BOND Diseñotel 2019

Biography

David Kepron is a multifaceted creative professional with a compulsive curiosity to understand ‘why’, ‘what’s now’ and ‘what’s next’. He brings together his background as an architect, artist, educator, author, podcast host and builder to the making of meaningful and empathically focused customer connections at brand experience places around the globe.

David is a former VP - Global Design Strategies at Marriott International. While at Marriott, his focus was on the creation of compelling customer experiences within Marriott’s “Premium Distinctive” segment which included: Westin, Renaissance, Le Meridien, Autograph Collection, Tribute Portfolio, Design Hotels and Gaylord hotels.

In 2020 Kepron founded NXTLVL Experience Design, a strategy and design consultancy, where he combines his multidisciplinary approach to the creation of relevant brand engagements with his passion for social and cultural anthropology, neuroscience and emerging digital technologies.

As a frequently requested international speaker at corporate events and international conferences focusing on CX, digital transformation, retail, hospitality, emerging technology, David shares his expertise on subjects ranging from consumer behaviors and trends, brain science and buying behavior, store design and visual merchandising, hotel design and strategy as well as creativity and innovation. In his talks, David shares visionary ideas on how brand strategy, brain science and emerging technologies are changing guest expectations about relationships they want to have with brands and how companies can remain relevant in a digitally enabled marketplace.

David currently brings his creativity and insight on brand experiences to an international audience as a member of VMSD magazine’s Editorial Advisory Board, as a Board Member of the Interactive Customer Experience Association (ICXA) and Sign Research Foundation’s (SRF) Program Committee.

In 2014 Kepron published his first book titled: “Retail (r)Evolution: Why Creating Right-Brain Stores Will Shape the Future of Shopping in a Digitally Driven World” and he is currently working on his second book to be published soon. David also writes a popular blog called “Brain Food” which is published monthly on vmsd.com.

In September of 2020, he launched a new podcast called “NXTLVL Experience Design” which brings listeners daring and different dialogues about “DATA: Design, Architecture, Technology and the Arts.” His guests include thought leaders who are driven by a passion to create the ‘New Possible’ and promote new paradigms of experiences into the mainstream.

Biography

Juan is responsible for prospecting, identifying and securing new business opportunities for Colliers International's business lines in Latin America and Caribbean, including Consulting and Valuation, Project, Facility and Property Management, Capital Markets and Lease and Sale Services. He targets owners, investors, developers, users, governments and corporations, developing and executing the necessary strategies to attract and retain new clients or expand existing relationships, contributing at all times to the productivity, income and increased margins of the Colliers´Latin America & Caribbean division.

Biography

Erika Garcia is Chief Executive Officer of Marketing for Sunset Group and Vacacionante, a company working in Latin America she is also President and Founder of Yucatan Holidays Limited in the United Kingdom. In 2013 with her son Gustavo created The Vacation with a Cause Foundation. Because of her leadership and promotion of Mexico she was named Board Member of World Trade Center Cancun. Ms. Garcia has many years of experience in operating companies that provide services to timeshare and fractional resort developers. She applies her considerable talent toward building relationships, creating exciting packages, promoting participation and establishing alliances worldwide. Her efforts have succeeded in sending hundreds of tourists to local destinations in the Cancun and Riviera Maya region of Mexico. She gained her foothold in the industry from an early age by learning the ropes as a concierge and front desk associate, as well as by working in the finance department and performing collections for several major hotels and resorts. Thanks to being engaged at so many customer touch-points as she worked her way up in the industry, she appreciates the consumer’s point of view and what they expect when it comes to their vacation experience – an understanding that has paved the way to success for her companies. Ms. Garcia received a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication from the University of California, Irvine. She participates in the activities of the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) and the Cancun Hotel Association.