The EXCELENCIAS AWARDS were created 16 years ago by the Excelencias Group to promote excellence in different fields related to tourism, gastronomy and culture in Ibero-America.
These awards have become a benchmark in the fields of tourism and gastronomy in Ibero-America. Once again this year, the event took place on the first day of the FITUR International Fair in Madrid (Spain), the first major tourism fair to be held in person after the global break in March 2020. A total of 34 projects received awards in this 16th edition.
Representatives from 12 countries (Argentina, Cuba, Panama, Mexico, Costa Rica, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Dominican Republic, Colombia) attended the event.
Nava Castro, Secretary of Tourism of the Xunta de Galicia; Mayor of Carvaca de la Cruz; Mr. Silverio Gómez, Director of ProColombia; Diplomatic Attaché of the Embassy of Colombia; Secretary of Tourism of Coahuila; Lic. Azucena Ramos, Mr. Rafael Ansón President of the Ibero-American Academy of Gastronomy; Lic. Liliana Salinas de Jiménez, Honorary President of the DIF of Saltillo; Mr. Pablo Rivera Bua, President of the DIF of Saltillo; Mr. Pablo Rivera Bua, President of the DIF of Saltillo; Mr. Miguel Torruco, Minister of Tourism of Mexico; Lic. Pablo Rivera Bua, President of AECTS Chaves-Verín; Ms. Isabel Piñero, CSO Grupo Piñero; Ms. Janet Fernández, Economic Counselor of the Cuban Embassy; Vice Minister Daniel Nepomuceno of Tourism; Ms. Almudena Malillo, Councilor of Tourism of Madrid and Secretary General of the UCCI; H.E. Mr. Juan Bolívar Díaz, Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to Spain; Mr. Alberto Durán, Executive Vice-President of the Dominican Republic to Spain; Mr. Alberto Durán, Executive Vice-President of the Cuban Embassy to Spain; Mr. Juan Bolívar Díaz, Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to Spain; and Mr. Alberto Durán, Executive Vice-President of the Dominican Republic to Spain. Alberto Durán, Executive Vice President of ONCE; Mr. Miguel Fernández, Director of the Spanish Federation of Food Banks FESBAL; Mr. Quirino Ordáz Coppel, Governor of the State of Sinaloa; H.E. María Carmen Oñate, Ambassador of Mexico to Spain; H.E. Iván Duque, Ambassador of Colombia to Spain; Mr. Gustavo Segura, Minister of Tourism of Costa Rica, among others.
The winners of the 16th edition of the Excelencias Awards were:
SPIRIT OF EXCELENCIAS TURISTICAS AWARD
José Andrés
For his solidarity during the year 2020
PICKED UP: José Andrés was unable to attend but was present through a recording.
2020 EXCELENCIAS TURISTICAS AWARDS
PANAMA
Panama Tourism Authority (ATP)
for: Sustainable Panama and the Camino de Santiago
HANDED OUT: Mr. José Carlos de Santiago. President of the Excelencias Group
PICKED UP: Mr. Iván Eskildsen, Panama's Minister of Tourism
MEXICO
SECRETARY OF TOURISM OF THE GOVERNMENT OF MEXICO
by: Montezuma Fish Route, caring for nature through tourism. The inclusion of Mexico's historical memory and cultural heritage.
PRESENTED by: Mr. José Carlos de Santiago. President of the Excelencias Group
PICKED UP: Mr. Miguel Torruco, Mexico's Minister of Tourism.
SECRETARY OF TOURISM OF TAMAULIPAS
by: Solidarity and sustainable destination model 5.0 Adapted to new needs and protocols.
HANDED OUT: Mr. José Carlos de Santiago. President of the Excelencias Group and Mr. Miguel Torruco, Mexico's Minister of Tourism.
RECEIVED: Ms. Azucena Ramos Ramos, Secretary of Tourism of Coahuila, on behalf of Mr. Fernando Olivera, Secretary of Tourism of Tamaulipas, who was present in a recording.
SECRETARY OF TOURISM OF COAHUILA
for: "VINOS&DINOS" Wine and paleontology gastronomic route
HANDED OUT: Mr. José Carlos de Santiago. President of the Excelencias Group and Mr. Miguel Torruco, Mexico's Minister of Tourism.
PICKED UP: Ms. Azucena Ramos Ramos, Secretary of Tourism of Coahuila.
SECRETARY OF THE STATE OF CHIHUAHUA
for: "mysticism of the desert".
HANDED OUT: Mr. José Carlos de Santiago. President of the Excelencias Group and Mr. Miguel Torruco, Mexico's Minister of Tourism.
Picked up by: Ms. Elisa Garrido, International Representative for cultural events of the Ciudad Juarez Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Chihuahua State Tourism Promotion Trust, in addition to the General Director of the Trust, Mr. Germán Ralis, Secretary of Tourism Promotion of the State of Chihuahua was present through a recording.
SECRETARY OF THE STATE OF JALISCO
by: "Riviera de Chalapa". Renewal and repositioning of a diversified and sustainable tourism offer.
PRESENTED by: Mr. José Carlos de Santiago. President of the Excelencias Group and Mr. Miguel Torruco, Mexico's Minister of Tourism.
Juan José Álvarez Brunel Secretary of Tourism of the State of Guanajuato, on behalf of Mr. Germán Kotsiaras Ralis Secretary of Tourism of the State of Jalisco, who was present through a recording.
Lic. QUIRINO ORDAZ COPPEL
for: professional lifetime achievement
PRESENTED by: Mr. José Carlos de Santiago. President of the Excelencias Group and Mr. Miguel Torruco, Mexico's Minister of Tourism.
RECEIVED: Mr. Quirino Ordaz Coppel, current Governor of the State of Sinaloa.
NICARAGUA
SOLENTINAME TOURS
for: "Viva Solentiname free of plastic".
HANDED OUT: Mr. José Carlos de Santiago. President of the Excelencias Group
PICKED UP: Mr. Javier Munguia González, Diplomatic Attaché of the Embassy of Nicaragua to the Kingdom of Spain and also present through a recording of Mr. Immanuel Zerger, General Director of Solentiname.
SPAIN
CITY COUNCIL OF CARAVACA DE LA CRUZ
for: Preserving the cultural heritage and recovery of tourism through its traditional festivities.
AWARDED: Mr. José Carlos de Santiago. President of the Excelencias Group
COLLECTED: Mr. José Carlos Gómez, Councilman of Tourism of Caravaca de la Cruz
BODEGAS ARZUAGA
for: Its wine tourism offer. The union of its wines with the visitable reserve of its estate.
AWARDED: Mr. José Carlos de Santiago. President of the Excelencias Group
PICKED UP: Mr. Chencho Alonso Lopez, Communication Bodegas Arzuaga.
FUNDACION ONCE
for: "Accessible Camino de Santiago".
HANDED OUT: Mr. José Carlos de Santiago. President of the Excelencias Group and Mrs. Nava Castro, Secretary of Tourism of the Xunta de Galicia.
COLLECTED: Mr. Alberto Durán, Vice President of the ONCE Foundation and Mr. Jesús Hernández Galán, Director of accessibility and innovation ONCE Foundation.
ARGENTINA
Ministry of Tourism of Argentina
for: Summer campaign of domestic tourism, and visibility at the international level with experiences presented by INPROTUR before ASICOTUR, carried out without massive contagion.
AWARDED: Mr. José Carlos de Santiago. Chairman of the Excelencias Group
COLLECTED: Mr. Matías Lammens, Minister of Tourism of Argentina and Mr. Ricardo Sosa President of INPROTUR.
COLOMBIA
PROCOLOMBIA
for: "From Isolation to Enlistment" Tourism reactivation strategy.
DELIVERED: Mr. José Carlos de Santiago. President of the Excelencias Group
PICKED UP: Mr. Silverio Gómez Director of ProColombia in Spain.
PARAGUAY
MINISTRY OF TOURISM OF PARAGUAY TOGETHER WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR (STAY PY Y CERVEPAR).
for: Dissemination, promotion and support campaign for domestic tourism, "VIaja a tu Interior".
AWARDED by: Mr. José Carlos de Santiago. President of the Excelencias Group
COLLECTED: They were unable to attend but were present through a recording.
SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS
GRUPO PIÑERO
Category: BLUE
for: Integral management plan for the coastline in its hotels. Promoting the planning and management of the natural resources of the destinations.
AWARDED: Mr. José Carlos de Santiago. President of the Excelencias Group
PICKED UP: Ms. Isabel Piñero, Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) of the Piñero Group.
BODEGAS TORRES
Category: GREEN
for: "TORRES & EARTH" For the IWCA Foundation that promotes the decarbonization of the sector at a global level.
AWARDED by: Mr. José Carlos de Santiago. Chairman of the Excelencias Group
PICKED UP: Unable to attend
AECT EUROCIUDAD CHAVES-VERÍN
Category: WELLNESS
by: The strategic bet to promote the Eurocity Chaves-Verin, a health and wellness destination on the Spanish-Portuguese border.
AWARDED: Mr. José Carlos de Santiago. President of the Excelencias Group
PICKED UP: Mr. Pablo Rivera Bua President EGTC.
2020 EXCELENCIAS GOURMET AWARDS
SPAIN
EN UN LUGAR DE LA PANZA
by: International competition of gastronomic and wine stories. Alternative gastronomic promotion
HANDED OUT: Mr. José Carlos de Santiago. President of the Excelencias Group and Mr. Rafael Ansón President of the Ibero-American Academy of Gastronomy.
COLLECTED: Mr. David Villorejo Cobo, Organizer of "En un lugar de la panza".
EDITORIAL PLANETA GASTRO
by: Its specialized publications.
HANDED OUT: Mr. José Carlos de Santiago. President of the Excelencias Group and Mr. Rafael Ansón President of the Ibero-American Academy of Gastronomy.
COLLECTED: David Figueras Pérez, Head of Planeta Gastro Publishing House
VOCENTO
for: The digitalization of San Sebastián Gastronomika.
HANDED OUT: Mr. José Carlos de Santiago. President of the Excelencias Group and Mr. Rafael Ansón President of the Ibero-American Academy of Gastronomy.
COLLECTED:They were unable to attend
by: Technological partner of catering companies.
HANDED OUT: Mr. José Carlos de Santiago. President of the Excelencias Group and Mr. Rafael Ansón President of the Ibero-American Academy of Gastronomy.
PICKED UP: Maialen Carbajo, head of Google Spain's tourism division.
ZALACAÍN
by: Unique part of Madrid's gastronomic history.
HANDED OUT: Mr. José Carlos de Santiago. President of the Excelencias Group and Mr. Rafael Ansón President of the Ibero-American Academy of Gastronomy.
PICKED UP: Mr. José Jiménez Blas, former head waiter at Zalacaín and Mr. Benjamín Urdiaín, former head chef at Zalacaín.
COMMUNITY OF MADRID, HOSTELERÍA DE ESPAÑA, FACYRE AND MADRID CITY COUNCIL
by: Joint actions to maintain and reactivate the economy of the hospitality sector.
PRESENTED: Mr. José Carlos de Santiago. President of the Excelencias Group and Mr. Rafael Ansón President of the Ibero-American Academy of Gastronomy.
COLLECTED: They were unable to attend but were present through a recording of Ms. Paloma Martín, Minister of the Environment, Territorial Planning and Sustainability of the Community of Madrid.
FESBAL- FEDERATION OF FOOD BANKS
for: The tireless work to support those most in need.
AWARDED: Mr. José Carlos de Santiago. President of the Excelencias Group and Mr. Rafael Ansón President of the Ibero-American Academy of Gastronomy.
COLLECTED: Miguel Fernández, Director of FESBAL
CORREOS DE ESPAÑA
by: Correos Market. Working to bring together local products with global consumers.
DELIVERED: Mr. José Carlos de Santiago. President of the Excelencias Group and Mr. Rafael Ansón President of the Ibero-American Academy of Gastronomy.
PICKED UP: Ms. Eva Pavo, Director of Marketing and Communications at Correos España.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
CHEF ANA LEBRÓN
FOR: For the vision, creativity and work demonstrated in winning gold at the IKA 2020 Culinary Olympics.
AWARDED by: Mr. José Carlos de Santiago. President of the Excelencias Group and Mr. Rafael Ansón President of the Ibero-American Academy of Gastronomy.
PICKED UP: Mr. Luis Ros President of the Dominican Academy of Gastronomy on behalf of Chef Ana Lebrón who was unable to attend but was present through a recording.
MEXICO
FUNDACION BECKMANN
for: "Cocina mexicana ancestral - de fogones y metates-". rescue of the highland cuisine in hybrid format
PRESENTED BY: Mr. José Carlos de Santiago. President of the Excelencias Group and Mr. Rafael Ansón President of the Ibero-American Academy of Gastronomy.
PICKED UP: Mr. Juan José Álvarez Brunel Secretary of Tourism of the State of Guanajuato.
SECRETARY OF STATE OF GUANAJUATO
by: Vinotelia. Enotourism Conversation. Forum of coexistence with virtual experiences and master conferences.
DELIVERED by: Mr. José Carlos de Santiago. President of the Excelencias Group and Mr. Rafael Ansón President of the Ibero-American Academy of Gastronomy.
Juan José Álvarez Brunel Secretary of Tourism of the State of Guanajuato and Ms. Ana María Arias.
IBEROAMÉRICA
NATIONAL ACADEMIES OF GASTRONOMY
for: their educational activities, promoters of Iberoamerican gastronomy, and promoters of consumption options in restaurants during the pandemic.
PRESENTED: Mr. José Carlos de Santiago. President of the Excelencias Group and
WELCOMED: Mr. Rafael Ansón President of the Ibero-American Academy of Gastronomy and Mr. Luis Ros President of the Dominican Academy of Gastronomy and Ms. Antonella Ruggiero Director of the Ibero-American Academy of Gastronomy.
COSTA RICA
COSTA RICAN FOUNDATION OF GASTRONOMY
by: Promotion of healthy gastronomy and the national plan for sustainable and healthy Costa Rican gastronomy (PNGCSS).
AWARDED: Mr. José Carlos de Santiago. President of the Excelencias Group and Mr. Rafael Ansón President of the Ibero-American Academy of Gastronomy.
WELCOMED: Mr. Gustavo Segura, Costa Rica's Minister of Tourism
COLOMBIA
LA PUERTA FALSA RESTAURANT
by: Unique history in downtown Bogotá for 3 centuries.
AWARDED: Mr. José Carlos de Santiago. President of the Excelencias Group and Mr. Rafael Ansón President of the Ibero-American Academy of Gastronomy.
PICKED UP: Mr. Henry Alejandro Tolosa Enriquez, grandson of the family.
SPECIAL EXCELENCIAS AWARDS 2020
RAMÓN ÁLVAREZ EXCELENCIAS AWARD
MADRID MICE
HANDED OUT: Mr. José Carlos de Santiago. President of the Excelencias Group AND Ms. Charo Trabado -CEO of GSAR Marketing-.
WON: Ms. Almudena Maillo, Councilwoman Delegate of Tourism of the Madrid City Council and Secretary General of the Union of Ibero-American Cities (UCCI).
NICOLÁS MUELA EXCELENCIAS AWARD
CHEF ESPERANZA LITHGOW
PRESENTED: Mr. José Carlos de Santiago. President of the Excelencias Group, His Excellency David Collado, Ambassador of the Argentine Republic to the Kingdom of Spain, Mr. Rafael Ansón, President of the Ibero-American Academy of Gastronomy and Mr. Luis Ros, President of the Dominican Academy of Gastronomy.
WELCOMEES: Mr. Franklin Lithgow Ortega, widower, and Mr. Franklin Lithgow, son of the chef’s.
SILVIA ZORZANELLO EXCELENCIAS AWARD
PROVINCE OF SANTA CATARINA
PRESENTED: Mr. José Carlos de Santiago. President of the Excelencias Group
PICKED UP: Mr. Daniel Nepomuceno, Brazil's Vice Minister of Tourism, on behalf of Mr. Leandro Mané Ferrari, President of SANTUR.
COVID INTERNATIONAL EXCELENCIAS AWARD
HENRY REEVE BRIGADE
for its support to the international community, with medical supplies in times of need.
PRESENTED: Mr. José Carlos de Santiago. President of the Excelencias Group
PICKED UP: Ms. Janet Fernandez, Economic and Commercial Counselor of the Cuban Embassy in Spain, on behalf of the Cuban Ministry of Public Health.
COVID NATIONAL EXCELENCIAS AWARD
IFEMA HOSPITAL
For the efficiency and speed in dealing with the situation in the Community of Madrid, being an example for the whole world.
PRESENTED: Mr. José Carlos de Santiago. President of the Excelencias Group
COLLECTED: Eduardo López-Puertas General Manager of IFEMA.
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