America.
A participant in theater as a speaker since the first edition of WTM Latin America, in 2013, and in charge of curation since 2015, Gustavo sees the moment as an opportunity to open space for new perspectives. “I was at the forefront of this work for many years, helping to consolidate responsible tourism as a central theme at the event,” he reflects.
The growing demand for projects related to responsible tourism originating from the Instituto Rede Terra, with which Gustavo is associated, was the main motivator for this passing of the baton. “My contribution had already been coming up against this time limit and the responsibility that curation demands. I believe that for this agenda to remain alive it needs renewal and Pablo has the ideal profile for this transition, with great experience, recognized throughout Latin America, in addition to a broad vision and commitment to sustainable tourism”, he points out.
With a solid trajectory in different areas of responsible tourism, Pablo has worked with Gustavo on projects in the past and was invited to share the curation of the most recent edition of the fair, in 2024, an act that contributed to the transition. With a structured base and strong networking in Latin America, he was responsible for coordinating with the Latin American organizations that were partners of the award and contributed to the theater programming in this year’s edition.
Known for his commitment to causes and ability to integrate different initiatives, Pablo founded Komú Travel, a platform that connects independent travelers to community tourism initiatives in Mexico, in 2019. The initiative gave rise to the creation of a digital community of community-based tourism professionals throughout Latin America, of which he was a part and collaborated with the organization of the first Latin American Congress on the subject, held online, during the pandemic with the participation of 3,000 people.
Since then, Pablo has left Komú – which remains under the leadership of his former partner – to work as a consultant in different countries, helping to strengthen projects, developing commercial capabilities and supporting the connection of rural and indigenous initiatives with the tourism market in Mexico, Brazil, Guatemala, Panama and the Dominican Republic, among others. “I am comfortable with the challenge, as I have seen the processes up close this year and have observed a great evolution in the Award and in the panels that brought more speakers and themes from different parts of Latin America, which is an important part of the objectives for the next editions”, he states.
In addition to strengthening alliances with specialist entities, he announced plans to expand this initiative, based on the success of the 2024 edition. “We had a very good experience in this interaction and we want to bring in more associations, including partners who lead sustainable tourism initiatives in different parts of Latin America,” he says. Menendez also confirmed the arrival of Aline Bispo, Tourism Specialist and part of the technical leadership of the BATUC Network – Community Tourism of Bahia – who will help him in the selection of speakers and in the processes related to the award.
Although the change in leadership means a new cycle, Gustavo will continue to contribute to debates on responsible tourism as a member of the Diversity Committee. “WTM Latin America is a valuable platform for debating major tourism issues, and my connection to the cause remains strong, as I see it as an honor and a duty. I will also be at all the lectures and the award presentation, but now as a spectator, applauding and recognizing what Latin America has to offer that is most current and important”, concludes Gustavo Pinto.