America’s Favorite Travel Shows Have America’s Most Comprehensive Education Content That You Can’t Find Anywhere Else.
You’ll be inspired to take your dream vacation. Learn how to be your own travel expert on your next vacation, from top celebrity travel personalities and leading local experts at dozens of travel workshops on 4 theaters located on the show floor.
4 Theaters and Over 30+ Sessions
Travel Theater: Hear from the top travel celebrity personalities such as Samantha Brown, Patricia Schultz and Peter Greenberg as they inspire you to take your dream vacation.
Destination Theater: From where to go and when to go, to what to do and how to get there, destination experts will give you the in depth information you need to travel like a local.
Savvy Traveler Theater: Showcasing travel tips, tricks and actionable advice, you’ll learn how to travel like a pro straight from the experts. Topics include packing tips, technology skills, travel safety methods, budget travel hacks, etc.
Taste of Travel Theater: Get a taste of cultures from around the world as chefs prepare their local cuisines right in front of you. Like what you smell? Most cooking demonstrations end with a sampling right at your seat! Click Here to view the Taste of Travel schedule.
Speakers and schedule are subject to change without prior notice, please check back often for updates.
10:30 am – 11:30 am
Travel Theater
Travel in A Time of Disruption
Peter Greenberg, Emmy Award-Winning Investigative Reporter and Producer and CBS News Travel Editor
How and where to travel in a year of global uncertainty, instability, economic upheaval – and great opportunity. The ultimate road warriors guide to when, where and how to go just about anywhere.
Autograph Signing Immediately Following
10:30 am – 11:00 am
Destination Theater
Experience Incredible India with Expedition 2 India
Vineet Badhwar, Co-Founder, and Managing Director Expedition2India.com
Expedition 2 India curates very local and off beat experiences in India with a young and dedicated team of travel professionals. Our feature presentation will cover, the “Must See” destinations in India; Ways that “Expedition 2 India” can customize your vacation to include the experiences you want to have and see; and Highlight the best areas to visit for 1st time visitors or frequent visitors. As you step in this unique and unparalleled country, certainly you are welcomed to a crowd of people but unlike the old beliefs, India today is completely safe, clean and has immense luxuries to indulge in. India has abundance of colors, history, monuments, spirituality, and of course Yoga. So, without further ado, make your dream of visiting India come true in 2017 with Expedition 2 India for we have been escorting over 1000+ happy and satisfied travelers every year to India and that too with customized tour plans. From yoga, meditation to cultural or nature, we help you curate experiences that are crafted keeping YOU in mind.
Join Expedition 2 India to customize your extraordinary vacation to India with the travel experts to India.
10:30 am – 11:15 am
Savvy Traveler Theater
Travel Smart & Pack Right
Angel Castellanos, Travel Ambassador, AngelsTravelLounge.com
Angel Castellanos, The Travel Ambassador, delivers his popular and acclaimed “Travel Smart” seminar drawing from his experience and frequent travels. This informative presentation prepares travelers for each step of the journey (including packing!). Angel will give his favorite travel tips on packing smart, safety & security, traveling with technology and much more! No matter your level of experience, you are bound to come away with practical travel tips to help you travel smarter. Join us for this insightful and dynamic presentation. Travel smart, well and often! www.AngelsTravelLounge.com
11:15 am – 11:45 am
Destination Theater
Beyond the Cruise: The Inside Scoop on Alaska Adventures
Jara Haas, CSTP Tourism Sales Manager, Visit Anchorage
Learn about the hidden gems and can’t-miss experiences from Southcentral Alaska’s destination experts. Anchorage is an urban oasis in untamed wilderness nestled between Cook Inlet and the Chugach Mountains with 60 glaciers within 50 miles of the city. When is the best time of the year to visit? Come and learn what your Alaska adventure is waiting for you.
11:45 am – 12:30 pm
Savvy Traveler Theater
Be Bold: Essential Tips for Travelers
Beth Whitman, Founder and Editor of Wanderlust and Lipstick Wander Tours
No matter the destination, travel can be the most rewarding experience of your life. But to read today’s news, you’d think that travel is expensive, dangerous and full of hassles.
Rather than being influenced by the negativity surrounding the travel world, travel pro Beth Whitman urges you to Be Bold and discover how you can make your travel dreams come true while having fun, staying safe and without breaking the bank. Regardless of your age or income level, you will leave this talk ready for that next great adventure! This talk is sponsored by ExOfficio and LOWA Boots.
12 Noon – 1:00 pm
Travel Theater
Travel Smart: Lessons Learned from A Life Lived on the Road
Samantha Brown, Travel Channel Host
Autograph Signing Immediately Following
12 Noon – 12:30 pm
Destination Theater
Italy & France Beyond the Beaten Path
Audrey De Monte, Travels with Audrey
When we think about a visit to Italy or France, there is typically a list of “must-see” sites we feel we have to explore. Many therefore often restrict themselves to the countries’ well known cities, when in fact there is so much more to discover, beyond the Michelangelo’s masterpieces and roman ruins, the Eiffel Tower and the Mona Lisa. Let’s be clear: nothing wrong with sitting at a café’ in Paris and watching the world go by, or strolling through the “calli” in the heart of Venice indulging in a delicious gelato, yet there is so much more to experience! Perhaps you simply want to discover something new, somewhere different. Perhaps following the herd is just not how you envision travelling, picturing in your mind an actual experience, not just…a trip. Follow Audrey as she takes you travelling beyond the beaten path, sustainable and supportive to local economies and people, respecting and delving in their natural and cultural heritages.
1:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Destination Theater
The Islands of Tahiti are closer than you think
Tekura Kelley, Trade and Promotions Manager, Tahiti Tourisme
Tucked away in the South Pacific, just 8 hours from Los Angeles, the Islands of Tahiti are closer than you think. Boasting high, rugged mountain peaks, coral reefs, turquoise-blue lagoons, white sand, palm-fringed beaches, and luxuriously intimate resorts; each of the 118 islands and atolls have something for everyone. Worlds away from the hectic daily grind, where a natural balanced rhythm between the land and the people exist, means connecting with what is really important in life. Discover the escape of a lifetime today!
1:00 pm – 1:45 pm
Savvy Traveler Theater
Atlas Obscura: An Explorer’s Guide to the World’s Hidden Wonders
Ella Morton, Associate Editor and Co-Author, Atlas Obscura
Join Ella Morton for a tour of the most astonishing and curious travel locations across the world. When Morton set out to write Atlas Obscura: An Explorer’s Guide to the World’s Hidden Wonders with co-authors Joshua Foer and Dylan Thuras, their goal was to create a catalog of all the places, people, and things that inspire our sense of wonder (after all, when you can buy a plane ticket and be in Borneo in less than a day, the world can feel awfully small). The extraordinary result is an utterly unique guide that shares over 700 of the most unusual, fascinating, and mysterious bucket-list destinations across all eight continents. From the secret apartment, Gustave Eiffel built high atop the Eiffel Tower, to the spectacular New Zealand caves lit by glowworms, to the World’s Quietest Room, each entry in the book includes location information, GPS coordinates, and tips on when and how best to get there—and how much to bribe the guard to get you inside. An arresting cabinet of curiosities that inspires wonderlust as much as wanderlust, Atlas Obscura proves that the world is vast and there are marvelous treasures behind every corner—if you just know where to look.
Autograph Signing Immediately Following
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Travel Theater
How to Travel Like A Movie Star (Without Movie Star Money)
Johnny Jet, Editor-In-Chief, JohnnyJet.com
For many people, travel can be arduous, tiring and uncomfortable. Long lines, departure delays, lost luggage – all of this adds up to frustration for many travelers. But it doesn’t have to be this way! Join seasoned traveler Johnny Jet to learn the tricks of the trade and simple steps you can take to make your travels smoother to make you feel like a VIP.
Autograph Signing Immediately Following
1:45 pm – 2:15 pm
Destination Theater
Getting Great Travel Photos!
David McKay, Owner, McKay Photography Academy
Learn great travel photography techniques no matter what camera you have! David will specifically be sharing ways to compose your images and the best times of day to photograph along with ideas to make your travel photographs stand out from the crowd.
Learn techniques to help you make the most out of your travel photos!
2:15 pm – 3:00 pm
Savvy Traveler Theater
The Badass Bucket List: Hot Adventure Destinations for 2017
Julia Dimon, Travel TV Personality
Julia Dimon (National Geographic TV personality, adventure travel blogger and author of the book Travel Junkie: A Badass Guide to Solo Female Travel) reveals what’s hot and happening in adventure travel for 2017. A hardcore adventure travel writer who has explored some 80 countries across 7 continents, Julia gives the inside scoop on her most badass life-changing experiences in far flung locales. From survival courses in the remote jungles of Guyana, to polar bear safaris in the Canadian Arctic, Julia shares some of her most extreme adventures and empowers you with savvy travel tips and tricks for booking your own adventure.
2:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Destination Theater
Planning your next Magical Vacation: The Walt Disney World Resort & Disney Cruise Line
Linda Netherda, District Sales Manager, CTC, Disney Destinations Sales, The Walt Disney Company
A high level overview of what’s new and what’s coming to both The Walt Disney World Resort & Disney Cruise Line Vacations; and how to use the expertise of your AAA Travel Agent to help guide you through the ins and outs of planning your perfect Disney vacation!
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Travel Theater
How I Traveled to Every Country in the World and Tales from the Journey
Lee Abbamonte, Youngest American to Visit Every Country in the World, Entrepreneur, TV Personality & Contributing Editor for Men’s Fitness
Come hear about how and why Lee traveled to every country in the world and some cool stories and lessons he learned along the way including a slideshow. Plus, he’ll talk about what he does now and how he turned his accomplishment into a full-time job for more than a decade.
Autograph Signing Immediately Following
3:15 pm – 4:00 pm
Destination Theater
Cruises – One size does not fit all!
Cathy Kusuma, Senior Director of Training and Strategic Partnerships, Cruise Planners
Join Cruise Planners’ panel to hear from the industry’s most recognized cruise brands and learn which one is the ideal option for your next vacation. From sailing the seven seas, to exploring European cities via river to enjoying a once-in-a-lifetime exotic cruise, there are so many options and your full-service advisor is your key for selecting the right fit.
3:30 pm – 4:15 pm
Savvy Traveler Theater
Travel Smarter & Better with Technology
Angel Castellanos, Travel Ambassador, AngelsTravelLounge.com
Do you want to use your iPhone or other gadgets abroad without going broke? What are the best apps for travel? Angel Castellanos, The Travel Ambassador, delivers his acclaimed “Travel Smart with Technology” seminar. This informative and popular presentation prepares travelers (step-by-step) so they can confidently use their mobile devices while traveling. By attending this talk, you will be able to communicate effectively while on the road just like a temporary local and without breaking the bank. Angel will also cover the best travel apps to enhance your travels! No matter your level of experience, you are bound to come away with great advice and helpful apps to help you travel smarter with your technology. Join us for this insightful and dynamic presentation. Travel often and well! www.AngelsTravelLounge.com
4:15 pm – 4:30 pm
Destination Theater
The China National Tourist Office, Japan National Tourism Organization, and Korea Tourism Organization
The China National Tourist Office, Japan National Tourism Organization, and Korea Tourism Organization are pleased to hold a short conference announcing their joint promotion efforts to increase tourism to East Asia. Our beautiful, varied region has many delights to offer travelers from opportunities to experience rich cultures, long histories, and delicious foods. Representatives from each organization will take part and are happy to invite everyone to Visit East Asia.
11:15 am – 12 Noon
Savvy Traveler Theater
More Fun in the Philippines
Richard Woulfe, Owner, Rich Travels
Come learn about wondrous adventure travel opportunities in the 7,107 islands of the Philippines. The Philippines is an incredible destination for all types of adventure travelers. Come discover natural wonders, historical landmarks, culture and tradition, arts and crafts, shopping, recreation and entertainment and any other activities. Learn about water adventure in Bohol and Negros Oriental – touring its Chocolate Hills and zip lining the beautiful terrain. Get information about interacting with Whale Sharks in Oslob, Cebu and other amazing adventure activities. Get information about Adventurous treks to Mt. Pinatubo in Pampanga or Mt. Apo in Davao or swim with the gentle giant whale sharks in Donsol, Sorsogon; explore the Puerto Princesa Underground River, one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature; or dive at the Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park, another World Heritage Site in Palawan.
11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Travel Theater
Travel Smart: Lessons Learned from A Life Lived on the Road
Samantha Brown, Travel Channel Host
Autograph Signing Immediately Following
11:30 am – 12 Noon
Destination Theater
Discover Panama: Beyond the Locks with Panama Travel Consultants
Scott Ludlum, Founder and Proprietor, Panama Travel Consultants
Panama is best known for its namesake Canal. But what many people don’t know is that beyond the locks Panama is a tropical paradise just begging to be explored. Bordering Costa Rica to the west, Colombia to the east, the sparkling Caribbean Sea to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the south, Panama literally offers something for everyone.
Please join us in this interactive session to learn about Panama’s thrilling adventure sports, its world-class eco-tourism, where to find the abundance of pristine virgin beaches, how best to check the mandatory Panama Canal Transit Tour off of your bucket list, and the best ways to experience 18th century architecture boasting old world culture.
12:15 pm – 1:00 pm
Savvy Traveler Theater
Travel Smart & Pack Right
Angel Castellanos, Travel Ambassador, AngelsTravelLounge.com
Angel Castellanos, The Travel Ambassador, delivers his popular and acclaimed “Travel Smart” seminar drawing from his experience and frequent travels. This informative presentation prepares travelers for each step of the journey (including packing!). Angel will give his favorite travel tips on packing smart, safety & security, traveling with technology and much more! No matter your level of experience, you are bound to come away with practical travel tips to help you travel smarter. Join us for this insightful and dynamic presentation. Travel smart, well and often! www.AngelsTravelLounge.com
12:30 pm – 1:00 pm
Destination Theater
Experience Australia and New Zealand with Down Under Answers
Jeff Adam, Australia and New Zealand Specialist, Director of Sales, Down Under Answers – Africa Answers – Asia Answers
Down Under Answers customizes extraordinary journeys to Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. You have always dreamed of travelling there, so why not start planning and making it a reality in 2017. Our feature presentation will cover: The “Must See” destinations in Australia and New Zealand; Ways that “Down Under Answers” can customize your vacation to include the experiences you want to have and see; and Highlight the best areas to visit in each destination and the best time of the year to visit. In New Zealand stroll the beaches or kayak around the Bay of Islands, immerse yourself in Maori culture in Rotorua or get your adrenalin high by bungy jumping in Queenstown. The fun won’t stop there as you head to Australia to snorkel or dive the Great Barrier Reef, walk in the footsteps of the longest continuous culture in the world, the indigenous Aborigine or witness a breathtaking performance at the world-famous Sydney Opera House.
Join Down Under Answers to customize your extraordinary vacation Down Under – the travel experts to Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Travel Theater
Travel in A Time of Disruption
Peter Greenberg, Emmy Award-Winning Investigative Reporter and Producer and CBS News Travel Editor
How and where to travel in a year of global uncertainty, instability, economic upheaval – and great opportunity. The ultimate road warriors guide to when, where and how to go just about anywhere.
Autograph Signing Immediately Following
1:15 pm – 1:45 pm
Destination Theater
Why Costa Rica Should be on your Travel Bucket List
Scott Ludlum, Founder and Proprietor, Panama Travel Consultants
Costa Rica is known as the gem of Central America Adventure Travel but is all of the hype really true? Maybe it’s that Costa Rica is a nature lover’s paradise – offering sandy beaches where capuchin white-faced monkeys steal bananas from your backpack, dense rainforests filled with colorful tropical birds, picturesque waterfalls, towering cone-shaped volcanoes and so much more. Known as one of the hottest ecotourism destinations on the planet, Costa Rica has only 0.03% of the world’s landmass yet an amazing 5% of the world’s biodiversity.
Join us in this interactive session as we explore what makes Costa Rica such a visually stunning and logistically easy country to visit. There is so much to explore in Costa Rica and we look forward to helping you plan the ultimate tailor-made experience. Pura Vida!
1:15 pm – 2:00 pm
Savvy Traveler Theater
Cruises – One size does not fit all!
Cathy Kusuma, Senior Director of Training and Strategic Partnerships, Cruise Planners
Join Cruise Planners’ panel to hear from the industry’s most recognized cruise brands and learn which one is the ideal option for your next vacation. From sailing the seven seas, to exploring European cities via river to enjoying a once-in-a-lifetime exotic cruise, there are so many options and your full-service advisor is your key for selecting the right fit.
2:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Destination Theater
Cruising the Rivers of Europe Presented by AAA Travel and Viking River Cruises
Jenner Wall, President, Travel Industry Marketing & Events
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Travel Theater
1000 Places to See In the United States and Canada Before You Die
Patricia Schultz, Bestselling Author, 1,000 Places to See Before You Die and 1,000 Places to See in the USA & Canada Before You Die
The author of the best-selling travel bible 1000 Places To See Before You Die shares her favorite destinations in North America drawn from her second and recently updated title 1000 Places To See in the U.S. & Canada Before You Die. Dipping into the book’s rich and varied collection of attractions here in our own backyard, the author shares anecdotes, interesting facts and beautiful photography that illustrate the continent’s countless treasures, from the internationally famous to the little known, including scenic highways, world-class museums and the best BBQ dives that warrant a stop. From the Canadian Arctic to the Florida Everglades, come along for a virtual road trip – from sea to shining sea!
Autograph Signing Immediately Following
2:15 pm – 3:00 pm
Savvy Traveler Theater
How I Traveled to Every Country in the World and Tales from the Journey
Lee Abbamonte, Youngest American to Visit Every Country in the World, Entrepreneur, TV Personality & Contributing Editor for Men’s Fitness
Come hear about how and why Lee traveled to every country in the world and some cool stories and lessons he learned along the way including a slideshow. Plus, he’ll talk about what he does now and how he turned his accomplishment into a full-time job for more than a decade.
Autograph Signing Immediately Following
2:45 pm – 3:15 pm
Destination Theater
How to Visit All Three US Virgin Islands in One Vacation
Kay Milliner Kitchens, DIrector of Sales of the North American Sales Team for the U. S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism
Discover how to have a perfect Caribbean vacation, seeing all three U.S. Virgin Islands in one visit. There are a total of three US Virgin Islands to explore, including Water Island, which is affectionately known as the fourth US Virgin Island. Each are relatively close in proximity, so you can experience each island during your vacation.
3:15 pm – 4:00 pm
Savvy Traveler Theater
How to Capture Your Adventures on Camera! Tips & tricks to document your trips with travel video expert Juliana Broste.
Juliana Broste, Travel Video Journalist + TV Personality, TravelingJules
The best travel souvenir is definitely not a refrigerator magnet. Discover creative and unique ways to capture your travel experiences through photos and videos. Travel Video Journalist Juliana Broste (aka TravelingJules) reveals top tips and tricks for travelers who want to document their adventures. Listen in as Jules shares stories from the road and lessons learned from filmmaking assignments around the world. Before you know it, you’ll be capturing engaging video and compelling photographs, sure to make your Facebook friends green with envy.