The ideal skill set for an operations manager in the event business is an extremely broad knowledge of transportation and the hospitality industry, and the ability to provide unequalled customer satisfaction.  That’s why Ramon Rijo is the perfect guy to do this job for IVI in the Dominican Republic.

Mr. Rijo is an “information sponge.”  He loves soaking up knowledge and information.  So it’s no surprise that his education includes physics and mathematics, computer programming, the English language, airline continuing education programs and Dale Carnegie leadership training.

Ramon began his career in the hospitality arena as a ticket agent with ACES, the Columbian-based airline that later became part of Avianca.   He then joined Swissport Dominicana, an airport management and security company.

Since then, Rijo continued to add to his experience with increasingly responsible positions with tour, vacation and destination management companies.   He has worked at Premiere Tours, Amstar, Vacaciones Barceló and Coco Tours as an excursion agent, reservations supervisor, commercial business manager, office manager and operations manager. 

Along the way, Ramon has earned a number of “best employee” and business performance awards.   He now is applying his extensive tourism and hospitality knowledge and experience to IVI, where he is empowered to follow his personal credo to “never say no” to client requests.

In his leisure time, Rijo first and foremost is a family man who enjoys spending time with his wife and kids.  He also likes music, and as a history buff he enjoys the Discovery and History Channels on television.  Ramon’s favorite book is “The Purpose-Driven Life,” and he says he enjoys Christian music because it “gives me peace and strengthens my spirit.”

As a native of the Dominican Republic, Rijo’s favorite sport is baseball, and he is a fan of the Boston Red Sox.   And (like many baseball players) he now is learning to play golf.

Personal Favorites

Local Attraction – El Cortecito Beach and Los Corales. This is a great beach at a delightful beach town and fishing village. With lots of shops and restaurants, it’s considered the “downtown” of Punta Cana.

Recreational Activity – Swimming. With so many gorgeous beaches, going into the water is hard to resist!

Restaurant – Captain Cook’s. This is an excellent seafood restaurant right on El Cortecito beach. It’s a really scenic al fresco dining experience. They specialize in lobster – I highly recommend it.

Local Tour – ATV four-wheeling. It combines a highway and off-road excusion that offers great scenery along with some entertaining trail adventures that will elevate your adrenaline.

Local Event – Carnaval de la Vega. I think this is the best of the Dominican Republic’s many carnival celebrations in February. It features great costumes (with lots of mostly humorous Devil masks), colorful parade floats, lots of music and many masked dance groups.