As part of the new-look LATA Expo Conference on Monday 24 June, we are thrilled to introduce a Women in Travel session with a stellar panel of senior women figures from the LATA membership.
The session will look at the current state of gender equality when it comes to leadership in the Latin American travel sector. Moderator Zina Bencheikh will be joined by three female leaders who are agents of change and promote gender equality within their organisations. They will share their own career stories and offer insights and advice for delegates, as well as considering what’s next for gender equality in the sector.
We look forward to an interesting discussion and thank the panel for their time and insights.
Moderator – Zina Bencheikh, Managing Director EMEA Intrepid Travel
Zina, who was born in Marrakech and educated in France and the UK, joined Intrepid in 2010 as a finance manager in Morocco. She was appointed EMEA Managing Director in 2020 and is widely regarded as one of Morocco’s leading advocates for gender equality, interviewed by Skift, Forbes and the BBC Travel Show.
Zina is passionate about making the world more inclusive. By removing the gender barriers in countries where women have historically been excluded from paid work and equal access to education, Zina uses Intrepid’s global network to create opportunities for women through tourism.
Panellists
Sarah Bradley, Managing Director of Journey Latin America
Sarah Bradley is Managing Director of Journey Latin America, the UK’s No.1 specialist, offering personalised tailor-made holidays and escorted small-group tours to all parts of Latin America and Antarctica. Sarah has previously served on the LATA committee, including as chair, and currently sits on the Council of AITO, the Specialist Travel Association. Sarah has an MBA and a BA Hons in Modern Languages.
Ivonne Zumarraga, Managing Director and Partner of Golden Galapagos Cruises
With over 18 years of experience in the tourism industry, Ivonne Zumarraga is the Managing Director of Golden Experiences & Travel, leading the company’s growth in the Galapagos Islands and Amazon Rainforest. Ivonne values travel for its ability to broaden perspectives and enjoys creating top experiences for our companies’ guests. Ivonne is passionate about learning and improving the quality of life for others, making GET a client-oriented transformative travel company.
She acknowledges the challenges that women face in their professional lives, based on her experience and leadership, but encourages women to be perseverant and prioritise their obligations both personally and professionally.
Alessandra Alonso, Founder of Women in Travel CIC
Alessandra is a well-respected and award-winning gender, social impact and ESG expert with over 20 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry. She is the founder and MD of Women in Travel CIC, a social enterprise that aims to empower women through employability and entrepreneurship in the travel, tourism, and hospitality sectors.
Alessandra began her career as a trainee in Tourism at the European Commission and went on to hold senior roles in prominent companies such as The World Travel & Tourism Council and KPMG. Her passion for supporting women and promoting diversity led her to establish the consultancy Shine and co-founded the Shine Awards for Women’s Achievement in Travel, Tourism, and Hospitality in 2004.
Alessandra is an expert in gender empowerment and mentoring, recognized as a trailblazer in the sector. She is a regular keynote speaker and contributor to publications. She was awarded the JourneyWoman Award in 2021 for her lifetime dedication to gender empowerment and has been named one of the “50 most important women in travel” by Wonderlust Travel and one of the “9 women transforming travel” by the Matador Network.