IAAPA has decided to establish its first-ever sustainability committee for Latin America and the Caribbean, appointing Iliana Rodríguez Cavazos of Grupo Xcaret as its Founding Chair.
With a history spanning over 30 years, Grupo Xcaret has established itself as a benchmark in sustainable tourism.
Mexico City, March 25, 2025 – During the “IAAPA Summit: Latin America and the Caribbean 2025″—held at the Presidente InterContinental Hotel in Mexico City from March 24 to 26—the Global Association for the Attractions Industry (IAAPA) decided to launch a group comprising sustainability experts from various parks across the region. This initiative is set to shape the future of sustainability within the amusement park industry on the continent.
For the first time, IAAPA has created a Sustainability Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean, and a Mexican professional—Iliana Rodríguez Cavazos, Corporate Director of Sustainability and Institutional Dialogue at Grupo Xcaret—has been honored with the role of Committee Chair for the 2025–2028 term. Through this appointment, Iliana will join the association’s Regional Advisory Council, participating in the definition of strategies and high-impact events for the amusement park and attractions industry across the continent.
Iliana Rodríguez’s appointment is no coincidence; it is the result of Grupo Xcaret’s unwavering commitment to sustainable tourism. With over 30 years of experience, Grupo Xcaret defines sustainability as the balanced creation of economic, sociocultural, and environmental value, ensuring harmonious business growth alongside the well-being of the communities and environments in which it operates. Sustainability has been embedded in the group’s strategic agenda since its inception and is a key element of its unique management style. With this in mind, sustainability has been integral to Grupo Xcaret since its inception, woven into every action across its parks, tours, hotels, and ferry operations—a commitment recognized throughout the industry and a defining characteristic of the group. Long before sustainability took center stage in regulations and public policy across the Americas, Grupo Xcaret was already an industry leader in tourism and entertainment, championing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives and cementing its status as a global benchmark for sustainable tourism.
Regarding this appointment, Paulina Reyes, Vice President and Executive Director of IAAPA Latin America & the Caribbean, stated: “We are delighted to announce that Iliana Rodríguez is joining as Chair of the newly formed IAAPA Sustainability Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean. IAAPA deeply values and recognizes the commitment, effort, and time Iliana has dedicated as a volunteer across various committees and working groups. We are incredibly proud to see her step into this new role, bringing her expertise and passion for sustainability. We are confident that her leadership will be instrumental in driving valuable initiatives throughout the region.”
Throughout her career, Iliana has held key positions in the tourism and sustainability sectors. She has served on IAAPA’s Media and Crisis Committee and founded the organization’s global sustainability committee. She also served as President of the Mexican Caribbean Public Relations Association and spent six years on the Public Relations Advisory Council at the University of Florida, chairing the body during her final year. Iliana has taught senior management courses at the master’s level at the Universidad del Caribe and has delivered lectures and presentations across Mexico, the United States, and Europe. She has also held significant roles in international organizations, including the Affiliate Members Board of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Steering Committee of the UN Global Compact in Mexico. Since 2015, Iliana has led Grupo Xcaret’s sustainable tourism strategy; in 2019, she assumed the role of Corporate Director of Sustainability, consolidating the current “Xostenibilidad” model while collaborating with various areas of the company to achieve its objectives.
With this new appointment, the Global Association for the Attractions Industry (IAAPA)—specifically its Latin America and Caribbean chapter—recognizes Iliana Rodríguez Cavazos’s track record and commitment to sustainability within the entertainment industry, enabling her vision to transcend borders and contribute to the development of responsible initiatives across the region.