Puerto Rico will host the annual congress of the Federación de Organizadores de Congresos y Afines de América Latina.
Better known by, COCAL, this non-profit organization promotes the development of the meetings marketing in Latin America and the Caribbean.
With the selection of Puerto Rico as host destination, this is the first time that COCAL is meeting in the Caribbean.
The hosting of COCAL 2010 is a direct result of the pro-active efforts of the Puerto Rico Convention Bureau to host the high-profile group.
It is anticipated that COCAL 2010 will attract an international delegation more than 100 attendees from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Peru, Spain, Uruguay, and Venezuela, among others.
“With the interest we are developing in Puerto Rico as a meetings destination within the Latin America market, COCAL provides us with the opportunity to exhibit our smooth infrastructure to these potential clients and top industry opinion leaders,” stated Ana María Viscasillas, president and CEO, Puerto Rico Convention Bureau.
“COCAL 2010 brings together the most influential congress, conference and event organizers, meeting planners, convention bureau executives, government officials and higher education professionals in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Bureau has played an integral role in the program development to provide an exemplary platform to network and exchange ideas and strategies in today’s meetings marketplace.”
Under the theme “Connecting the Americas,” the conference includes a full slate of panel discussions and informative talks given by top leaders in the international meetings market. Examples include:
With top tourism representatives from Colombia, Mexico and Panama, as well as Jaime López-Díaz, executive director, Puerto Rico Tourism Company and moderated by Ana María Viscasillas, president & CEO, President & CEO, Puerto Rico Convention Bureau, this session will present a destination by destination overview of the current state of the tourism industry with a special emphasis on the meetings and conventions.
Other topics will include the implementation of public-private partnerships by government entities to advance business opportunities, and how each destination competes with each other in the tourism marketplace.
The Future of Bureaus (DMOs) and Professional Conference Organizers: Do We Unite or Go Separate Ways?:
A new decade has begun with distinct challenges facing the meetings and conventions industry. In this session, two experts on both ends of the spectrum will discuss the future and trends of the industry from the PCO and DMO perspective, the future of DMOs and main challenges faced by PCOs and meeting organizers today. In addition, the panelists will offer key recommendations on achieving better synergy between DMOs and PCOs/Meeting Organizers.
Panelists:
Michael D. Gehrisch, president & CEO, Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI: During his nine years as President & CEO DMAI Gehrisch has positioned the organization as one of the world’s leading hospitality associations and led the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program initiative, which established a consistent standard for destination marketing operations.
Currently Gehrisch serves on several convention industry and travel boards. He is the recipient of several renowned awards one of Tradeshow Week’s “100 Most Influential People in the Tradeshow Business” in 2006, among other recognitions.
Roger Tondeur, president, MCI: The visionary behind the foremost global association, communications and event management companies in the world, Tondeur oversees the meeting planning and event management activities of 38 offices in 20 countries across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America, with partnerships covering North America and Asia Pacific. A member of important industry organizations, Tondeur was welcomed into the Convention Industry Council’s Hall of Leaders in 2007.
The Puerto Rico Convention Bureau, in support of COCAL 2010, worked with top executives from leading international groups and convention organizations such as the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), Professional Conference Management Association (PCMA) and Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) to develop a compelling program of seminars and panel discussions to facilitate the exchange of ideas and strategies within the marketplace.
“With opinion leaders from North America, Latin America, Europe and the Caribbean, COCAL 2010 represents a truly global exchange of information and ideas at the crossroads of the Americas,” stated Viscasillas.
All sessions of COCAL 2010 will be held at the Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino, bringing together professional congress, conference and event organizers, meeting planners, convention bureau executives, government officials and higher education professionals from the Americas and the Caribbean.
Registration is required to attend COCAL 2010. Participation in the three-day program of events costs $350; with a daily fee of $130.
For more information, visit COCAL 2010
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