President of Convenco-Incentive Solutions and G.S.A.R. Marketing, he started his carrier in American Express, Madrid, from where he was transferred to Los Angeles office. Later, he was District Sales Manager of National Airlines (later Pan Am) and Regional Director of Peruvian Airlines, both in Los Angeles, California. At this time he founded and presided the first Regional Chapter of SATO (South America Travel Organization) in the USA. Based in San Francisco, he was appointed the first Sales Director of Club Med for the USA, assisting to introduce the club into the US market. Ramon Alvarez returned to American Express as staff member of the company’s Travel Division President and put in charge of Special Markets for North and South America, based in the American Express Headquarters in Wall Street.

Hired by Iberia Airlines to open and direct its Incentive and Convention Sales Department for the USA in New York, he was founder of SITE (Society of Incentive Travel Executives), being its first Steering Committee President. From New York he returned to Spain founding Convenco in 1974, a pioneering company in the field of incentive travel and meeting and event planning.

In 1981 he founded GSAR Marketing, a global sales/marketing and communication company specialized in travel and tourism. Internationally, GSAR functions are representation, promotion and trade fairs organization.

Ramon Alvarez was Past-President of the first SITE Spain Chapter (Society of Incentives and Travel Executives). He was also a member of different associations, as IMA (Incentive Marketing Association), MPI (Meeting Professionals International), ASAE and ACTE, and “Past President” of the PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association) Spain Chapter.

From 1997 Ramon Alvarez was dedicated to the organisation of quality-oriented trade shows along Europe, North Africa and the Americas: MITM Euromed, MITM Americas and CULTOURFAIR, being pioneer in Europe of this kind of trade shows, which are a reference in the tourism industry.

Sadly, Ramon Alvarez passed away in July 2012 after a whole life devoted to his career in the tourism area. The Excelencias Group recognised his labour, achievements and contributions to the tourism industry, confering him the Posthumous Excelencias Award at the Fitur 2013 edition in Madrid, Spain, as well as creating the Ramon Alvarez Award in his honor, which will be delivered to different personalities in the tourism field from the next Fitur 2014 edition on. The whole team that constitutes GSAR Marketing thanks and receives proudly this recognition to our president and founder.

Ramon will remain in our hearts forever. We shared unforgettable moments and wonderful experiences with him and we feel very lucky for having such a great master. We will continue with his legacy and will follow in his steps, working with passion and effort.
 

Master in Tourism, she had been in CONVENCO group from 1987.

Director of sales for Spain and Portugal of American Airlines (2 years), Taca Airlines (6 years), Copa Airlines (10 years) -all represented by GSAR Marketing-, accumulating 25 years of experience with G.S.A.R. Marketing in the commercialisation of trips, transport and tourism events, including sales and operations of incentive groups worldwide, as well as conventions, seminars, corporate product and events presentations within Spain and abroad.

Also organizing and operating promotions for international clients of tourism in Spain, Europe and the Americas, such as social product seminars, workshops, destination presentations, events, campaigns of promotion, etc.

At the present time she is the General Director of GSAR Marketing and leads the commercialisation of all the fairs organized and produced by GSAR Marketing. From 1997: MITM Euromed with 16 editions in Europe, MITM Americas with 18 editions in the Americas and CULTOURFAIR, Global Heritage & Cultural Travel Exhibition, with 4 editions.

Email: charo.trabado@gsamark.com