Honduras sets the pace for meeting tourism with the 41st COCAL Congress

The event takes place in San Pedro Sula and brings together meeting tourism professionals, event organizers, convention bureaus, academics, and institutional representatives from across the region.

The conference was inaugurated by Reizel Vilorio, Vice Minister of Tourism of Honduras; Luis Ricardo Martínez Fajardo, President of COCAL; and Guillermo Orellana, President of the San Pedro Sula Convention Bureau, who highlighted Honduras's role as a destination prepared and committed to developing the meetings industry.

For three days, the congress serves as a platform for exchange, learning, and strategic alliance building, with a program combining specialized presentations, immersive experiences, and networking opportunities that reaffirm Honduras's capacity to host high-level events.

Among the topics covered were the use of artificial intelligence in event planning, sustainability as a cross-cutting theme of MICE tourism, strategies for attracting international conferences, and innovation applied to experience design. Renowned panelists, both regional and international, shared visions and tools to strengthen the sector's competitiveness.

One of the most inspiring spaces was the Future Leaders Forum, an initiative that seeks to train the next generation of MICE tourism leaders in the region. Young professionals participated in sessions designed to strengthen their skills, expand their networks, and prepare to take on strategic roles in the future of the industry.

The Central American Tourism Promotion Agency (CATA) was also present at the congress, reaffirming its commitment to positioning the region as a competitive bloc for meeting tourism. CATA's participation included speaking engagements and supporting national representatives, promoting an integrated regional vision that expands opportunities for member countries.

Another highly anticipated event was the COCAL Experience, a hands-on experience that allowed attendees to learn firsthand about Honduras's attributes as a destination: from its hospitality and hotel offerings to its event infrastructure and cultural richness.

With this edition of COCAL, Honduras not only establishes itself as a host of excellence, but also as a country that believes in and supports meeting tourism as a driver of economic development, innovation, and international visibility.

Source: Visit Centroamérica.