Antonio Azevedo has worked at the Brazilian Association of Travel Agencies (ABAV) since 1989, when he held different positions in the entity’s board of directors in Paraná’s regional office. In 1997, he was elected as president of ABAV-PR for the first time, and held that position up to 2001. Later, he went back to the same position from 2005 to 2009, completing four terms-of-office. In that period, he coordinated, as a host, both the ABAV-99 Congress and Expo, the largest edition of the event during its itinerant phase. He has also created the Paraná Tourism Showroom, held annually since 1995.

He has held several positions at ABAV Nacional. He was a Board Member in 1991, Audit Committee Member from 1995 to 2009, vice-president form 1999 to 2003, and Director of the ABAV Qualification and Certification Institute (ICCABAV) from 2005 to 2011. He has also coordinated the execution of programs Proagência I and II, and Benchmarking 2010, directly participating in the terms-of-office of presidents Sérgio Nogueira, Goiaci Guimarães, Tasso Gadzanis, João Martins, and Kaká.

He has accumulated great experience in the public and private spheres during his career. Among the positions he held are vice-president of the Trade Association and of the Regional Administration Council, chairman of the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce, member of the Tourism State Board, of Paraná Turismo, of Eco Paraná, and of Curitiba’s City Tourism Council, all of these positions in the state of Paraná. Azevedo also was the Secretary of Tourism of the City Hall in Curitiba from 2001 and 2003.

Azevedo has won several awards. One of them is Tourism Person of the Year, awarded by the Tourism Journalists Association of Paraná (ABRAJET), which he has won twice. He has also been honored by the Curitiba City Council, the Legislature of Paraná, and the City of Foz do Iguaçu. Antonio Azevedo has been a managing partner at Eventtour/Paraná Travel since 1987.

Elected as president of ABAV Nacional for the 2011-2013 biennium, and reelected for a second term-of-office (2014-2015) after receiving high praise, Azevedo is currently a member of the Brazilian Tourism Board and of the Advisory Board of the Brazilian Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC).

Click here for photos of president Antonio Azevedo.