Eduardo Chaillo, consultant at Global Meetings and Tourism Specialists LLC, and global general manager at Maritz, shares his journey to becoming a CMP Fellow. He shares CMP test prep tips, such as focus on real-world scenarios, practice constantly and adopt a practitioner’s mindset, and how people give him the energy on event days.
Eduardo Chaillo’s career in the meetings and events industry is defined by connection—between cultures, between sectors and between people who may not initially speak the same professional or personal language. Chaillo’s journey to industry leadership was anything but linear. Instead, it reflects the very adaptability, empathy and global mindset that increasingly define excellence in the space today.
Born and raised in Mexico City, Chaillo grew up immersed in cultural duality. With a Syrian-Jewish father and a Mexican-Catholic mother, he learned early what it meant to live between worlds. “I’ve lived my whole life between cultures,” he says, “learning how bridges are built when people listen to and respect each other’s differences.” That lived experience would later become a professional strength, positioning him as a natural connector in a global industry.
Chaillo moved to the United States in 2005, first to Chicago and then, in 2007, to the Washington, D.C., area, where he now lives in Falls Church, Virginia. Today, he serves as a consultant at Global Meetings and Tourism Specialists LLC, and as Global General Manager at Maritz. But his early ambitions pointed in very different directions.
As a young man, Chaillo imagined himself as an entrepreneur. At various points, he also considered becoming a psychologist or a musician—professions that, in hindsight, foreshadow his people-centric approach to leadership. His first major professional chapter unfolded in the restaurant industry, where he opened and operated restaurants, eventually rising to a leadership role within the industry. That experience honed his operational instincts and exposed him to the complexities of managing people, budgets and stakeholder expectations.
His work in hospitality led to a pivotal opportunity: an appointment as Secretary of Tourism for the Mexican state of Zacatecas. It was there that Chaillo’s career trajectory shifted decisively toward tourism and events at both the national and global levels. His work caught the attention of Mexico’s Federal Minister of Tourism, who invited him to join the Mexico Tourism Board. That move marked Chaillo’s first deep immersion in the meetings industry—and, as he puts it, “the rest is history.”
Becoming a CMP
Once exposed to the world of meetings and conventions, Chaillo found a professional home that aligned perfectly with his instincts. He fell in love with an industry built on collaboration, logistics and human connection. Yet he quickly realized that passion alone was not enough. To be effective—and credible—on the global stage, he needed to speak the language of his clients.
That realization led him to the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation. Chaillo first learned about CMP while working at the Mexico Tourism Board and engaging with industry leaders. “I understood I needed to speak the business language of the clients and convert myself into a trusted advisor,” he explains. “The best and fastest way to do it was through getting my CMP.”
Test Prep Tips
He earned his CMP certification 21 years ago, approaching it not as a checkbox, but as a professional transformation. Studying for the exam in Mexico alongside a diverse group—a professional congress organizer, hotel representatives, a DMC executive and a destination promoter—reinforced the value of cross-sector learning. His advice to others preparing for the exam reflects that same philosophy: focus on real-world scenarios, practice constantly and adopt a practitioner’s mindset rather than a purely theoretical one.
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Education, for Chaillo, has never stopped with certification. He credits industry conferences and events as ongoing classrooms, choosing to prioritize learning even when his initial goals might have been promotional or business driven. Over time, he has acquired additional credentials, including CMM, CASE and HMCC, thereby deepening both his strategic and operational expertise.
One of the most defining chapters of Chaillo’s career was his leadership of the Tianguis Turístico de México, the country’s flagship tourism marketplace. For six consecutive years, he oversaw the organization of the event in Acapulco, managing immense logistical complexity while navigating business, communications and political considerations. Beyond scale, the event’s impact on local communities and the national tourism economy made it especially meaningful. More recently, his work with Maritz on the design of the ICCA Congress has offered another global platform to apply his experience.
Fellow Designation
Despite his achievements, Chaillo remains refreshingly candid about professional milestones. He became a CMP Fellow this year, joining a community he describes as respected and influential. While he admits he is still discovering the full value of the Fellow designation, he views it as a sense of belonging—and one that will grow through deeper involvement and commitment over time.
That humility extends to his perspective on the CMP designation itself. While he believes strongly in its value, he is also honest about its limitations. Over the years, he has seen efforts to make CMP more global, strategic and human-centered; however, he acknowledges that it is still often perceived as very American and tactical. Even so, he remains engaged in conversations about how the credential—and the industry—can continue to evolve.
The Future
Looking ahead, Chaillo finds inspiration in the changing nature of meetings and events. He is encouraged by a shift away from purely transactional conversations toward discussions that focus on empathy, emotional intelligence and behavioral science. He sees younger generations embracing social values and recognizing the broader impact of the industry, a trend that gives him hope for its future.
On event days, Chaillo’s energy comes not from caffeine or rituals, but from people. “Whenever I start interacting with industry colleagues who share the passion for this industry, I get fueled,” he says. To keep teams aligned, he relies on practical tools, such as WhatsApp groups organized by function—logistics, strategy and transportation—ensuring clarity in complex environments. And when an event concludes successfully, his instinct is reflective rather than celebratory: a thorough debrief with stakeholders, followed by good food, music and connection.
Perhaps his philosophy is best captured in his favorite quote: “The bird sings even when the branch cracks—because it knows the strength of its wings.” For Eduardo Chaillo, that strength has always come from adaptability, cultural fluency and a deep belief in the power of human connection. As a CMP Fellow and global industry leader, his career stands as a testament to what is possible when technical excellence is matched with empathy and purpose.
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