Speaker Stages

Klaus Fielsch, Product Manager, and expert naturalist in the Galapagos Islands

Discover the Galapagos Islands, a must-see destination for families, couples, and solo travelers, where natural wonders and vibrant wildlife await. This talk highlights why the Galapagos should top your bucket list, revealing how your visit positively impacts the islands. Far from being harmful, tourism here supports the preservation of the Galapagos’ pristine beauty and aligns with sustainability goals, countering the overtourism narrative by showcasing responsible practices. By choosing the Galapagos, you contribute to conservation efforts and a sustainable future, making your journey part of a commitment to preserve this paradise for future generations.

Lisa Vogele, a professional genealogist, Certified Travel Associate, and Chief Tree Climber at Travel Your Tree: Where Ancestry Meets Adventure

You don’t have to be a celebrity on Finding Your Roots to travel in your ancestor’s footsteps. Whether you’re an armchair traveler, interested in planning a trip to visit U.S. battlefields of your patriotic ancestors, walking the streets of an ancestral village, or meeting distant relatives, heritage travel offers a rich and rewarding experience.

Lisa is the founder of Travel Your Tree: Where Ancestry Meets Adventure, she’ll provide her TOP TEN TIPS for researching, planning, and connecting on your personal journey. Find out how to avoid common pitfalls, what DNA tests reveal & they can be used for heritage travel when your paper trail ends and setting goals & expectations for your trip!

Come hear inspirational stories from real-life heritage travel experiences!

Chris Burkard, Accomplished Explorer, Photographer, Creative Director, Speaker, and Author
Moderator: Peter Greenberg, Emmy Award-Winning Investigative Reporter and Producer and CBS News Travel Editor

Meet and Greet Immediately Following

Brendan Halcomb, Celebrity Cruises’ Alaska Expert

You’re invited to get to know the Last Frontier with an exciting presentation from Celebrity Cruises’ Alaska Expert! Learn about the differing itineraries, discover the top excursions, and find out what’s special about a land & sea Alaska experience. Explore Alaska’s incredible wilderness, wildlife, mountains, and glaciers.

Russell Hannon, Ultra-Economical Travel Expert; Best Selling Author ‘Stop Dreaming Start Traveling’

Known for WOW’ing audiences with untold budget travel tips, Ultra-Economical Travel Expert Russell Hannon offers 99 ways to quickly and easily find the best and least expensive options for you. No matter what your travel type, or where you want to go, you will leave with dozens of practical tips and tricks you can put to work right away to save money on your next great escape.

Meet & Greet and Book Signing Immediately Following in the Book Store.

Deon Barnard, CEO, Go Touch Down Travel & Tours

We sell tours to people who don’t like going on tours. We offer six spots on a tour. Safari and Cape Town adventures depart every week. Come learn why you should travel to South Africa.

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

The promise and the threat of the travel explosion globally ~ a look at how to navigate the world in a time of overtourism, the decline of seasonal travel, traveler rights you don’t know about, and the brave new world of artificial intelligence.

Meet and Greet Immediately Following

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

European travel expert David McGuffin shares travel tips, favorite destinations, and lessons learned from forty-eight years on the road. David spends about six 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 is an advocate of avoiding crowds, living like a local, 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

Jennifer Broome, Multimedia Travel and Environmental Journalist

Session includes a 12-month, 12-parks guide and how to visit some of the more remote national parks and National Park Service sites in the United States. From trekking to going on safari, it also includes tips on traveling sustainably to national parks and UNESCO World Heritage Sites abroad including Machu Picchu, Patagonia, and Victoria Falls.

Heather Ruhle, Tourism Sales Manager, Alaska Land & Sea Adventures
Alaska is known for mesmerizing outdoor spaces, captivating arts and culture, sparkling glaciers, abundant wildlife, vast parks, and trails, and dazzling northern lights. This engaging and entertaining presentation will get you excited to visit the 49th state!

Kathy McCabe, Host and Executive Producer, Dream of Italy, and Dream of Europe

Attend and Enter to Win a $20,000 Voyage from Kensington Cruises (kensingtontours.com)

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

Charlie will speak about how to plan the best vacation you will ever have, to a place that is huge, and often very unknown and difficult to plan. Africa offers a huge diversity in safari experiences — Charlie will explain how to make sure you get the experience you dream of.

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

Meet and Greet Immediately Following

Lauren McFadden, Associate US Sales Director, Macs Adventure 

The rise of self-guided adventure travel meets the increasing demand for flexibility and personal connection. Unlike traditional group tours, self-guided trips allow you to break free from rigid schedules, engage with locals, and venture beyond tourist traps. Discover how Macs Adventure is transforming travel with expertly crafted hiking and biking vacations that let you explore at your own pace.

Scott Mayerowitz, Reward Points Expert & Strategist, GlobeTrotScott Strategies

Join Scott as he shares tips from his years as a travel expert and frequent traveler. Learn how to maximize frequent flier and hotel loyalty programs. Follow his hacks for finding the best airfare and learn how to vet a hotel to make sure it is up to your standards. Discover ways to avoid being stranded during flight delays. And for those of you worried about airlines losing your luggage: find out the three simple steps you can take to protect your suitcase.

Oya Bekisoglu, Sr. Sales Director, South-Central & Key Accounts, Atlas Ocean Voyages

Come learn about all things Antarctica!  With Atlas Ocean Voyages, venture to the seventh continent and see incredible wildlife such as penguins, seals, birds, whales, and many more. Travel on your fully guided expeditions via zodiac as you explore the varying landscape of the great white continent. With Atlas Ocean Voyages, you not only immerse yourself in the destination, but you do so in the style and comfort of a small, luxurious yacht with fewer than 200 guests onboard.  When you’re not exploring Antarctica, kayaking, or camping out on the ice, sit back, relax, and enjoy our all-inclusive atmosphere, educational programming, upscale dining, and elegant comforts of our yachts.

Kelly Kirkpatrick, Executive Director, Go Grand Lake

Nestled between the tranquil shores of Colorado’s largest natural lake and the majestic Rocky Mountain National Park, Grand Lake, Colorado is the perfect hub for year-round outdoor escapades and unforgettable family memories.

Grand Lake: New Year – New Bucket List! Feeling Adventure Burnout? Here are our top tips for expanding your Fall/Winter bucket list, refreshing your adventure inspiration, and rediscovering your inner child in the new year.

Kathy McCabe, Host and Executive Producer, Dream of Italy, and Dream of Europe

Attend and Enter to Win a $20,000 Voyage from Kensington Cruises (kensingtontours.com)

Scott Mayerowitz, Reward Points Expert & Strategist, GlobeTrotScott Strategies

Join Scott as he shares tips from his years as a travel expert and frequent traveler. Learn how to maximize frequent flier and hotel loyalty programs. Follow his hacks for finding the best airfare and learn how to vet a hotel to make sure it is up to your standards. Discover ways to avoid being stranded during flight delays. And for those of you worried about airlines losing your luggage: find out the three simple steps you can take to protect your suitcase.

Allysa Westman, Tourism Sales Manager, Explore Fairbanks

Explore Fairbanks Alaska all year long! The Midnight Sun shines all night in the summer. Aurora Season begins in late August. Our inland location makes Fairbanks the ideal place to see the northern lights. Alaska’s “Golden Heart” interior is the gateway to Denali National Park and the Arctic.

Kim Lucy, Sales Representative, 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™.

Chef Corso, Classically Trained Chef Turned Outdoor Cooking Expert and Host of Outdoor Eats TV

Heading outdoors this season? Chef Corso of Outdoor Eats TV has you covered. In this session, he will share easy tips and tasty recipe ideas for your hiking, camping, backpacking and road trip adventures.

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

Meet and Greet Immediately Following

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

The Balkan Peninsula stretches south along the Adriatic Sea from Austria to Greece. Its people, places, and culture have shifted over the centuries, but its beauty and charm remain unchanged. Many have heard of the clear cruise waters along the Adriatic coast, but there is more! David McGuffin shares his adventures in Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, and the Balkans in this picture-packed travel talk. You’ll leave this presentation with travel ideas, tour routes, timely advice, and information about his small group tours along the Adriatic and Balkans.

Jacqueline Kavanagh, circumnavigated the globe with the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is an adventure like no other, turning sailing novices into ocean racers. It’s a record-breaking 40,000 nautical mile race around the world on a 70-foot ocean racing yacht, and the 2025-26 edition is set to kick off later this year.

This event is for those eager to test their limits beyond belief and find out what spending 11 months racing a yacht around the world is really like. Come and hear about it from someone who has been there, stared Mother Nature in the eye and taken all she can muster.  Jacqueline Kavanagh, a circumnavigator from the 2019-20 edition and now the Crew Recruitment Manager, will be sharing her experiences and how you could be taking on the #RaceOfYourLife.

You will find out more about the selection process, training, the race, the fleet, stopovers, personal logistics and most importantly, the Race Crew. You’ll either walk away scared, inspired, or motivated, and maybe we’ll see you on the start line for the next 25/26 edition!

Russell Hannon, Ultra-Economical Travel Expert; Best Selling Author ‘Stop Dreaming Start Traveling’

Can’t find a travel deal? Ultra-Economical Travel Expert Russell Hannon of BreakTheTravelBarrier.com reveals amazing and practical ways to travel inexpensively regardless of the ‘going rate’. Russell unpacks loads of practical tools that open new worlds of stunningly affordable travel opportunities. “There’s lots for the 5-star and cost conscientious traveler alike”. Attendees will get a digital blueprint you can use right away to save on every trip.

Meet & Greet and Book Signing Immediately Following in the Book Store.

Tom Chojnacki, Director of the Colorado Passport Agency

In this session, Tom Chojnacki, Director of the Colorado Passport Agency, and a seasoned former diplomat, will guide you through safe travel practices and highlight how the U.S. Department of State supports American travelers abroad. Whether you’re a seasoned globetrotter or a first-time explorer, join us to learn valuable insights and ensure your international journeys are both enriching and secure.