The Leading Brands of Spain Forum and the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in the United States, together with ICEX Spain Trade and Investment, the Spanish Chamber of Commerce and Tourspain, recognised the ‘Friends of the Spain Brand’ and the ‘Friends of Spanish Brands’ in Miami, at an event on September 11th that brought together more than 160 guests at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel and reaffirmed the economic, cultural and friendship ties between Spain and the United States.
Florida has become one of the key states for economic and cultural relations between Spain and the US, with the presence of more than 400 Spanish companies and its role as a hub for Latin America and a showcase for amplifying the value of Spanish brands.
The ceremony was chaired by the Spanish ambassador to the United States, Ángeles Moreno Bau, and the president of the Leading Brands of Spain Forum, Sofía Osborne, and was attended by dignitaries such as the Consul General of Spain in Miami, Belén Alfaro Hernández; the Mayor of Miami-Dade County, Daniella Levine Cava; the Director General of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, Inmaculada Riera; the CEO of the Spain Chamber of Commerce, Mónica Vázquez; the Trade Counsellor of the Economic and Commercial Office of Spain in Miami, Javier Yraola; and the Director of the Spanish National Tourist Office in Miami, Elvira Marcos Salazar.
The awardees as ‘Friends of the Spain Brand’ in Miami were:
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Jorge A. Plasencia, co-founder and CEO of Republica Havas, for his pioneering role in multicultural marketing and for serving as a bridge between Spain and the Hispanic community in the United States.
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Adrienne Arsht, entrepreneur and philanthropist, for her promotion of cultural diplomacy and for transforming the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts into an international stage that strengthens cultural exchange with Spain.
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Emilio Estefan, world-renowned music producer, for his extraordinary artistic legacy and his contribution to the global projection of Hispanic and Spanish culture.
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Jorge M. Pérez, founding chairman and CEO of Related Group and prominent art collector, for his cultural patronage and his close ties to Spanish and Latin American art, particularly through his support of the Museo Reina Sofía.
Those recognised as ‘Friends of Spanish Brands’, for their contribution to the growth and expansion of these brands, were:
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Adriana Hoyos, as ‘Friend of Cosentino’, for integrating materials such as Silestone and Dekton into prestigious international projects.
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Iberia Foods, represented by Peter Casais, recognised as ‘Friend of La Española’ for its commitment to promoting Spanish products in a highly competitive market.
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Operation Smile, through Eny Delgado Prieto, as ‘Friend of Lladró’, for its charitable work and support in spreading Spanish porcelain across private collections and cultural institutions.
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Telefónica, as ‘Friend of Auxadi’, for contributing to the expansion of financial and accounting solutions in the US.
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Dolores But You Can Call Me Lolita and Crazy About You restaurants, as ‘Friends of Estrella Galicia’, for consolidating Spanish beer culture among international consumers.
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Milam’s Market, as ‘Friend of Osborne’, for successfully bringing Spanish winemaking and gastronomy traditions to the US market.
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Florida Blue, as ‘Friend of Sanitas’, for its key role in consolidating the Spanish healthcare model, based on primary care, in the competitive North American market.
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Olga Ramudo, President & CEO of Express Travel, as ‘Friend of Tourspain’, for her commitment to promoting Spain as a top-tier tourist destination and for strengthening cultural and economic ties between the two countries.
The awardees received a Lladró horse figurine, a symbol of nobility, loyalty, effort and resilience, values that embody the essence of the Spanish spirit. The event was supported by leading Spanish companies with international reach, including Mango, LLYC, Ale-Hop, Tabacalera, World Trade Center, Abanca, NTT Data, Telefónica and MediaPro.
