The ceremony, which brought together more than 160 guests, was presided over by the Ambassador of Spain to the United States, Ángeles Moreno Bau, and the President of the Leading Brands of Spain Forum, Sofía Osborne, among other authorities.
The Spain-U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Leading Brands of Spain Forum (FMRE), together with ICEX Spain Trade and Investment, the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, and Turespaña, honored in Miami the “Friends of Brand Spain” and the “Friends of Spanish Brands.” The event, hosted at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel with more than 160 attendees, reaffirmed the economic, cultural, and friendship ties between Spain and the United States.
This ceremony is part of a program that gathers business leaders, authorities, iconic brands, and media outlets to foster relationships, synergies, and business opportunities through a three-day business agenda. Florida has consolidated its role as a key state for economic and cultural relations between Spain and the U.S., with the presence of more than 400 Spanish companies and its position as a hub for Latin America and a platform to amplify the value of Spanish brands.
The event was presided over by Spain’s Ambassador to the United States, Ángeles Moreno Bau, and the President of the Leading Brands of Spain Forum, Sofía Osborne. Other distinguished attendees included the Consul General of Spain in Miami, Belén Alfaro Hernández; Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava; General Director of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, Inmaculada Riera; President of the Spain-U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Mónica Vázquez; Trade Commissioner of Spain in Miami, Javier Yraola; and Director of the Spanish Tourism Office in Miami, Elvira Marcos Salazar.
The honorees recognized as ‘Friends of Brand Spain’ in Miami were:
• Jorge A. Plasencia, Co-Founder & CEO of Republica Havas, for his pioneering role in multicultural marketing and his work as a bridge between Spain and the Hispanic community in the United States.
• Adrienne Arsht, business leader 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.
• Emilio Estefan, world-renowned music producer, for his extraordinary artistic legacy and his contribution to the global projection of Hispanic and Spanish culture.
• Jorge M. Pérez, Founding Executive Chairman of Related Group and prominent art collector, for his cultural patronage and close ties to Spanish and Latin American art, especially through his support of the Reina Sofía Museum.
Recognized as ‘Friends of Spanish Brands’ for their contribution to the growth of these brands were:
• Adriana Hoyos, as “Friend of Cosentino,” for incorporating Silestone and Dekton into prestigious international projects.
• Iberia Foods, represented by Peter Casais, as “Friend of La Española,” for its commitment to promoting Spanish products in a highly competitive market.
• Operation Smile, through Eny Delgado Prieto, as “Friend of Lladró,” for its charitable work and support in expanding the presence of Spanish porcelain in private collections and cultural institutions.
• Telefónica, as “Friend of Auxadi,” for advancing the expansion of financial and accounting solutions in the U.S.
• 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.
• Milam’s Market, as “Friend of Osborne,” for successfully bringing Spanish wine and gastronomy traditions to the U.S. market.
• Florida Blue, as “Friend of Sanitas,” for its key role in consolidating the Spanish healthcare model, based on primary care, in the U.S. market.
• Olga Ramudo, President & CEO of Express Travel, as “Friend of Turespaña,” 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 statuette, symbolizing nobility, loyalty, effort, and resilience—values that reflect 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.
In her remarks, Mónica Vázquez, President of the Spain-U.S. Chamber of Commerce, stated: “We are very proud that the Leading Brands of Spain Forum chose Miami to host these awards, and we are truly pleased with the extraordinary reception, with record attendance and an ideal setting to honor those who promote our brand in the U.S. Miami is becoming a hub for a growing number of Spanish companies, and forums like this are essential to drive that visibility. From the Chamber, we will continue supporting initiatives that reflect our commitment to expanding Brand Spain in the United States, in a context where over $1.8 billion in Spanish goods are imported annually into Florida and Spain has already become the seventh-largest European investor in the state.”
For her part, Sofía Osborne, President of the Leading Brands of Spain Forum and the Osborne Group, noted: “This is the fourth ‘Friends of Brand Spain and Friends of Spanish Brands’ ceremony we have organized in the U.S. This is because this country, and Florida in particular, shares significant historical and cultural ties with Spain, making it a strategic partner. This recognition honors companies and individuals committed to the quality, technology, innovation, and positioning of Spanish brands in this country.”
This was the 15th edition of the “Friends of Brand Spain and Friends of Spanish Brands” recognition. Previous ceremonies have been held in markets such as China (Shanghai, 2010); Russia (Moscow); the United Kingdom (London, 2011); the United States (Miami, 2013); Japan (Tokyo, 2014); Hong Kong (2015); United Arab Emirates (Dubai); Mexico City (2016 and 2024); Belgium (Brussels, 2017); France (Paris, 2018); the United States (New York, 2019); United Arab Emirates (Dubai, 2022); and the United States (Houston, 2024).
ABOUT THE LEADING BRANDS OF SPAIN FORUM (FMRE)
Founded in 1999, the Leading Brands of Spain Forum (FMRE) is a public-private alliance of more than 150 Spanish companies with leading brands in their respective sectors, together with Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation; the Ministry of Industry and Tourism; the State Secretariat for Trade; ICEX Spain Trade and Investment; the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (OEPM); the Spanish Chamber of Commerce; Turespaña; and the State Secretariat for Tourism. Its mission is to promote the strategic importance of branding, innovation, and design at all levels, and to foster the internationalization of Spanish companies as a key driver of competitiveness. By uniting efforts between Spain’s leading brands and public administrations, the Forum strengthens Spain’s image and the reputation of its companies worldwide.
ABOUT THE SPAIN-U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The Spain-U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Florida is an official chamber established as a private, nonprofit organization and part of FECECA, the Federation of Official Spanish Chambers of Commerce in the Americas. With more than 550 members, it is one of the leading binational chambers in the country. Its members—companies of all sizes and industries—share a common interest in developing business in the United States and Latin America, with Florida hosting the largest number of Spanish subsidiaries. In the past three years, the Chamber has also seen an increase in U.S.-origin companies joining as members. Celebrating its 45th anniversary, the Chamber organizes more than 35 corporate and social events annually to expand a dynamic business community with great opportunities for collaboration, focusing on key industries that generate the most direct employment in the United States, such as energy supply, construction, and wholesale trade.
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