Meet our Programme Committee
Maximiliano Chacón
Marketing & Sales Manager, Costa Rica Convention CenterWith over 25 years of experience in the commercial sector, he has developed and led growth strategies that have exceeded revenue expectations and helped teams under his leadership reach their full potential. His career in leading companies across industries such as construction, industrial production, mass consumption, and services has provided him with a broad and multidisciplinary perspective that he now applies to every project he undertakes.
Holding a degree in General Management and a Master's in Business Administration with a Marketing emphasis, he is also a speaker, writer for digital media, and the creator of a podcast focused on the MICE industry and sustainability. A passionate wine and music enthusiast, he has left a lasting mark on every organization he has worked with and continues to build his legacy through innovation, leadership, and strategic vision.
For nearly seven years, he has been a key figure in the meetings and events industry, serving as the Commercial Director of the Costa Rica Convention Center, a strategically significant project for the country. His work has contributed to positioning Costa Rica on the global MICE industry (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions) map, attracting more than 1,050 events during this period and generating economic, social, and academic impact across various sectors.
As a specialist in artificial intelligence applied to events, he has integrated cutting-edge technologies to enhance event management, marketing, and overall experience, optimizing data-driven decision-making. Additionally, he is a strong advocate for sustainability in the meetings industry, ensuring that every event contributes to reducing its environmental impact and promoting responsible initiatives within the sector.
Laetitia Delzenne
Senior Advisor Event Strategy, UITP
Laetitia Delzenne is a passionate for events with over a decade of experience in the association field. Since joining the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) in 2010, she has held several pivotal roles, currently serving as the Senior Advisor for Events Strategy. In this capacity, she leads the strategic direction of UITP's global events, including the flagship UITP Summit, and oversees the association's broader event portfolio.
Laetitia actively participates in industry discussions, contributing her insights to panels and forums, and various advisory groups.
Prior to her tenure at UITP, Laetitia contributed to numerous temporary art projects and Biennales worldwide, enriching her expertise in large-scale event management and cross-cultural collaboration. She pursued her education in both France and Australia. Before relocating to Oslo, Norway, in 2022, Laetitia resided in Brussels for several years.
Andrés Escandón
Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, ICCAAndrés is an internationalist and MBA, focusing his career in designing creative business development and internationalization strategies for organizations and cities looking to expand and grow globally, particularly in emerging markets.
As brand ambassador for business events and tourism, Andrés specializes in two things: communicating the power of events to drive socioeconomic development for cities and developing effective strategies to attract international events and investment to cities.
Andres’ studies on international relations, technology, and business development have helped him drive conversations and initiatives towards the digital transformation of the global meetings industry. He has been ICCA Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean for the past four years.
Eva Garde
Director, Granada Convention BureauEva is the Director of Granada Convention Bureau, she is graduated in Tourism and has a degree in Translation and Interpretation. She pursued postgraduate studies and gained her first professional experiences during six years in England and France.
Before returning to "her" Granada, she travelled for a year and a half through India, Nepal, and Southeast Asia where she collaborated with the Missionaries of Charity founded by Mother Teresa, an experience she considers "the best master's degree in human and personal development that one can undertake."
After 14 years at the Granada Congress Centre, she joined the newly created Granada Convention Bureau in 2014, a project that she currently leads and develops with passion by involving both public institutions and entrepreneurs. She believes that together we achieve more.
She is a regular speaker at national and international forums, teaches in some master's programs and at the University of Granada, is a member and actively participates in various national and international MICE associations and is currently the Deputy Chair of the ICCA Iberian Chapter.