America’s Favorite Travel Shows Have the Most Comprehensive Educational 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 3 theaters located on the show floor.
Check back often as speaker information is being updated daily!
3 Theaters and Over 30+ Sessions
Travel Theater: Hear from the top travel celebrity personalities such as Josh Gates, Cheryl Strayed, Rick Steves and Pauline Frommer 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.
Speakers and schedule are subject to change without prior notice, please check back often for updates.
Stop by the on-floor bookstore to purchase books from your favorite travel authors here at the show.
Saturday, February 22
10:15 am – 10:45 am
Destination Theater
10 Secrets to Planning Your Dream Vacation in Italy
Kathy McCabe, Travel Publisher and Host of Dream of Italy on PBS
Join Kathy McCabe host of the hit travel series Dream of Italy on PBS as she shares her insider secrets for designing an authentic, adventurous and food-and-wine filled dream trip to Italy. Get specific tips for hot destinations from Sicily to Tuscany.
Each attendee will receive a complimentary membership to Dream of Italy ($47 value) with immediate digital access to 170 back issues of their award-winning travel publication.
10:15 am – 11:00 am
Savvy Traveler Theater
Travel Safe, Travel Smart, and Travel Well
Sadia Niazi, Foreign Service Officer, U.S. Department of State
The State Department offers important safety and security tips for U.S. citizens interested in traveling and living abroad. Our mission at the Department of State is to give you reliable, up-to-date safety and security information before and during your trip. If an emergency happens overseas, know that we’ll be here, ready to help. Join us to learn how to travel safe, travel smart, and travel well.
10:30 am – 12 Noon
Travel Theater
European Travel Skills
Rick Steves, Travel Writer, Host of Rick Steves’ Europe and Travel with Rick Steves
Join travel expert Rick Steves as he shares the latest in smart European travel. In this entertaining, information-packed slideshow lecture, he’ll explain how to travel smoothly and affordably by stretching your travel dollar, eating and sleeping well, avoiding crowds, and packing smartly. Freshly back from four months in Europe, Rick reveals exactly how you can enjoy maximum travel thrills for every mile, minute, and euro on your next European adventure.
Autograph Signing Immediately Following
11:00 am – 11:15 am
Destination Theater
Evan Chan, Representative of CNTO
Kay Cuellar, Deputy Manager, JNTO
Minah Lee, Marketing Coordinator, KTO
Hear from CNTO, about the unique, mysterious, and charming Chinese culture and their customs. Enjoy My Japan! A general overview of Travel to Japan and Imagine Your Korea! While KTO presents all the information you need to know when visiting South Korea.
11:30 am – 12 Noon
Destination Theater
Insider Tips to the Best of Alaska
David Kasser, Vice President of Tourism Development & Sales, Visit Anchorage
Local experts from Anchorage, Alaska share their favorite places, hidden gems and insider tips on Anchorage and Alaska that will inspire an unforgettable Alaska vacation. Make this year… ALASKA!
11:30 am – 12:15 pm
Savvy Traveler Theater
How to Book the Cheapest Flight Possible
Jared Kamrowski, Founder, Thrifty Traveler
This session will save you hundreds of dollars off your next flight. Learn how to leverage several tools to help you save on flights anywhere in the world. We’ll also discuss how to find flash sales and mistake fares like an expert travel hacker.
12:15 pm – 12:45 pm
Destination Theater
Colorado You Haven’t Seen it ALL!
Julianne Fredrick, Director, Tour Colorado
Heidi Pankow, Director of Industry, Media and Consumer Engagement, Ouray Tourism Office
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Travel Theater
Adventure Awaits! Turn any vacation into the journey of a lifetime
Josh Gates, Explorer, Host of Discovery Channel’s Expedition Unknown
As the host of Discovery Channel’s smash-hit series Expedition Unknown, explorer Josh Gates travels around the world and off the map to find the truth behind iconic legends and thrilling archaeological mysteries. Join Josh in-person for an exclusive talk about his most daring expeditions as well as real-world advice on how to embrace the unknown and transform your next vacation into an epic journey. Whether you’re looking to climb a mountain or kick back on an all-inclusive cruise, Josh shares practical tips from his travels to help shift your next vacation into another gear.
Autograph Signing Immediately Following
12:45 pm – 1:30 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.
1:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Destination Theater
The Islands of Tahiti: Paradise on Earth
Kristin Carlson, Managing Director, Tahiti Tourisme United States
Immersed in a world of majestic mountain peaks, turquoise waters and white-sand beaches, visitors to our islands create memories through authentic experiences that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. For centuries, the Tahitian people have referred to this as “Mana”. Mana is a life force and spirit that surrounds and connects all living things. You can see it. Touch it. Taste it. Feel it. And from the moment you arrive, you will understand why we say our islands are Embraced by Mana.
1:45 pm – 2:15 pm
Destination Theater
Join us on a Hike Through Switzerland
Ursula Beamish, Manager Media Relations North America, Switzerland Tourism
1:45 pm – 2:30 pm
Savvy Traveler Theater
The Best Travel & Packing Tips for the Ultimate Vacation
Angel Castellanos, World Travel Expert, Writer/TV Host AngelsTravelLounge.com
Make your next trip, the next best trip of your life and “Travel Like a Pro”! Angel Castellanos, The Travel Ambassador, delivers his popular and energetic talk on packing tips & savvy travel skills drawing from his experience as a full-time professional traveler. This highly informative talk is updated every year and “packed” with the most up to date savvy travel tips and inspirational stories from all over the world to help travelers travel smarter, better and cheaper. Angel will deliver the best travel tips on packing smart, safety, de-stressing the airport experience, saving money, sightseeing hacks, traveling with technology and much more! No matter your level of experience, you are bound to come away with practical current travel tips. The packing demonstration included in this talk is one you do not want to miss. Packing in a carry on? After this presentation, packing in any bag will not be a problem! Join us for this insightful and dynamic presentation. Travel smart, well and often! www.AngelsTravelLounge.com
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Travel Theater
Spend Less, See More: Strategies for Creating Dream Vacations in ALL Price Ranges
Pauline Frommer, Editorial Director of the Frommer’s Guides and Publisher of Frommers.com
Accommodations, airfares, tours, car rentals, cruises—the truth is there are no set prices for any of these items. Join nationally syndicated radio talk show host, guidebook publisher, and travel expert Pauline Frommer for a talk that will change the way you book travel. She’ll give you the insider tools you need to work the system smartly, whether you’re a backpacker or a luxury-seeker. Plus, Frommer will introduce destinations that you may not have considered visiting but should and answer questions.
Autograph Signing Immediately Following
2:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Destination Theater
The Islands of The Bahamas: Top 10 Bucket List Experiences
Prescott Young, Area Manager – West, Midwest & Southwest USA, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism
The session will focus on the top tours, activities, and excursions in the destination.
2:45 pm – 3:30 pm
Savvy Travel Theater
Heritage Travel: Walking in Your Ancestors’ Footsteps
Lisa Vogele, Chief Tree Climber, Travel Your Tree, Where Ancestry Meets Adventure
Kathy McCabe, Travel Publisher and Host of Dream of Italy on PBS
You don’t have to be a celebrity on “Who Do You Think You Are?” to travel in your ancestor’s footsteps. Whether you’re interested in planning a trip to visit US battlefields of your patriotic ancestors, walking the streets of an ancestral village or meeting distant relatives, heritage travel offers a rich and rewarding experience. Join us and learn tips for researching, planning, and connecting on your personal journey. A checklist of steps for planning & executing a successful heritage trip; Tips for researching family history and how to avoid common pitfalls-DNA; tests: what they reveal and how they can be used for heritage travel when your paper trail ends; Expectations & outcomes for your trip-Inspirational stories from real life heritage travel experiences.
3:15 pm – 4:00 pm
Destination Theater
Traveling Off-The-Beaten-Path of Tourism
Valerie Joy Wilson, CEO, Travel Journalist, Host, Photographer, Trusted Travel Girl, LLC
Looking to take your traveling to the next level? Join Valerie Joy Wilson, an expert traveler who has visited more than 70 countries, as she shares her best tips on how to “get off the beaten path” and experience destinations more like a local and less like a tourist. You’ll learn everything from her must have mobile apps to safety tips, so you can feel confident exploring foreign lands like never before.
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Travel Theater
Best of Europe
Rick Steves, Travel Writer, Host of Rick Steves’ Europe and Travel with Rick Steves
Travel with Europe’s best-selling guidebook writer, Rick Steves, as he shares his favorite corners of Europe. He’ll venture from the castles of Wales to Denmark’s over-looked isles to Istanbul’s back lanes. From mountain villages in the Swiss Alps to beach villages in Portugal’s Algarve to Italy’s Cinque Terre, Rick will inspire with ways to avoid the crowds while enjoying his top discoveries.
Autograph Signing Immediately Following
4:00 pm – 4:45 pm
Savvy Travel Theater
So You Want to Start A Travel Blog?
A Conversation with Denver’s Top Travel Influencers
Moderator: Beth Santos, Founder and CEO, Wanderful
Panelists: Aimee Giese, Greeblehaus
Elaine Nunn Schoch, The Carpe Travel
Phylecia Jones, Keep Up with Mrs. Jones, LLC and iFind You Close
Want to start a travel blog but don’t know where to begin? Join Denver’s top travel bloggers as they reveal all about how they got their start and their best tips for anyone who wants to dive into the world of content creation. The panel will be moderated by Beth Santos, founder of Wanderful and creator of the Women in Travel Summit (WITS), one of the country’s top travel blogging events. Plus, one lucky audience member will win a ticket to WITS ‘20!
4:15 pm – 4:45 pm
Destination Theater
Baltic Capitals
Eric Reid, North American Sales Manager, Tucan Travel
These three tiny countries near the Baltic Sea could easily make it onto the list of the most underrated travel destinations in Europe. Join us on our 1-week tour through Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
Sunday, February 23
11:00 am – 11:45 am
Savvy Traveler Theater
How To Have The Time Of Your Life (With The Time That You Have)
Juliana Broste, Travel Video Journalist + TV Personality, TravelingJules
Panelists:
Sherry Ott, Traveler, Blogger & Photographer
JJ Yosh, Adventurer, TV Host, Social Media Influencer
Jason Steele, Credit Card Expert & Travel Journalist
You know it’s true, timing is everything! When it comes to travel, what’s the difference between having the time of your life and having overwhelming FOMO. In this session, we’ll explore different aspects of “time travel” during your time away, so you can make the most out of the limited time you have in any destination. We’ll hear from seasoned travel experts and storytellers who have been traveling and creating content for many moons. Have you ever wondered what’s the secret to having a good time? When is the best time to travel? How can I get the most out of a layover? Or my two week vacation? We’ll share travel tips for planning your next vacation and ideas for adventures you won’t to miss.
11:15 am – 12:45 pm
Travel Theater
European Travel Skills
Rick Steves, Travel Writer, Host of Rick Steves’ Europe and Travel with Rick Steves
Join travel expert Rick Steves as he shares the latest in smart European travel. In this entertaining, information-packed slideshow lecture, he’ll explain how to travel smoothly and affordably by stretching your travel dollar, eating and sleeping well, avoiding crowds, and packing smartly. Freshly back from four months in Europe, Rick reveals exactly how you can enjoy maximum travel thrills for every mile, minute, and euro on your next European adventure.
Autograph Signing Immediately Following
11:45 am – 12:15 pm
Destination Theater
Southeast Asia: What you need to know before you go!
Andrea Ross, Director, Wild Frontiers USA
When’s the best time to visit? Should I visit one or more countries? How do I see as much as I can in a limited time? How do I avoid the crowds? Andrea will be looking at how you can fly, hike, bike and boat your way around Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar and Thailand and do it all while having a positive impact on the communities you’re visiting!
12:00 pm – 12:45 pm
Savvy Travel Theater
7 Secrets to Maximize Your Solo Travels
Beth Santos, Founder and CEO, Wanderful
Thinking of traveling alone but not sure how to start? From inspiring memoirs like Wild and Eat Pray Love to our everyday Facebook feeds showing us epic landscapes from all corners of the world, solo travel is more popular than ever before, and anyone — yes, anyone — can do it.
Join Beth Santos, founder and CEO of Wanderful, for an invigorating session about why now is the time to take that solo trip, and how to make it your most memorable travel experience yet.
12:30 pm – 1:00 pm
Destination Theater
Open to the New Shades of Thailand
Sobhana Tippi Sucharitakul, Marketing Manager of the Tourism Authority of Thailand – Los Angeles
Known as one of the world’s best destinations with Thai hospitality that wins everyone’s heart. Thailand delivers visitors top-notch experiences ranging from visiting cultural and historical attractions to various types of accommodations and gastronomy. The session will provide knowledge on the highlights of Thailand as well as tips to curate the best Thailand itinerary. Let’s open to the new shades of Thailand together!
1:00 pm – 1:45 pm
Savvy Traveler Theater
Tech Tips for Smarter Travel
Angel Castellanos, World Travel Expert, Writer/TV Host AngelsTravelLounge.com
Learn about the best travel technology, travel apps and how-to-use your device abroad from full time traveler Angel Castellanos. This highly informative talk is updated every year and “packed” with the most up to date savvy travel tips to help you maximize your tech to travel smarter. Angel Castellanos, The Travel Ambassador, is a travel tech expert with tips to make traveling with your tech easy. Learn to unlock the potential of your device and travel easy and smarter without getting lost in your phone. This informative and popular presentation prepares travelers so they can confidently use their mobile devices as a tool to travel better and easier. Angel will cover the best travel apps to enhance your travels and allow you to communicate effectively without breaking the bank. No matter how tech savvy you are, you will definitely come away with great advice and helpful apps to travel smarter and better with your technology. Join us for this insightful and dynamic presentation. Travel smart, often and well! www.AngelsTravelLounge.com
1:15 pm – 1:45 pm
Destination Theater
The Best of Alaska & The Yukon with Holland America Line
Jake Carr & Clint Durfey, Journey Hosts, Holland America Line
Join Holland America Line’s Onstage Alaska Team for engaging presentation to learn why our cruise line was named Best in Alaska by Cruise Critic and AFAR Magazine in 2019. Our deep history and roots in the Great Land mean your clients will discover the iconic and authentic Alaska of their dreams. Gain insider tips from the experts about why “We are Alaska.” PLUS, attendees will have a chance to win prizes. You won’t want to miss this!
1:15 pm – 2:15 pm
Travel Theater
A Wild Life
Cheryl Strayed, Author of the New York Times Bestselling Memoir “Wild”
In her memoir Wild Cheryl Strayed describes the sometimes harrowing, other times hilarious stories behind her solo wilderness trek on the Pacific Crest Trail and the personal journey that led her there. In this talk, Strayed will discuss what she learned about how we bear the unbearable, how we move from grief and anger to acceptance, and how we keep walking even when it seems impossible to stand.
Autograph Signing Immediately Following
2:00 pm – 2:45 pm
Savvy Traveler Theater
How to Book the Cheapest Flight Possible
Nick Serati, Co-Founder, Thrifty Traveler
This session will save you hundreds of dollars off your next flight. Learn how to leverage several tools to help you save on flights anywhere in the world. We’ll also discuss how to find flash sales and mistake fares like an expert travel hacker.
2:15 pm – 2:45 pm
Destination Theater
EXPLORING EUROPE: Top Destinations, Attractions and Experiences
David McGuffin, Founder and CEO of David McGuffin’s Exploring Europe, Inc.
Join European travel expert, David McGuffin as he shares savvy travel tips, favorite destinations, and lessons learned from forty years on the road. David spends five months a year in Europe leading his small group tours, writing about his favorite destinations, and sharing his adventures via his social media pages and travel blog. He is an advocate of traveling off-season, avoiding crowds, and embracing the culture of the locale. His picture-packed presentation is loaded with pertinent travel information, suggested routes, sage advice, and information about his small-group tours in Europe.
2:45 pm – 3:45 pm
Travel Theater
Spend Less, See More: Strategies for Creating Dream Vacations in ALL Price Ranges
Pauline Frommer, Editorial Director of the Frommer’s Guides and Publisher of Frommers.com
Accommodations, airfares, tours, car rentals, cruises—the truth is there are no set prices for any of these items. Join nationally syndicated radio talk show host, guidebook publisher, and travel expert Pauline Frommer for a talk that will change the way you book travel. She’ll give you the insider tools you need to work the system smartly, whether you’re a backpacker or a luxury-seeker. Plus, Frommer will introduce destinations that you may not have considered visiting but should and answer questions.
Autograph Signing Immediately Following
3:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Destination Theater
Experience the One Happy Island of Aruba
Kim Riddle, Business Development Manager US, Aruba Tourism Authority
As one of the most revisited destinations in the Caribbean, Aruba is an island of contradictions, where pristine turquoise waters collide against the desert-like terrain of the north shore; where peace and relaxation coexist with wild and rugged adventures; where Dutch influence meets American ease; and where a diverse history parallels a bright future. Come and hear about the vast experiences in our One happy island, which provide the perfect getaway for first-time guests and loyal visitors alike.
