The American Friends of Jamaica, Inc. (AFJ) will host the 2013 Hummingbird Gala on Friday, October 25, 2013 from 6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. at the St. Regis Hotel located at 2 East 55th Street in New York City. The AFJ will honor Miguel Fluxá Rossello, GRUPO IBEROSTAR Executive Chairman who will receive the 2013 International Humanitarian Award and will be recognized for his support of Jamaica’s tourism product, environment and social development.
Miguel Fluxá Rosello’s rise to success was fuelled by his visionary mind and the entrepreneurial spirit he inherited from his family. He began his career as president of Viajes Iberia and used his business acumen to quickly expand to more than 500 branches throughout Spain. In this role, he also expanded his agency network into a larger enterprise that encompassed a range of industry-related businesses, including several tour operators, an airline company, an incoming services agency, a cruise company and a hotel chain.
His hospitality career is marked by two important milestones. The first happened in 1986, when he founded the first IBEROSTAR hotels in Majorca and the Canary Islands. Later, in 1993, Mr. Fluxá began to internationalize IBEROSTAR with the establishment of the first hotel in the Caribbean. IBEROSTAR is one of several Spanish Hotel empires with substantial investments in Jamaica.
In 2006, Mr. Fluxá sold most of the outbound companies to focus on the hotel division, IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts. As GRUPO IBEROSTAR’s Executive Chairman, Mr. Fluxá is working to further expand the hotel division to new destinations and markets. With properties gracing the world’s most magnificent beaches, the chain currently has 23,000 employees at more than 100 hotels in 16 countries. Mr. Fluxa is also involved in the development of IBEROSTATE Golf, Villas & Condos, which specializes in luxurious residential developments in the most exclusive areas within the 5-star IBEROSTAR resorts portfolio.
His passion for business is equally matched by his passion for helping others. In 2004 he created FUNDACIÓN IBEROSTAR, a non-profit organization committed to improving quality of life and living conditions and promoting education of communities in developing countries. Particularly focused on assisting children and the disabled, FUNDACIÓN IBEROSTAR has contributed to multiple projects in cooperation with organizations like UNICEF and Caritas, among others.
Mr. Fluxá has received several awards for his work, including Spain’s Prince Felipe Award for Business Excellence in the Tourism Company category in 1999. Mr. Fluxá is honored to receive the 2013 Humanitarian Award from the American Friends of Jamaica and is steadfast in his commitment to support philanthropic endeavors in Jamaica.
AFJ President, Ambassador Brenda Johnson said, “The AFJ is delighted to honor Mr. Fluxá with the 2013 Humanitarian Award for his unceasing efforts to create opportunities. The growth and development of Jamaica is important to many of us”.
IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts, www.iberostar.com