6TH EDITION
7th International Business Meeting Hospitality Design & Wellness: Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe and the Middle East
Latin America & the Caribbean | Europe | Middle East
We celebrate a new edition of the meeting that, since 2015, brings together the supply and demand of markets with the highest growth potential, and we focus on Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, and the Middle East, with the purpose of continuing to strengthen ties and share knowledge. The next event will take place during Piscina Barcelona.
We have invited Hosted Guests from these markets, with a high level of purchasing decision-making power, who will present to exhibitors their main architectural and landscape design projects for outdoor and wellness spaces in the hotel sector, as well as their challenges and needs. At the end of the presentations and panel discussions, there will be an opportunity for interaction between attendees and speakers.
Thanks to this initiative, we once again become a space for sharing knowledge, creating experiences, stimulating inspiration, and generating new collaborations and business opportunities.
- November 18, 2025
- 11:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
- Hall 1 | IBC - International Business Center
Topics
- Wellness as a strategy in hospitality: international trends and the Mexico/Caribbean approach.
- Sustainability, design, and wellness: characterisation of a leading international region; Latin America and the Caribbean
- Integration of wellness throughout the design and equipment process in hotel projects.
- Key factors, challenges, and opportunities in the business realm of wellness.
Advance programme:
11:30h Welcome coffee & networking.
12:00h Presentation of the 7th Business Meeting Latin America/Caribbean, Europe and the Middle East.
- Angel Celorrio – Piscina Barcelona
- David Cámara – International Business Meeting Hospitality Design & Wellness
12:15h Trends, current situation and outlook of the global Wellness market.
- Jennifer Findlay – Core Essence
12:35h A shared vision from Latin America/Caribbean. Current situation, outlook, challenges and opportunities.
- Gonzalo Pérez – Puerto Los Cabos
- Vanessa Ortega – Sordo Madaleno
- Pedro Velasco – Maat Handasa
13:15h A shared vision from the Middle East. Current situation, outlook, challenges and opportunities.
- Carolina Darocas – Carolina Darocas Design
- Elias Maalouf – Dusit Hotels
- Paul Aychouh – Kempinski Hotels
14:00h The European perspective. Business experience.
- Javier Muñoz – Furtivo
14:30h Networking cocktail.
15:30h Business meeting: pre-scheduled one-to-one meetings.
Speakers
MÉXICO
Jennifer Findlay
Founder & CEO, Core Essence Inc., Grupo Posadas de Cozumel
As the strategic leader of Core Essence, Jennifer leads the overall growth strategy for the firm and manages oversight for its health and wellness partners and projects. Over the years, Jennifer has worked with some of the world’s leading hospitality organizations, including Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Worldwide, and Starwood Hotels & Resorts. She holds an honours degree in Kinesiology and Health Psychology, and certificate programs through the Executive Education Program at Cornell's School of Hotel Management.
REPÚBLICA DOMINICANA
Gonzalo Pérez
Executive Project Director, Puerto Los Cabos
Gonzalo is currently serving as the Director of The Enclaves, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve Residence, located in San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, as well as the Director overseeing the renovation and expansion of the Secrets Hotel in Puerto Los Cabos.
Vanessa Alejandra Ortega
Project Manager, Sordo Madaleno
Colombian–Mexican architect with over 17 years’ experience in the development, coordination, and execution of architectural and interior design projects within the residential, hospitality, and corporate sectors. She currently serves as Project Manager at Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos, a Mexican firm internationally recognised for its comprehensive approach to architecture, urban planning, and contemporary interior design. In this role, she leads a multidisciplinary team specialising in high-end hospitality projects, including the design of a Ritz-Carlton, among other luxury developments.
REPÚBLICA DOMINICANA
Pedro Pablo Velasco
Architect | Managing Director & Founder, Maat Handasa
The firm has over 20 years of experience and has developed more than 300 projects, with offices in Cancún, Mexico and Miami. They have created exclusive projects for prestigious brands such as One&Only, Mandarin Oriental, Six Senses, Rosewood, Fairmont, Banyan Tree, Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, Four Seasons, Montage, W, Faena, Chablé, Andaz, Grand Hyatt, Iberostar, SHA, and Viceroy, among many others.Their work spans across various countries, including Mexico, the United States, The Bahamas, Jamaica, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Barbuda, Costa Rica, and more recently, the Fiji Islands.
ESPAÑA
Carolina Darocas
Founder and creative director, Carolina Darocas Design
Carolina Darocas is an accomplished architect and interior designer with over eighteen years of experience creating exceptional luxury spaces across the Middle East. As the founder and creative director of Carolina Darocas Design, a Qatar-based studio, she leads some of the country’s most prestigious projects — from royal palaces and VVIP institutional developments to private residences around the world, including in Paris, London, Mallorca, and Barcelona. Among her most distinguished works are the Qatar Parliament and the official palaces of the Emir, both reflecting her signature blend of elegance, precision, and timeless design.
Before establishing her own studio in 2018, Carolina served as Design Director at UCC, where she led several high-profile projects, including the renowned Waldorf Astoria Maldives.
Supported by an international team of architects, designers, and engineers, she oversees every stage of the creative process — from the initial concept to final delivery — ensuring outcomes defined by precision, harmony, and refined attention to detail.
MÉXICO
Elias Maalouf
Assistant Vice President - Technical Services, Dusit Hotels & Resorts
Elias is a seasoned professional with over 25 years of international experience in the engineering and hospitality industries. He is a skilled strategic planner, strong communicator, and effective leader known for fostering collaboration and delivering results. With a focus on innovation, sustainability, and quality, Elias has successfully guided complex projects from concept to completion across diverse markets. His visionary approach and problem-solving abilities make him a trusted partner in achieving long-term success. Elias has been with Dusit International for more than 9 years overlooking their projects in EMEA.
MÉXICO
Paul Aychouh
Director of Engineering, Kempinski
Paul Aychouh is an experienced Director of Engineering in Hospitality with 22 years of extensive expertise in hospitality project management, operations, and technical services. Over the past years, he has successfully led multiple renovation, maintenance, and capital improvement projects, ensuring design consistency, operational efficiency, and compliance with brand standards. Known for strong coordination and problem-solving skills, Paul collaborates closely with multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-quality outcomes within budget and schedule.
ESPAÑA
Javier Muñoz Posse
CEO & Founder, We Are Furtivo
Javier holds a degree in Architecture from the University of Navarra, a Master’s in Project Management from UPM, and an Executive MBA from IESE Business School.
With over 13 years of international experience in hotel development, he founded Furtivo in July 2020 — a boutique consultancy specializing in interior design and procurement for the hospitality sector. Today, Furtivo consists of a 40-person team and has a track record of 100 projects, combining strategic design with efficient procurement management to maximize the value of each project.
TESTIMONIALS
The most influential figures in the business meetings
Other participants
Joan Balagué
Architect and co-founder of Slow Life Architects (Spain)Co-founder of Slow Life Architects, a boutique architecture and design studio based in Barcelona that develops exclusive resort and hotel projects in unique destinations.
A graduate of the Technical School of Architecture of Vallès (Barcelona) and holding a master’s degree in project management, Balagué specializes in urban planning, real estate development, resort design, unique hotel concepts, and leisure projects. Enthusiastic about processes aimed at transforming cities and communities, his experience of over 30 years spans a wide portfolio of works in international destinations such as France, Mexico, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and Zimbabwe.
Nicolás Díaz
Design Manager at Construcciones Planificadas (Colombia)Brings a global vision of design and construction in traditional, creative, and unconventional methods.
An architect with over 20 years of experience in companies dedicated to high-complexity real estate development projects with significant impact in Colombia and other countries in the Americas. He has contributed to the implementation of techniques such as IPD, LEAN, PMP, PRINCE2, as well as BIM methodologies and LEED certifications in the planning, design, coordination, and construction processes he has led. A proponent of good design, he has worked in areas including high-rise construction, resorts, hospitality, institutional architecture, commercial, residential, healthcare, and industrial projects.
Nadine Pieper
Co-founder of Borgos Pieper (Spain – United Kingdom)With over 20 years of experience in developing high-end residential, hotel, and mixed-use projects, Nadine Pieper incorporates sustainable water management into her designs.
She graduated from the Technical School of Architecture (ETSAB) at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) and is a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). Nadine earned an Executive MBA from the London Business School (2006), a Master's in Real Estate from Harvard (2008), and a Master's in Real Estate Management from Esade (2022). She is a founding partner of Borgos Pieper, an architecture and design firm with offices in Barcelona and London. Previously, as an associate at Foster + Partners, she collaborated on high-end commercial and residential projects in the UK and Malaysia. She led the design and construction of the award-winning RIBA Bodega Portia, a finalist for the Stirling Prize.
Antonio Quesada
Managing Director of Morpheus & Co. (United Kingdom)Antonio approaches every project from scratch, building fresh concepts with new perspectives.
He studied architecture at the University of Seville, specializing in sustainability and construction, although his passion lies in interior design. Morpheus & Co. is an international design studio based in London, renowned for its exquisite interior architecture and unique furniture pieces.
Joelle Majorovic
Interior Design Executive - Zannier Hotels (Belgium)With unwavering dedication, Joelle is deeply passionate about sustainability and innovation.
Her creative ideas and meticulous attention to detail have contributed significantly to the success of Zannier Hotels. Her impact on hotel design, brand creation, project management, and acquisitions has made her a valuable asset to the hotel industry.
Mohammed Ibrahim
IArchitect, MBA holder, and CEO - Wellness.ae (Dubai)He believes that “with hard work and the right mindset, everything is possible.”
By pursuing passionately Architecture, from early steps in Austria where he specialised and practiced his craft in wellness to the opening of The Wellness in Dubai. Its home base in the UAE and offices in Hong Kong and Singapore, The Wellness creative concepts and project delivery created a brand which won multiple regional and international projects with regularity and success. The designs strive to inspire patrons to keep a healthy lifestyle for the benefit of self and the wider community. The solutions are a natural nexus of Fitness, Spa & Leisure. The Wellness is driven to offer solutions with the guiding principle of wellbeing playing a central role.
Previous editions
2025 business meeting (Mexico)
- Companies and positions
- Ancestral Handmade Hotels & Kala Design Group | Arquitecta
- TAHR | Director General
- Accor Hotels | Director Desarrollo
- Paola Camarena Design Studio | Diseñadora
- TAQ | Fundadora
- Arquitectura de Interiores | Fundadora y Presidenta
- KMD Architects | Director General
- AIA Latam Colombia | Arquitecto y diseñador
- Orvel Group | Director Ejecutivo
- CEL-RAS | Director de Equipo Internacional y Hotelero
- Gensler´ | Directora de Diseño de Interiores y arquitecta
- HBA Internacional | Arquitecto y diseñador de interiores
- ARES | Arquitecto y Socio Director
- Puerto Los Cabos | Director
- SPW- Hospitality Advisors | Hospitality Interior Design Projects Director and FF&E
- Cidon | Socio fundador
- Vasico Studio | Arquitecta
- MonByHotels | CEO
- López-Einung Arquitectos | Fundador
2024 business meeting (Madrid)
- Companies and positions
- Ancestral Handmade Hotels | Architect
- KALINKA MIKEL | Architect
- GVA ARQUITECTOS | Project director
- RTRO | Director Design & Construction
- ORTEGA ARQUITECTOS | Architect
- TURQUESA MOBILIARIO Y DISEÑO | President
- EZLO ARCHITECTS | CEO
- LAS interiors | Interior Architect
- STUDIO GRONDA | Founder & Creative Director
2023 business meeting (Piscina Barcelona)
- Companies and positions
- Ancestral Handmade Hotels | Architect
- Marriott International | Project manager
- Picharchitects | Director
- Mestre & Mestre | Wellness expert
- TAHR arquitectos | CEO
- Slow Life Architects | Architect
- Construcciones Planificadas | Design manager
- Borgos Pieper | Founder
- Morpheus & Co. | Director
- Zannier Hotels | Interior Design Executive
- AQUA URBAN SPA - Sanagua Group | Expert in the wellness industry
2021 business meeting (Piscina Barcelona)
- Companies and positions
- Andringa Studio | Interior designer
- Atelier López Iracurri | Architect
- CIDON | Design and equipment of hotel projects
- Eliasestudioe | Architect and hotel designer
- Hamak Hotels | Hotelier
- Xala | Real estate developer
2019 business meeting (Piscina Barcelona)
- Companies and positions
- Marriott | Design Director Latin America
- Streetsense i CBRE Spain | Global Creative Director / Principal
- Blue Diamond Resorts | Corporate Purchasing & Logistic Director, Projects Area
- Intercontinental Hotels Group | Regional Manager for Mexico & LATAM, Architecture + Design
- Karisma Hotels & Resorts | Corporate Director of Room and SPA Operations
- Club Med | Purchasing director Club Med North America
- StudioGronda | CEO
- Grupo Contempo | Architecture Director
- Poch Arquitectura | Director
- L'atelier du Spa | CEO & Wellness Spa expert
- Estudio b76 | Director
2017 business meeting (Piscina Barcelona)
- Companies and positions
- Mestre Spa & Wellness Consulting | International wellness consultant
- EDSA | Architect and master planner
- KMD Architects | Architect
- Escala | Project Director
- Pulso Inmobiliario | Real Estate Development Director
- Apple Lesisure Group – AM Resorts | Corporate Vice President of Development
- Grupo Martiñón | Architecture Director
- Moneo Brock | Architect
The industry has its say
The exhibitors and buyers rate their participation in Piscina Barcelona positively and trust us to make their businesses grow.
4TH EDITION
High-level Business Meeting at Piscina & Wellness Barcelona
Latin America & the Caribbean | Europe | Middle East
We celebrate a new edition of the meeting that, since 2015, brings together the supply and demand of markets with the highest growth potential, and we focus on Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, and the Middle East. We have invited Hosted Guests from these markets with significant purchasing power and decision-making authority, who will explain to exhibitors their main wellness projects, challenges, and needs. We highlight the best solutions in terms of design and equipment for wellness and water spaces, especially in hospitality projects. Thanks to this initiative, we once again become a space for sharing knowledge, creating experiences, stimulating inspiration, and generating new collaborations and business opportunities.
6TH EDITION
6th International Business Meeting Hospitality Design & Wellness: Mexico-Caribbean
Latin America & the Caribbean | Europe | Middle East
We celebrate a new edition of the meeting that, since 2015, brings together the supply and demand of markets with the highest growth potential, and we focus on Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, and the Middle East, with the purpose of continuing to strengthen ties and share knowledge.
The next event will take place during the Mexico Hospitality Expo, a specialized space dedicated to the hotel, restaurant, and coffee sectors, aimed at promoting and addressing the hospitality demands of Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
