Maribel Rodriguez joined the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) in June 2014 as Regional Director,Southern Europe and Latin America.

With Chairmen and Chief Executives of 160 of the world's leading Travel & Tourism companies as its Members, WTTC has a unique mandate and overview on all matters related to business and leisure travel. The organization works to raise awareness of Travel & Tourism as one of the world's largest industries, driving employment of 292 million people and generating over 10 per cent of world GDP at $7.6 trillion.

She has built an extensive network within the Travel and Tourism industry public and private sector, accumulating over 18 years of sales, marketing, communication and commercial experience in Europe.

Maribel wasCommercial Director and Board Member for Travelodge Hotels Spain from May 2008 to June 2014, serving as Council Member of Madrid Hotels Association (AEHM) and theTourismCommission to promote Madrid as a destination.

Prior to this she spent 11 years in the aviation industry, where she gained extensive experience inall aspects ofcommercial aviation. She managed the introduction of low cost airline operations intothe Southern Europeanmarket for the following companies: Virgin Express, Go-Fly, EasyJet and Ryanair. At Ryanair she supervised the opening of 21 airports and over 190 routes across Europe, settingup multiple operational bases on the continent. Additionally she worked for GB Airways, franchise partner of British Airways in Spain, Portugal and France, which was eventually acquired and integrated into that company.

Executive MBA from Comillas ICADE Business School and Industrial Psychology Degree from University of Salamanca, with secondments in Coimbra, Portugal and Leuven, Belgium. She just finished a Senior Executive Program for Travel & Tourism at IESE & JSF.