Despegar has announced the appointment of Claudia Alva as the new Vice President and Country Manager for Mexico, effective from February 2026. With over 20 years of experience in major companies such as Amazon, Nu, Procter & Gamble, and Nestlé, Alva takes over from Santiago Elijovich, who has led the local operation since 2023. This leadership change is part of a planned transition in Despegar's regional leadership structure, aimed at strengthening its most significant market in Latin America.

Under her new role, Alva will head the local operations with a focus on digitization and enhancing the value proposition for Mexican travelers. This appointment indicates Despegar’s commitment to adapting its strategies to meet the demands of the Mexican market and will likely lead to innovations in service delivery and customer engagement. Meanwhile, Santiago Elijovich will move to a regional position as VP of Strategic Partnerships B2B2C, where he will be responsible for executing the commercial strategy, expanding channels, and managing strategic alliances to ensure the firm's sustainable growth.

This executive restructuring at Despegar is seen as a crucial strategy in navigating the competitive landscape of the travel technology sector, particularly in Mexico, which is a major hub for travel in Latin America. The leadership change is aimed at reinforcing operational efficiency and leveraging digital transformation to cater to a digital-savvy consumer base, thereby positioning Despegar for future growth in an evolving market.