IAAPA Strengthens Its Educational Strategy in Latin America and the Caribbean with the Appointment of Mariana Ruiz Villalpando as Chair of the Education Committee
The appointment recognizes Mariana Ruiz Villalpando’s career spanning over 20 years in talent management, leadership, and organizational culture building.
Xcaret, Riviera Maya, January 21, 2026 – The Global Association for the Attractions Industry (IAAPA) announced the appointment of Mariana Ruiz Villalpando, Corporate Director of Human Talent at Grupo Xcaret, as Chair of the IAAPA Education Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean. This appointment recognizes her career of more than two decades in talent management, leadership development, and the creation of robust organizational cultures within the entertainment, tourism, and consumer sectors.
“The IAAPA Education Committee aims to strengthen the professionalization of the attractions industry through training programs, certifications, events, and tools that boost the competitiveness of parks, attractions, entertainment centers, and related companies in the region. With this appointment, Mariana also joins our organization’s Regional Advisory Council, where she will contribute to designing initiatives and strategies to drive the industry forward with regional impact,” commented Paulina Reyes, Vice President and Executive Director of IAAPA Latin America and the Caribbean.
Regarding her appointment, Mariana Ruiz noted, “Assuming the chair of the IAAPA Education Committee represents an opportunity to strengthen a regional vision of learning that elevates our industry’s capabilities. I am convinced that talent development is the foundation for building stronger, more human-centric organizations that create a sustainable impact in the communities where we operate.”
With an impressive academic background, Mariana holds a degree in Public Accounting from the IPN, a Master’s degree in Strategic Human Capital Management from La Salle University, and a Master’s degree in Senior Management from IESE Business School at the University of Navarra. Her professional career has been defined by leading large-scale cultural and talent transformation processes. She currently heads the Corporate Human Talent division at Grupo Xcaret, where she has been responsible for designing and executing the Human Resources strategy across all the group’s business units—including parks, tours, ferry operations, and hotels—while fostering a unified culture, leadership development, and the full talent management lifecycle. Under her leadership, the Group has strengthened its strategies regarding training, labor relations, and professional development within a multigenerational organization.
With this appointment, IAAPA recognizes Mariana’s contribution to talent development in global companies and highlights her commitment to the professionalization of the sector. Her leadership will help consolidate an educational ecosystem that is more dynamic, innovative, and aligned with the current needs of the attractions industry in Latin America and the Caribbean.