SPEAKERS

 WORLD ROMANCE TRAVEL - COLOMBIA 2024

 

Ceci Johnson - Keynote Speaker

Founder & Creative Director, Ceci New York

(United States)

Ceci Johnson is an influential and highly regarded entrepreneur, artist, editor, speaker, loving wife, and mother. Her career has been dedicated to the pursuit of beautiful living through design. Ceci’s powerhouse design agency, Ceci New York, is globally regarded as the leader in luxury invitation design. Ceci herself has been widely recognized as the pioneer of “Couture Invitation Design”. Her fashion-forward style and sophisticated aesthetic have led her to be named by Tory Burch as a “Woman to Watch” and called by Anna Wintour of Vogue magazine “a favorite designer”. We TV and Harpers Bazaar named Ceci Johnson an Invitation Innovator and Expert. 

Gideon Hermosa 

International Floral & Events Designer

(Philippines)

Raised in Tarlac, Philippines, Gideon is driven primarily by moxie and a focus that has him slowly ticking things off his bucket list. As he does so, life-changing career surprises greet him along the way.
Through simple ribbon deconstruction and strange dreams of talking to fauns, he was able to discover and thrive in what he truly believes to be his calling, regardless of his meager resources and limited opportunities.
Although still in his early 30s, Gideon has racked up considerable experience in the styling scene. Having been sent to a school far from home, Gideon saw an opportunity for him to practice his craft. The year was 2006. While still in his undergraduate years as an Associate Hotel and Restaurant Management student in the University of Baguio, he was already hard at work doing event styling for his friends, and his friends’ friends. He worked for free, just to be recognized and hone his skills.


Having finished with a degree unrelated to his passion, furthering his knowledge in the industry meant doing it on his own, giving up his own sweat and blood. He turned to local and foreign wedding magazines. From their pages, he absorbed ideas, trends, and inspirations. While working in his first job in a coffee shop, part of his tasks was to supply morning papers for the customers. Every two weeks, he would ask his supervisor if he could grab a copy of Manila Bulletin for the now-defunct section About Weddings, which he later shyly admitted to be part ofhis precious collection-cum-“learning materials.”


Strange enough, it was not school nor his earlier experience in styling that convinced him that he wanted to work in the wedding industry full time. It was his passion for flowers and a chance encounter with Ciudad Fernandino’s owner in a bridal fair in Dagupan City which made him packhis bags and pursue event styling in Pangasinan.
Continuously fueled by his curiosity and encouragement from friends and clients, Gideon says that though he is having the time of his life, he still dreams of something more for himself, for his craft and for his family. This founder and owner of Events Studio and sole breadwinner attributes his current accomplishments to his sharp focus, hard work, constant will for improvement and guts.
His philosophy has always been to quickly adapt to a situation and blossom with the challenge that every unique event brings. For him, “a different wedding means different people, different attitudes, different ideas.” And while he admits that it never gets easier, the inspirations he gets from each wedding and the people he designs for are endless.
With every event, he psyches himself up by thinking that “I will be (playing) an important role in a once-in-a-lifetime event, so I must be physically and mentally fit to do my task.”
What clients particularly love about Gideon’s work is his painstaking attention to details, something that he wants to be particularly known for. He believes that the tiniest details can both make or break the atmosphere of an event. These, as well, were also his way of personalizing each event for his clients. He’s also careful not to repeat himself, even if the themes are the same time and again-each of his clients are sure to feel special.


At the end of the day, amidst the gifts and tokens-even the out-of-the-country trips he’s given as appreciation for his hard work-what he loves about his job is the opportunity to gain new friends, and the chance to see positive emotions burst before his eyes for a creation in which he played an instrumental role.

Angela Proffitt

MC - Master of Ceremonies

GSD Creative

(United States)

Angela Proffitt, a renowned global influencer, serves as your BFF in the GSD (Get Shit Done) movement across the globe. With her vibrant and unwavering presence, she connects with a community fueled by the passion to care for others, lead with happiness, and embrace movement in every aspect of life, work, and travel. Angela's content seamlessly blends fun valuable insights, cutting-edge technology, and an unyielding 'Get Shit Done' attitude, resonating deeply with a diverse audience of dynamic entrepreneurs and hospitality enthusiasts (who move!). The GSD movement Is where productivity intertwines with exhilarating adventure. Let’s discover the secrets to leading, working, and traveling with purpose, happiness, and movement that supports growth together. 

Juanita Suzunaga

Founder and instructor of Proudly Academy

(Colombia)

Juanita Suzunaga is a highly experienced wedding and event planner and an expert in diverse romance tourism. As the founder of Proudly Group INC, she leads an award-winning company (National Tourism Award 2020: Diverse and Inclusive Tourism) with offices in Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, and incorporation in the United States. With her pioneering spirit in the LGBTQ+ segment, Juanita Suzunaga became the first LGBTQ+ certified wedding planner in Colombia, dedicated to serving and celebrating love in all its forms. With over 15 years of experience in the events industry, she has successfully produced major concerts featuring renowned artists like Maluma, Aerosmith and Kiss.

Juanita is also the founder and instructor of Proudly Academy, a specialized academy that trains event industry professionals in more than 10 countries around the world to communicate assertively and attract the queer market. Through the academy, she imparts knowledge to the entire value chain of the events industry, enabling effective communication and inclusive practices.

Ary Iturralde

Destination Jewish Wedding Master

(México)

CREATE, CONNECT and SHARE are her life’s mission.

She is a life and animal lover. Practice yoga and sungazing every morning. Mindfulness soul. Enthusiastic, passionate, and oriented detail. Her motto: “Make it happen every day”

She fuses her passion for public relations with her lifestyle to create projects and diversify her talents. She’s a Leader in the Destination Wedding Industry. Specialized in Destination Jewish Weddings since 10 years ago. Author of "MAZELTOV" Certification specialized in Destination Jewish Weddings. Creator of WeddTalks Podcast - Powerful talks in the wedding Industry.

Visionary. Leader in Altruism and Female Empowerment. Goal oriented. Womanpreneur, creative, and travel vlogger. Named TOP DESTINATION WEDDING PLANNER by IN MEXICO.

Microentrepreneur since she was 15 years old. Graduate in Communication Sciences from La Salle University. She developed various products for the American Embassy by Teletech Company. Certified Auditor. Wedding Manager for Rosewood Mayakoba. Director of Public Relations for ABC Quintana Roo. Creative Director and Curator of the CASAR Mayakoba. Certified in Jewish, South Asian, and LGBT Weddings.

Corporate Advisor and Consultant for Velas Weddings at Grand Velas Resorts. Editorial Campaign Director for Velas Weddings.

Co. Founder of JM Experience Designers and Creativepreneur Academy.

 

Nadia Sparkle

Travel With Sparkle and Six Figure Travel Academy

(United States)

Nadia “Sparkle” is the proud owner of Travel with Sparkle, an award -winning, lifestyle travel agency that specializes in luxury and international group travel. She curates off-the-beaten, group excursions for hundreds of clients, better known as her beloved “Sparklers.” 

Nadia’s uniquely designs trips inspired by her own personal adventures. Every booked itinerary and travel recommendation is supported by her immersive research, travel prowess, as well as the many relationships with local area tourist boards, tour operators, hotels, and resorts sustained along the way. Nadia refuses to sell a destination that she has not very visited. Because of that, her group experiences are rich in culture and education, with a touch of Sparkle. Nadia discreetly manages and plans travel for many entertainers and celebrities in the TV and music industry. She is group specialist and certified luxury travel designer.

Her special approach to travel has earned Nadia a world-renowned reputation amongst industry colleagues. Nadia has been invited to speak at several travel industry events. She serves as a mentor within the 6-Figure Travel Academy, an extension of her travel brand, that teaches travel brand owners how to attain their own level of success. She is one of the Female Leaders In Travel and member of Travel A.L.L.I.E.S. She is a contributing editor to Travel Weekle publication.Nadia was the 2022 winner of the Travel Age West Trendsetter Award for Best Group Booking Effort and the winner of the 2023 Magellan Award for Destination Marketing. Nadia is an alumna of the Tucks School of Business Diversity program. All her accomplishments have led to travel planning partnerships with major production companies and multiple digital publication features.

Mary Beth Lynn

Owner I Travel Expert

(United States)

Mary Beth Lynn is a recognized expert in scaling business systems, efficiency, and growth with life-changing virtual assistants. Frequently called upon for her expertise on virtual assistants and processes, Mary Beth is also an international keynote speaker and serves as the CEO of Assistants That Work and Your Vacation Plan. Along with her team of life-changing assistants, she scaled her travel business with 28% growth in 2020, and since implementing her assistants, 200% or more year-over-year. Along with her assistants and systems, her business has achieved Top 25 Agents with Journese two years in a row and, at the same time, made the Top 100 Agents list with her host agency of over 8,000 agents three years in a row. Teaching the same systems and processes she used to grow her business with assistants, Mary Beth has now helped over 2,000 business owners and Travel Agents discover the transformative power of life-changing virtual assistants in their companies, allowing them to grow their businesses and have more time for what’s most important.

 

Ilse Diamant

Diamant Events International

(México)

Mexican with a European Heritage is Better known as Luxury Romance Ambassador. Ilse has been the creative director of Diamant Events since 2004. Currently she and her sister Own an International Travel Agency called Diamant Travel Experience.

She is a Destination Wedding Specialist and a Professional MICE planner. Award wining Consultor, Educator and Speaker, Co Founder of the DWSA and LATAM Director, Director of the ALFA Leaders at the IADWP and Author of the Book “Mastering The Art Of Educating Your Client"

Sandra Santoro

Founder & Owner of gettingmarriedinitalyŸ

(Italy)

Sandra Santoro started her career in the destination wedding industry as Founder and Owner of gettingmarriedinitalyŸ & Iconic Events, a bespoke destination wedding planning boutique, headquartered in Florence, Italy. She is one of the very first professional destination wedding planners in Italy with an experience of over 25 years. Sandra is also the Co-founder and Event Director of LSC Events BV, a Dutch company specialized in business events in the wedding industry and producer of the 1st International LGBTQ+ Wedding Conference, as well as Co-founder and CEO of eJuno, a one stop solution marketplace based in Dubai, UAE, and operating in the B2B and B2C event business.  

Italian Chapter Head of IADWP Eurasia and Member of the Advisory Board of the International Association of Destination Wedding Professionals, President of the Association “Italia Wedding Tourism” in Italy.

She has assisted couples from all over the world, and thanks to her wonderful success, her company now serves as a preferred partner and local onsite European agent for international partners, which has led to the planning of several luxurious celebrity weddings over the years.

Featured in numerous national and international publications, such as Harper’s Bazaar, Grace Ormonde, The New York Times, Style me Pretty, La Repubblica, Burnetts Boards, Flyaway Bride, Bridal Musings, among others.

Her wedding planning agency is Selected member of the Florence Visitors and Convention Bureau, particularly the Tuscany for Weddings division, dedicated to destination weddings and developed with the Tuscany Promotion Board.

Host and planner of Destination Projects, to promote selected destinations, including Charity Weddings. International speaker and destination ambassador abroad, Jury Member at International Wedding awards.

Winner of Belief Wedding Awards from 2015 to 2018, Wedding Wire Couples' Choice Awards in 2016. Awarded with the ‘Service Excellence Award’ by the Luxury Travel Guide in the 2017, Wedding & Honeymoon Specialist Awards. Featured in the "Top 20 Wedding Planners Around the World" by LUX Magazine and recognized as "Wedding Planner of the Year" in Italy in 2018. 2020/2021 winner of the Prestige Awards in the category Boutique Wedding Planning Company of the Year.

JC Castillo

Wedding Planner Expert in South Asian Weddings

(Mexico)

With over 10 years of experience, JC Castillo has become the most successful wedding planner for South Asian weddings in Mexico and the Caribbean. Our team has planned and designed South Asian weddings and events in Cancun, Tulum, Los Cabos, Mexico City, Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, and Costa Rica in Central America.

With a deep understanding of South Asian traditions, JC Castillo has created a series of collections and designs that have gained international recognition in leading publications and digital platforms such as Vogue India, Brides Today India, The Times of India, Inside Weddings Magazine, and websites in England and Australia. JC Castillo's work has been shared by leading South Asian designers such as Sabyasachi, Rimple & Harpreet, and Tena Durrani.

Currently, the JC Castillo Weddings team consists of 4 wedding planners, 1 wedding designer, and the most reliable network of decorators and florists in Cancun, Mexico.

Laura Beauparlant

Founder of Lab Creative

(Canada)

Laura Beauparlant is the founder of Lab Creative, the author of Brand Chemistry, the creator of Brand Camp and an award-winning international speaker. 

An entrepreneur for the past 20 years, Laura helps ambitious founders create their impact-driven legacy brand. She leverages her creativity and experience to inspire and empower everyone she meets – allowing them to reach new levels of impact, influence and success. In her role as founder and creative director of Lab Creative, she has provided high-caliber strategy and art direction for hundreds of clients internationally.

As a speaker, Laura has been recognized for the chemistry she creates with her audience as she teaches, inspires and candidly shares insights into her own story of overcoming adversity and finding clarity – in both life and business. Laura has an engaging presence and easy, conversational style that captures her audience every time.

Laura is based in Toronto, Canada, however she speaks and works with clients around the world.

Sonia Martinez - Ambassador 

IADWP Chapter Head Colombia

Bridal Agency CO Founder- General Manager

(Colombia)

As the CEO of a wedding planning firm -BRIDAL AGENCY , I am dedicated to crate extraordinary celebrations that transcend expectations. With a visionary approach and a wealth of 9 years experience in the industry, I lead a team committed to turning dreams into reality. My leadership has propelled our company to new heights, earning us recognition through prestigious awards and in the wedding and tourism industry.

With meticulous attention to detail and a passion for creating unforgettable moments, I specialize in destination weddings. My expertise extends to various styles and themes, ensuring each event reflects the unique love and vision of the couple. From intimate ceremonies to grand affairs, I bring creativity, professionalism, and a wealth of experience through the entire Country. Working in cities such as : Bogota, Cartagena, Santa Marta, MedellĂ­n, Pereira, Barranquilla, Manizales, Bucaramanga, Villa de Leiva, etc. Given our experience in the romance tourism industry, We founded a company specialized in organizing corporate events and MICE tourism called: Business Destinations and Logistics Events. Expanding into the United States, our company, operating nationally, excels in delivering top-notch services in the Romance Tourism and MICE industry. Our commitment to excellence ensures unforgettable experiences for couples and corporate clients alike.

Eliana GonzĂĄlez - Ambassador

IADWP Chapter Head Cartagena

EG Event Producer - CEO - Wedding Producer

(Colombia)

I am a passionate event producer with a master's degree in Protocol, Design, and Event Production, backed by over 7 years of successful experience in the creation and management of high-impact destination events. My focus is distinguished by innovation, creativity, and efficiency, qualities that have allowed me to lead and execute memorable events that consistently exceed client expectations.

I have cultivated diverse experience ranging from high-level corporate events to weddings and special celebrations. My expertise in strategic planning, logistical coordination, and budget management has been strengthened by my ability to adapt to changing environments. As an industry leader, I have excelled in organizing events in exclusive destinations, always confronting and surpassing the unique challenges each location presents.

What sets me apart is my deep connection with Cartagena de Indias, where I am considered an expert in destinations. My strong local relationships and connections are crucial for creating authentic and personalized experiences. This local network not only facilitates logistics but also adds a distinctive touch to each event, making it unforgettable for participants.

My ability to manage teams, establish strong relationships with vendors, and maintain effective communication with clients has been essential for my ongoing success in this industry. I am always abreast of new trends and creative approaches, allowing me to deliver unique experiences and surpass client objectives.

As a highly productive and results-oriented individual, I have a proven track record of meeting deadlines and maintaining high-quality standards. My commitment to excellence and passion for creating exceptional events continues to drive me to grow and achieve new milestones in the exciting world of event production.

Paola Medina - Ambassador 

IADWP Chapter Head Bogota

Paola Medina Planner & Eventos Grupos medina

(Colombia)

Paola Medina Planner & Eventos Grupo Medina are a wedding planning firm specializing in complete planning process in Colombia and Latin America. The company have broad experience in destination weddings managing different kinds of weddings in Colombian cities and all of them have been in different venues.

Paola Medina is Social communicator at Javeriana University in BogotĂĄ Colombia. Also has a certificate program in PMP at San Diego, Continuing education California. She have experience in project management, event planning, marketing and protocol. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, strong collaboration skills and ability to effectively work in teams. And this is so important for the events. She is very confident, responsible, dependable, and have a proven track record to manage and lead cross-functional teams.

She have broad experience in wedding ceremonies and parties- managed different kinds of destination weddings.

 
 
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