The decision to give the name of Excelencias to a tourism magazine devoted to the travel industry in the Caribbean and the Americas puzzled several critics in that summer of 1997, when it was launched within the framework of Fiesta del Fuego, in Santiago de Cuba, one of the most popular and prestigious displays of Caribbean culture.The intention of discovering and shedding light with every issue on sceneries, works, projects, creations that would pursue the highest aims – the ones that seem to be unreachable– and giving them a showcase that could stand out for its out-of-the-treadmill character, always featuring the highest professional rigor in terms of graphic arts, design, photography and editing, became a constant revalidation test.
The year 2005 witnessed the birth of the idea of awarding the determination of men and women in achieving the highest quality results with their work in a bid to foster the existence of more gratifying places for locals and visitors in their countries or territories, by means of the artistic or scientific creativity, the rescue of the most valuable cultural and heritage traditions.
The Excelencias Group, which already had a dozen years of publishing experience under its belt, both in printed and digital media –a field where it was a harbinger- in five languages with worldwide distribution, decided to pay well-deserved tribute to those who develop their daily activities "with the purpose of achieving the goal of being excellent", just as it’s expressed by the official call for these awards.
Since 2005, the Excelencias Awards are annually granted as an initiative fostered by the Excelencias Group in order to praise the work carried out by different institutions, governments and figures on behalf of the tourism development of Latin American and Caribbean regions.
The first delivery comprised institutions and figures whose careers and actions have had significant international impact.
Among them, the Excelencias Turisticas Awards went to institutions and authorities of Quintana Roo and Cancun, especially Cancun’s Office of Visitors and Conventions, and Quintana Roo’s Tourism Secretariat, because of their remarkable work to recover this important destination following the aftermath of hurricane Wilma.
Likewise, Mr. Jose Carlos de Santiago, CEO of the Excelencias Group, handed out the award to Mrs. Petra Cruz, Director of the Dominican Republic’s Tourism Office for Germany and Europe, for her excellent work when in advertising a Caribbean destination that stands out for its high-quality standards.
The ceremony, held within the framework of the Internationale Tourismus-Börse (ITB), in Berlin, Germany, was attended by Mr. Felix Jimenez, Tourism Minister of the Caribbean nation, as well as businessmen and officials of the delegation that was attending the event.
Central America’s Tourism Promotion Agency (CATA) was given the certifying document during an act that took place at Central America Travel Market.
Three world-renowned Cuban figures also received the Excelencias Awards that same year for their contribution to the culture, arts and restoration of the national heritage: Alicia Alonso, Prima Ballerina Assoluta and founder of Cuba’s National Ballet Company; Eusebio Leal, Historian of Havana City, and Moraima Clavijo, Director of the National Museum of Fine Arts.
Another Excelencias Award was collected by Cuba’s Tourism Minister, Mr. Manuel Marrero, “For the proper tourism-oriented use of heritage resources to spread out the Cuban culture worldwide.”
The 2015 Excelencias Awards are set to be delivered during the International Tourism Fair (FITUR 2016), slated to kick off on January 20 in Madrid, Spain. A similar ceremony will be held in Havana on February 11
