Spain Talks brings together international tourism leaders in Los Angeles to discuss sustainable tourism
Spain Talks brings together international tourism leaders in Los Angeles to discuss sustainable tourism
The Spanish Tourist Office in Los Angeles hosted a new edition of Spain Talks, Turespaña's international forum for the exchange of knowledge and best practices on the key challenges shaping the future of tourism. The event brought together representatives from public institutions, destinations, businesses and organisations from Spain and the United States to discuss sustainability as a strategic driver of tourism development.
Held on 23 June at the Mark Taper Auditorium of the Los Angeles Central Library under the theme A Forum on Sustainable Tourism Leadership, the event welcomed nearly one hundred tourism professionals, public officials, industry leaders, specialised organisations and media representatives.
The forum opened with remarks by Gerardo Fueyo, Consul General of Spain in Los Angeles, and Félix Alcaraz, Director of the Spanish Tourist Office in Los Angeles, who highlighted the importance of international cooperation and knowledge-sharing in promoting a tourism model based on sustainability, innovation and collaboration between the public and private sectors.
The programme featured two panel discussions alongside a keynote address by Manuel Parga, Chief Marketing, Sustainability and Human Resources Officer of the Spanish Olympic Committee, who explored the long-term legacy of major sporting events as catalysts for sustainable destination development.
The first panel, From Strategy to Action: Sustainable Destinations, brought together representatives from Visit Valencia, Park City Chamber & Visitors Bureau, Cumming Group and Santa Monica Travel & Tourism. The discussion focused on strategic planning, data-driven destination management, public-private collaboration and the implementation of policies that enhance both sustainability and destination competitiveness.
The second panel, Tourism with Impact: Communities, Inclusion and Social Value, addressed the social dimension of sustainability through contributions from representatives of ARTIEM Hotels, Impulsa Igualdad–TUR4all, Kind Traveler and the Catalan Tourist Board. Speakers agreed on the need to foster a tourism model that delivers tangible benefits to local communities through accessibility, inclusion, corporate responsibility and a more balanced distribution of tourism's economic and social value.
The event concluded with the presentation of the Spain Talks Awards 2026, recognising individuals and organisations for their outstanding contribution to advancing a more sustainable, responsible and inclusive tourism industry. With this latest edition of Spain Talks, the Spanish Tourist Office in Los Angeles reaffirmed Turespaña's commitment to promoting international dialogue and the exchange of best practices, while strengthening cooperation between Spain and the United States in support of a more competitive, sustainable and inclusive tourism model.
