COA will honor LATAM, Banco do Brasil, Rappi and Atlas Renewable Energy at BRAVO Awards

The Council of the Americas will recognize leaders from LATAM Airlines, Banco do Brasil, Rappi and Atlas Renewable Energy at its 31st BRAVO Business Awards in Miami on Nov. 19. The honors spotlight companies and executives shaping growth, innovation and investment across Latin America.

Why it matters: - The BRAVO Business Awards are a regional platform for recognizing business leadership that is changing how capital, technology and sustainable growth move across Latin America. - This year’s honorees reflect four major themes shaping the region: airline recovery, financial inclusion, digital innovation and the energy transition. - The event will bring together multinational and multilatina executives, government leaders, entrepreneurs and global investors in Miami.

What happened: - The Council of the Americas announced the honorees for the 31st BRAVO Business Awards. - The gala will take place at the Loews Coral Gables Hotel in Miami on Nov. 19, 2026. - Roberto Alvo, CEO of LATAM Airlines, will receive the BRAVO CEO of the Year Award. - Banco do Brasil will receive the BRAVO Legacy Award, to be accepted by CEO Tarciana Medeiros. - Rappi will receive the BRAVO Innovation Benchmark Award, to be accepted by co-founder Felipe Villamarín. - Carlos Barrera, founder and CEO of Atlas Renewable Energy, will receive the BRAVO Innovative CEO of the Year Award.

The details: - Susan Segal, president and CEO of Americas Society/Council of the Americas, said the awards recognize leaders whose vision, resilience and commitment turned their companies into engines of economic growth and sustainable progress. - Maria Lourdes Teran, vice president of AS/COA Miami and president of the BRAVO Business Awards, said the region is home to companies and leaders driving innovation, investment and long-term economic opportunity. - The morning of the awards, the Council of the Americas Symposium will convene senior executives and business leaders focused on Latin America. - This year’s symposium topics include the AI economy, regional potential for data centers and cloud infrastructure, how companies are using AI strategically, Latin American companies expanding in the U.S., and other business opportunities in the region. - Alvo has led LATAM Airlines since March 2020. - Under Alvo, LATAM completed a broad financial restructuring after filing for Chapter 11 protection and emerged with stronger financial performance, faster digital transformation and greater operational efficiency. - LATAM said the company has about 42,000 employees across the region. - Banco do Brasil is Brazil’s oldest financial institution and one of Latin America’s largest banks. - Medeiros became the first woman to lead Banco do Brasil in January 2023. - Under Medeiros, Banco do Brasil has expanded support for agribusiness, accelerated digital transformation, advanced financial inclusion and increased sustainable finance efforts. - Rappi was founded in Colombia in 2015 and helped establish the superapp model in Latin America. - Rappi’s platform now connects millions of consumers with restaurants, retailers and services, while also giving hundreds of thousands of businesses and independent entrepreneurs new digital growth channels. - Rappi has expanded beyond meal delivery into quick commerce, financial services and technology partnerships. - Rappi reported positive EBITDA, a milestone in its push toward sustainable growth. - Atlas Renewable Energy was founded in February 2017. - Barrera built Atlas into the largest independent renewable power producer in Latin America. - Atlas operates across Chile, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and Uruguay. - The company supplies clean power to energy-intensive sectors including mining, metals, data centers and chemicals. - Atlas developed the BESS del Desierto project, described as the first and largest independent battery energy storage system in Latin America. - The company also built hybrid solar-plus-storage installations that set new benchmarks for renewable energy infrastructure. - Atlas completed a $3 billion portfolio refinancing transaction in 2025, described as the largest deal of its kind in Latin America’s renewable energy sector.

Between the lines: - The honorees show how Latin American companies are scaling beyond national markets while competing in sectors that matter globally, including aviation, banking, digital platforms and clean energy. - The awards also underscore a shift toward businesses that combine growth with measurable operational, financial and sustainability goals. - The symposium agenda suggests COA sees artificial intelligence, cloud infrastructure and U.S. expansion as key strategic issues for the region’s business leaders. - The recognition of Banco do Brasil and Atlas points to the growing importance of sustainable finance and renewable infrastructure in the region’s long-term competitiveness.

What's next: - COA will host the BRAVO gala and related symposium in Miami on Nov. 19, 2026. - The event is expected to continue positioning Miami as a meeting point for Latin American business leaders, global investors and policymakers. - More information is available in the Council of the Americas announcement.

The bottom line: - COA is using the BRAVO Awards to spotlight the companies and executives shaping Latin America’s next phase of growth, from digital innovation to sustainable infrastructure.