iPR Summit debuts in Guayaquil with 350 attendees

The first iPR Summit brought more than 350 professionals to Guayaquil on Oct. 6, 2026, for conversations on how public relations is changing. Organizers said the event will return to Ecuador in August 2027.

Why it matters: - The summit put reputation, trust and decision-making at the center of the public relations agenda. - Organizers framed the event as evidence that communications teams are taking on a more strategic role inside organizations. - The gathering reflects growing demand for forums that connect public relations, media, marketing and business leadership across Latin America and the U.S. Hispanic market.

What happened: - More than 350 people attended the first iPR Summit in Guayaquil, Ecuador. - The event brought together 29 national and international panelists and speakers. - Agency Dimitrakis of Ecuador and Santa Cruz Communications of the United States organized the summit. - Leaders from Ecuador, Latin America, Spain and the U.S. Hispanic market participated. - Organizers said iPR Summit will return to Ecuador in August 2027.

The details: - Sessions focused on the changing role of public relations inside organizations. - Speakers said communications professionals need a seat where business decisions are made. - Panels addressed how PR teams can show impact through reputation, trust and audience perception. - The panel “PR en la mesa de decisión” examined how communication should enter business conversations early, with context, audience insight and reputational risk awareness. - Omar Dimitrakis said PR now must go beyond visibility and help interpret what is happening around an organization when decisions are made. - Another core topic was measurement, with participants pushing beyond publication counts, reach and mentions to assess real communication outcomes. - IPSOS presented “De la comunicación al capital de confianza,” focused on listening to audiences and understanding how trust is built between organizations and society. - The agenda also included creativity, sustainability, artificial intelligence, storytelling, media transformation and crisis management. - Guayaquil was positioned as a growing host city for national and international professional events. - The event took place the same week as the Inter-American Public Relations Day on Sept. 26. - The summit had support from the Municipality of Guayaquil and sponsors including Bimbo, Splenda, Colineal, Bassa, All Natural, Hacienda San José Chocolates, Life Choice, Legere, Publifix and Atis Ketchum. - Media partners included Revista Vistazo, Revista AméricaEconomía, PR Insight Podcast, PRODU, Radio Punto Rojo and Radio Romance. - Strategic allies included IPSOS, the Latin American Association of Public Relations Agencies (ALARP) and Círculo de Creativas Ecuador. - The summit was promoted as a platform for professionals in public relations, communication, media, marketing and related fields. - The event website is More information.

Between the lines: - The program showed how PR is shifting from messaging support to business counsel. - The focus on trust and reputation suggests communications leaders are being asked to prove value in ways that are harder to capture than media metrics. - Holding the summit in Guayaquil also reinforces the city’s pitch as a regional hub for business events and knowledge exchange.

What's next: - Organizers plan to use the 2027 edition to extend the professional community built around the first summit. - The next event is expected to continue the conversation on reputation, crisis response, AI and strategic communications. - More details will likely follow as the August 2027 return approaches.