- “La Cita VII was a unique event in many ways,” reported Rick Still, Managing Director. “Our hosts, The Omni Orlando at Championsgate and Experience Kissimmee did an amazing job. Disney Destinations hosted an incredible middle night function, but more importantly, the delegates that were here were the travel professionals who were serious about relationships and serious about doing business.”

“With the safety of our delegates always first in mind as we closely monitored Hurricane Dorian, and then decided we were going to have an amazing event in spite of the challenges. We had no idea how amazing it was going to be,” continued Still. 

This year La Cita had a total of 202 companies and 272 delegates from 22 countries. The delegation was compromised of forty top caliber media and market resource companies (57 delegates), 94 supplier companies (with 126 delegates), and 68 buyer companies with 89 delegates. Over 5,000 appointments were requested during the event.

      There were amazing stories of buyers and suppliers helping each other get to the event. Buyers who endured multiple connections (some for 24 hours or more) to get to La Cita because they had appointments that they did not want to miss. This determination and energy helped, make La Cita VII a uniquely memorable event.

      
La Cita’s Title Sponsors were Experience Kissimmee and the OMNI Orlando Resort at Championsgate. Additional sponsors included Disney Destinations, JetBlue, Hertz Rental Car, Spirit Airlines, Naples/ Marco Island Everglades CVB, Visit St. Pete/ Clearwater, Hey!Mobile, Orlando International Airport, Visit Florida, Travel Ace Assistance, The International Inbound Travel Association, Simon Shopping Destinations, Go Pegasus and American Airlines.

      The first day of La Cita included seminars by leading industry thought leaders: LATAM Market Update Sessions, the annual Airline Panel, Opening News Press Conferences and the Inbound Tour Operators Forum sponsored by IITA. Speakers included Richard Champley (US Department of Commerce, OTTI), Pablo Singerman (Estudio Singerman and Makon), Lisa Simon (IITA), Fernando Benavides (Galaxy Vacations), Maria Hulsewe (North American Destinations), Juliana Peña (Orlando International Airport) and Alfredo Gonzalez (AG Hospitality).

      
    
About La Cita de las Americas

Established in 2013 by industry veteran Rick Still, La Cita de Las Americas is an exclusive one-on-one appointment event over the span of three days, focused on building relationships and partnerships to grow inbound travel from Mexico, Central and South America, and the 
Caribbean.

“This event was especially meaningful because of the stories of those who came. Some became so creative with their flights that they came to us from South America, through Central America, up to Atlanta, down to Tampa—then renting a car to come to join us in Kissimmee. Each delegate checking in at the registration desk was like a little party. The best part of our job is forming relationships with people in the marketplace. And it was the beauty of those relationships that was the absolute highlight of La Cita VII,” Heather Still, Assistant Managing Director.