Caio Luis de Carvalho, president of Sao Paulo Tourism, has secured a prestigious World Travel Market Global Award in recognition of his unrivalled contribution to tourism in Sao Paulo and the wider country of Brazil.

Reed Travel Exhibitions Chairman World Travel Market Fiona Jeffery presented the award to Caio Luis at today’s (Monday November 7) WTM VIP Opening & Reception Ceremony.
WTM’s Global Media Network, comprising of key travel industry media around the world, put forward organisations and individuals which have made a great contribution to their region’s travel and tourism industry. Caio Luis was nominated by Mercado y Eventos, Brazil. Its Director of International Marketing Rosa Masgrau, jointly presented the award with Jeffery, the Right Honorable Jeremy Hunt, UK Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport and James Cracknell, OBE.

Caio Luis is one of Brazil’s most respected travel and tourism experts and is reputed for dramatically improving the success of tourism in his country.

He headed up Brazil’s National Secretary of Tourism and Services department for a decade and is also the former president of Embratur and former Minister of Sport and Tourism.

During his presidency at Sao Paulo Tourism, Caio has been responsible for some real changes, shifting perceptions of a city that has been under-valued for a long time and often over shadowed by other places in Brazil such as Rio de Janeiro and Salvador.

Since 2004, Sao Paulo has seen a rise of nearly 38% in visitors, generating almost half a million additional jobs. Sao Paulo’s 410 hotels are now setting the example in Brazil with their excellent quality and service standards.

The ongoing success can be attributed somewhat to the industry’s engagement with business, capturing an impressive 75% of the Brazil’s major business fair market, and contributing almost R$2.9 billion every year.

There has been plenty of innovation such as the launch of a Map of Sensations, a Stay Another Day campaign and an extensive educational programme for the city’s hundreds of taxi drivers, guides and travel agents.

“There are some people who live and breathe the travel and tourism industry and never stop fighting for its improvement – Caio Luis is one of those people, Jeffery said. “His many achievements and ongoing success are testament to his hard work and commitment to his country.”

Every year, World Travel Market Global Awards are presented. The other 2011 winners are: Anna Maria Ruffini, founder and president of Italy’s Chapter of the Green Meeting Industry Council, The Travel Corporation Canada, Butlin’s, Renaissance Moscow Hotel, WILD Guanabana, Dr. Jyotsna Suri, chairperson of India’s Lalit Group, Porto Bay Hotels & Resorts, Spain’s public rail network RENFE and Sandals Foundation.