Speaker Stages

David McGuffin, Travel Enthusiast, Tour Operator, Musician, and Part-Time European, David McGuffin’s Exploring Europe

Join European travel expert David McGuffin as he shares travel tips, favorite destinations, and lessons learned from forty-eight years on the road. David spends about four months a year in Europe leading his small group tours, writing about his favorite destinations, and sharing his adventures via his social media, travel blog, and videos. He advocates avoiding crowds, living like a local, educated travel, and embracing the locale’s culture. His picture-packed presentation comes loaded with pertinent travel information, suggested routes, sage advice, and information about his small-group tours in Europe and beyond.

Andrew McCarthy, Director, Award-Winning Travel Writer, and Actor

Meet and Greet Immediately Following

Ginny Singer, Director of Sales – Mountain, Exoticca Travel

Join Ginny Singer, director of sales – mountain, for an in depth look at how you can make your dream bucket list trips a reality, all while staying within your budget. We will dive into our most popular destinations for 2026 while also getting participation from the audience. This is a session you won’t want to miss, so please join us while we teach you the ins and outs about some incredible trips in Europe, Africa, Latin America, and Asia.

TBA

Get an inside look at the newest ships, onboard experiences, and destination highlights from Celebrity Cruises. This session brings you up to speed on what’s fresh, exciting, and redefining premium cruising.

Peter Greenberg, Emmy Award-Winning Investigative Reporter & Producer & CBS News Travel Editor

Meet and Greet Immediately Following

Charlie Slater, Owner and Director of Fun, Remote Recreation Safaris

The glossy safari brochures don’t tell the whole story. In this talk, I get candid insights and insider wisdom from the field. Learn what really matters, what to avoid, and how to craft an adventure that matches your dreams. Straight talk for travelers who want the ultimate safari experience. The truths, myths, and insider wisdom you need before you book.

Sherry Ott – Founder of Ottsworld.com and Ottsworld Tours

What if every trip you took was part of something bigger? Instead of checking destinations off a list, imagine turning your travels into a personal and purposeful quest—cycling between state capitols, following ancient trade routes, visiting cat islands, or travel the world’s volcanic ring of fire. In this inspiring and practical session, award-winning travel expert Sherry Ott shares how travel projects transform ordinary trips into extraordinary adventures. Travel projects give you direction, motivation, and deeper meaning. In this inspiring session, you’ll learn how to turn your travels into a personal quest—one that challenges you, excites you, and becomes part of your life story. You’ll walk away with dozens of creative ideas and the confidence to start your own no matter your age, budget, or experience level.

Donna Nightingale, Event Specialist, Viking Cruises

Viking was founded in 1997 and provides destination-focused journeys on rivers, oceans, and lakes around the world. Designed for curious travelers with interests in science, history, culture and cuisine, Chairman Torstein Hagen often says Viking offers experiences for The Thinking Person™. Viking has more than 250 awards to its name, including being rated at the top of its categories for oceans, rivers, and expeditions by both Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler. No other cruise line has ever received these same honors by both publications at the same time. Today’s presentation will introduce you to The Viking Way™ of experiencing destination travel. You will learn about Viking’s award-winning ships, and the itineraries that will allow you to Explore the World in Comfort™.

Julie Frieder, Co-author Wonder Year: A Guide to Long-Term Family Travel and Worldschooling

Why This Session Works: This talk is all about making travel work for YOU. Whether you’ve got more time than money, traveling with grandkids, or just want to get more out of every trip, this session gives you practical ways to travel smarter. It’s less about checking boxes and more about having experiences you’ll actually remember and talk about for years.

What We’ll Cover:

• Finding your travel pace: when to slow down and when to pack it in

• Getting off the beaten path without getting lost or overwhelmed

• Deciding what’s worth your time and money (spoiler: it’s not always the famous stuff)

• Stretching your budget without feeling like you’re sacrificing the good parts

• Meeting real locals and making genuine connections

• Planning trips that match your energy, interests, and real-life constraints

Sample Practical Takeaways:

• The “3-2-1 Rule” for pacing: plan only 3 activities per day, allow 2 hours of unstructured time, take 1 full rest day per week

• How to find local favorites: ask your Airbnb host, hotel concierge, or rideshare driver where THEY eat and what THEY do on weekends

• Budget hacks: book accommodations with kitchens to save on meals, travel during shoulder season, use local transportation apps instead of tourist shuttles

• The “coffee shop test”: spend an hour at a neighborhood café just watching and chatting – you’ll learn more than any guidebook

• Simple phrases in the local language that open doors and create instant connections

• A customizable trip planning template that factors in your energy levels, must-sees, and flexibility

Deon Barnard, CEO, Go Touch Down Travel and Tours

Our tours depart every week. No middleman and solo friendly rates. Join me to learn why you should travel to South Africa.

Pauline Frommer, Editorial Director of The Frommer’s Guides and Publisher of Frommers.com

Pauline Frommer will discuss the best places to go in 2026; ways to save money on airfares, lodging, attractions, and dining; how AI is shaping travel pricing (and strategies for tricking it); and much more.

Meet and Greet Immediately Following

Casey O’Connell, Safari Consultant, Access 2 Tanzania

Access 2 Tanzania & Treks 2 Rwanda will help you make your bucket list safari adventure a reality, answering questions about when to go, what you should see and do, and how to get the most from your experience. The specific focus will be on experiencing the quintessential safari in Tanzania and trekking to visit the mountain gorillas of Rwanda.

Melanie Lieberman, Travel Expert and Writer

Tips and tricks for protecting your trips, saving time, improving your travel experience and getting ahead, no matter where you’re going or how often you travel.

Kristin Erz and Tim Amm, Directors of Expedition Sales, Silversea Expeditions

Journey to the planet’s most remote and breathtaking destinations, from Antarctica to the Galápagos, with Silversea Expeditions. Discover how luxury and adventure come together for an experience unlike any other.

Peter Greenberg, Emmy Award-Winning Investigative Reporter & Producer & CBS News Travel Editor

Meet and Greet Immediately Following

Charlie Slater, Owner and Director of Fun, Remote Recreation Safaris

The glossy safari brochures don’t tell the whole story. In this talk, I get candid insights and insider wisdom from the field. Learn what really matters, what to avoid, and how to craft an adventure that matches your dreams. Straight talk for travelers who want the ultimate safari experience. The truths, myths, and insider wisdom you need before you book.

Casey O’Connell, Safari Consultant, Access 2 Tanzania

Access 2 Tanzania & Treks 2 Rwanda will help you make your bucket list safari adventure a reality, answering questions about when to go, what you should see and do, and how to get the most from your experience. The specific focus will be on experiencing the quintessential safari in Tanzania and trekking to visit the mountain gorillas of Rwanda.

Laura Powell, Founder, Tourism Well Defined

Slow Travel, Agritourism, Cool-cations and Longevity programs are just a few of the wellness experiences you’ll be hearing more about in the coming year. This session will explain the art and the science behind the trends, along with offering up a plethora of suggestions for affordable wellness getaways.

Dian Holland, District Sales Manager, West/Southwest USA, Jamaica Tourist Board

This presentation will focus on on-island experiences, including tours and attractions, as well as annual events centered around food, music, and culture.

Pauline Frommer, Editorial Director of The Frommer’s Guides and Publisher of Frommers.com

Pauline Frommer will discuss the best places to go in 2026; ways to save money on airfares, lodging, attractions, and dining; how AI is shaping travel pricing (and strategies for tricking it); and much more.

Meet and Greet Immediately Following

TBA

Frederic Perrin, Global Business Development Manager, Lazy Bear Expeditions

Imagine a magical place where 1,000 polar bears rule the land, 60,000 beluga whales roam the sea, and the northern lights paint the sky 300 nights each year. In this presentation, we will introduce you – Up North and Personal™ – to one of nature’s wonders of the world.