Meet Your Favorite Travel Celebrities and Learn the Most Up To Date Travel Information You can’t Find Anywhere Else.
There has never been a more important time to learn the insider travel information directly from the experts. You’ll receive the most relevant and up to date advice, itinerary-driven content, as well as the top tips that you can’t find anywhere else.
Check back often as speaker information is being updated daily!
4 Theaters and Over 40+ Sessions
Travel Theater: Meet the top travel celebrities in the industry in hour-long sessions, all in one place. Followed by a live Q&A session, you’ll have the opportunity to have all of your questions answered, straight from the biggest names in travel.
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.
Content Creator Workshop – FAM-TAS Meeting Theater: Join industry experts as they share with you their experiences, tips, and advice to pursue a career as a Content Creator…Travel Writing, Blogging, Influencer, Photography and more.
Speakers and schedule are subject to change without prior notice, please check back often for updates.
Saturday, January 28
10:15 am – 10:45 am
Destination Theater
Alaska, Fantastic in Every Season!
David Kasser, Senior Vice-President of Sales, Alaska Land & Sea Adventures
Local experts from Anchorage, Alaska share tips on what makes Anchorage a great year-round travel destination! Learn about Aurora viewing, winter adventure tours, and new summer adventure as well! Make this year… ALASKA!
10:30 am – 11:30 am
Travel Theater
Samantha’s Tips for Making Travel Count
Emmy Award-Winning Host, Samantha Brown’s Places to Love
10:15 am – 11:00 am
Savvy Traveler Theater
Frequent Miler on the Stage: The 10 Best Awards Bookable Today
Greg Davis-Kean, the Frequent Miler
Nick Reyes, Senior Author, the Frequent Miler
Julia Menez, Founder of Geobreeze
Use your points and miles towards incredible value. With a combination of humor and analysis, Greg and Nick will bring to the stage the formula that makes their Frequent Miler on the Air podcast so popular.
10:30 am – 11:30 am
Content Creator Workshop – FAM-TAS Meeting Theater
Traveling Writing and Photography for Beginners
Max Hartshorne,Editor at GoNOMAD.com
Paul Shoul,Travel Photographer
Panelists Max Hartshorne, Editor at GoNOMAD.com, Paul Shoul, Travel Photographer will provide tips and advice about the travel publishing market, both online and print. Whether new to travel, writing, or already a blogger, they’ll give tips about getting published and shooting better photos to enhance your stories.
11:15 am – 11:45 am
Destination Theater
Your Happy Place
Natasha Lee Soy, Sales Manager, NY, NJ & CT, Aruba Tourism Authority
Come and learn about the One Happy Island Aruba, Your Happy Place. If you have never been to Aruba, you will learn why we welcome all to this luxury island that is seventy square miles of fun. If you have vacationed in Aruba, you will learn some new hidden gems and activities waiting to be discovered. Aruba has something for everyone: singles, couples & families of all ages. Aruba is the perfect, ‘foodie paradise’. Perfect weather year-round for destination weddings, honeymoons and activities on land and sea.
11:30 am – 12:15 pm
Savvy Traveler Theater
The Best Travel & Packing Tips for Today’s World
Angel Castellanos, World Travel Expert, Writer/TV Host AngelsTravelLounge.com
The World and travel have dramatically changed. You can still make your next trip, the next best trip of your life and “Travel Like a Pro”! Angel Castellanos, The Travel Ambassador, delivers his updated popular and energetic talk on packing tips & savvy travel skills drawing from his experience as a full-time professional traveler – even during the pandemic. This highly informative talk is updated from Angel’s extensive travels 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 changes in tourism, health safety, de-stressing the airport experience, saving money, sightseeing hacks, traveling with technology and of course updated packing tips for today’s world! 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! AngelsTravelLounge.com
12 Noon – 12:30 pm
Destination Theater
The Islands of Tahiti: Reconnect with Paradise
Kristin Carlson, Managing Director, Tahiti Tourisme North America
The Islands of Tahiti are open to travel and more accessible than ever. If this has been a bucket list destination for you then the time has never been better to plan your dream trip to this untouched paradise. We can help you get started with this informative presentation for the first-time traveler or returning voyager looking to explore more of the 118 islands that make up The Islands of Tahiti. Your trip of a lifetime is beckoning you and it begins here.
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Travel Theater
The Longest Way Home
Andrew McCarthy, Actor, Director, Award-Winning Travel Writer
Join Andrew to hear about his personal journey and how travel and self-reflection changed his life. Aside from his successful acting and directing careers, he is now a successful writer and editor at large for National Geographic Traveler. He’ll discuss fear of the unknown, taking the time to enjoy the precious moments in life, pushing yourself to try new things, and looking at the world with new eyes.
Autograph Signing Immediately Following
12:30 pm – 1:15 pm
Savvy Traveler Theater
2022 Travel and Beyond: An Insider’s Guide to Europe, Mexico, and Bucketlist Cruises Today
Sarah Dandashy, Travel Expert + Creator Ask A Concierge
Ready to travel again? Travel expert, author, and former award-winning Concierge, Sarah Dandashy shares what the travel landscape looks like from an insider’s perspective, as well as her personal experiences cruising in Antarctica, visiting the beaches in Mexico, and flying to Europe. Covering what the current travel experience is like and best practices for a smooth trip, she’ll also share some of the biggest trends in travel that we can expect in 2022.
12:45 pm – 1:15 pm
Destination Theater
Your Own Italy – Private Travel Perfected
Carmen Carbonell, President Your Own Italy
For those who want to experience the real Italy, join me as I share my love for Italy, with the heart and soul of the culture and its people. Your Own Italy focuses on” living like a local” from staying in small boutique hotels, apartments in historic centers and villas in Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast. You will enjoy privately guided tours that include the main historical sites, archeological marvels, famous art museums, but also off-the-beaten path wine tastings and hands-on cooking classes in family-owned villas, walking city food tours, and cultural experiences like village festivals throughout Italy.
1:30 pm – 2:15 pm
Destination Theater
Cruising into the Future with a Panel of Cruise Experts
Moderator: Montana Fee, Senior Sales Manager, Cruise Planners
Panelists: Andrea Loyola, National Account Manager, Norwegian Cruise Line
Danielle Manegio, Sales Manager, Virgin Voyages
Steve Batjiaka, Business Development Manager, Ama Waterways
Corey Wallace, National Account Manager, Celebrity Cruises
Join a panel of cruise line experts from Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Virgin Voyages and Ama Waterways to learn more about cruising, top destinations and new ships!
1:30 pm – 2:15 pm
Savvy Traveler Theater
99 Ways to Cut Your Travel Costs – Without Skimping
Russell Hannon, Ultra-Economical Travel Expert, Break the Travel Barrier
Known for wowing TV and radio audiences with untold budget travel tips, Ultra-Economical Travel Expert Russell Hannon from breakthetravelbarrier.com offers 99 ways to quickly and easily find the best and least expensive travel options for you. No matter what your travel type is, 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.
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Content Creator Workshop – FAM-TAS Meeting Theater
Travel Content Creator 101
Beth Santos, Founder and CEO, Wanderful
Thinking of starting a blog or hoping to build a career as a content creator? There’s so much to love about sharing your journey with a devoted audience and getting to travel for free is definitely a high perk on the list! But don’t pack your backpack just yet — there’s a lot to do to build up your creator career first, and you don’t want to miss any of it.
In this workshop, led by blogger-turned entrepreneur Beth Santos who’s the founder of leading travel creator community Wanderful and the annual WITS Travel Creator + Brand Summit, you’ll learn some of the key time and energy-saving steps to starting your career as a travel creator. You’ll get a kickstart in identifying your purpose and pitch, tips to zeroing in on your channels, and a look at the many ways to make money and build a lasting business. Plus, you’ll leave with a worksheet and loads of freebies to get your brain churning!
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Travel Theater
A Special Report from the Master Road Warrior: The Brave New World of Smart Travel, Where You Can Go, and Where You MUST Go, in the Next Year
Peter Greenberg, Emmy Award-Winning Investigative Reporter and Producer and CBS News Travel Editor
Autograph Signing Immediately Following
2:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Destination Theater
Discover Dominican Republic, a Corner of Paradise
Enrique Penson, Director, Director of Economic Studies, Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism
Dominican Republic is the second largest and most diverse Caribbean country. Known for our warm and hospitable people, Dominican Republic is a destination like no other, featuring astounding nature, intriguing history, and rich culture.
Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the north and the Caribbean Sea on the south, our lush tropical island paradise boasts nearly 1,000 miles (1,609 km) of coastline, 250 miles (402 km) of the world’s top beaches, magnificent resorts and hotels, and a variety of sports, recreation, and entertainment options. Here you can dance to the pulse pounding thrill of the merengue, renew in our luxurious and diverse accommodations, explore ancient relics of centuries past, delight in delicious Dominican gastronomy or enjoy ecotourism adventures in our magnificent national parks, mountain ranges, rivers, and beaches.
2:45 pm – 3:30 pm
Savvy Traveler Theater
Sustainable Travel: Making Smart Choices for the Environment & Communities We Visit
Moderator: Mike & Anne Howard, The World’s Longest Honeymooners, Founders of HoneyTrek, and National Geographic Authors & Photographers
Panelists: Oksana St. John, Editor-in-Chief, Award-Winning Sustainable Blog, DrinkTeaTravel.com
Angel Castellanos, World Travel Expert, Writer/TV Host AngelsTravelLounge.com
Vincie Ho, Founder & Executive Director, RISE Travel Institute
Want to travel and do right by the planet? Led by National Geographic authors and the founders of HoneyTrek, with travel experts from Drink Tea & Travel, The Travel Ambassador, and RISE Travel Institute, this panel discussion will inform your trip planning and decision-making to lower your carbon footprint, support local communities, and have a positive impact wherever you go. You will learn the best websites, apps, booking platforms, packing essentials, and a myriad of ways to make your travels more sustainable–and rewarding!
Book Signing to Follow
3:15 pm – 4:00 pm
Destination Theater
20 Places to See in the USA Before You Die
Patricia Schultz, Author, “1,000 Places to See Before You Die”
and “1,000 Places to See in the United States and Canada Before You Die”
Autograph Signing Immediately Following
3:45 pm – 4:30 pm
Savvy Traveler Theater
Take Your Dream Vacation to the Next Level with Private Tours…Spend a Little More and Get a Whole Lot in Return
Julian Douglas, Travel Writer, Photographer, and Experience Curator, Listen, Journey, Savor
Whether you’re looking to explore ancient sights and museums or eat your way across the Italian countryside in a Ferrari, Julian will share how he’s learned to fully maximize what Private Tours have to offer. Your trip really is just that, “your trip.” Do the things you’ve always dreamed of doing, have once in a lifetime experiences, and check off that Bucket List. Today’s Private Tours are more attainable and less expensive than ever before, so skip the lines and fully experience all that your destination has to offer. If you can dream it, a Private Tour will make it happen.
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Travel Theater
A Return to Travel
Pauline Frommer, Editorial Director of The Frommer’s Guides and Publisher of Frommers.com
The world is as exciting as ever, but major destinations have changed in many ways over the course of the pandemic. Frommer will discuss how to plan the most appealing vacations for this unusual moment, covering everything from insurance issues to airfares and accommodations, from cultural shifts to modes of travel (tours, cruises, experiential attractions and more). And with pricing all over the map right now, she’ll also help you find the best values, whether you’re vacationing in the lap of luxury, roughing it, or doing something in between.
Autograph Signing Immediately Following
4:15 pm – 4:45 pm
Destination Theater
It’s STILL Better in The Bahamas
Rissie Demeritte, Area Sales Manager, Bahamas Tourism Office New York
Ready set go…to The Bahamas! Attendees will be taken on whirlwind trip through the islands of The Bahamas all from the comfort of their seats.
4:45 pm – 5:30 pm
Savvy Traveler Theater
Tips and Tricks for Making Every Trip Easier — and More Luxurious
Melanie Lieberman, Senior Travel Editor, The Points Guy
From credit card perks to elite status benefits, here’s how travelers can maximize their travel experiences.
5:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Destination Theater
Why Galapagos is Your Ideal Travel Destination
Klaus Fielsch, Product Manager, Metrojourneys
Now, more than ever, the Galápagos Islands is the ideal destination. Isolated but accessible, but above all safe and extraordinary. When is the best month to travel? Is Galapagos a safe Family Destination? What should you know before booking a life changing expedition to Galapagos?
Sunday, January 29
11:15 am – 11:45 am
Destination Theater
A Journey Through the Florida Keys
Markham McGill, Director of Sales, The Florida Keys & Key West
Take a journey with us through the Florida Keys as we highlight the five unique regions here: Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, the Lower Keys (also referred to here as “the natural keys”) and finally, the world-famous Key West.
11:15 am – 12 Noon
Savvy Traveler Theater
Frequent Miler on the Stage: The 10 Best Awards Bookable Today
Greg Davis-Kean, the Frequent Miler
Nick Reyes, Senior Author, the Frequent Miler
Julia Menez, Founder of Geobreeze
Use your points and miles towards incredible value. With a combination of humor and analysis, Greg and Nick will bring to the stage the formula that makes their Frequent Miler on the Air podcast so popular.
11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Travel Theater
Fireside Chat with Brian Kelly: Everything You Need to Know About Travel and Credit Cards
Brian Kelly, Founder and CEO of The Points Guy (TPG)
11:45 am – 12:15 pm
Destination Theater
Travelling to Antarctica with Chimu Adventures
James McAlloon, Global Relationships Manager, Chimu Adventures
Chimu Adventures is a leading specialist in Antarctic Travel, offering the largest range of expedition vessels to the White continent. Antarctica is a winter wonderland, filled with mesmerizing landscapes and packed with more wildlife than anywhere else on the planet. Travelling to Antarctica is now easier and more affordable than ever. Today, Chimu will be showcasing how to travel to Antarctica, What you will see and do, when to go, which ships are best, the different voyage types and a day in the life.
12:15 pm – 1:00 pm
Savvy Traveler Theater
2022 Essential Travel Photography Tips with Ralph Velasco
Ralph Velasco, Found & CEO (Chief Experience Officer), PhotoEnrichment Adventures
Everyone takes pictures, but few intentionally make travel photography that everyone wants to see, and this is what separates the “point-and-shooters” from the creators. In this session, I’ll also show you how to go beyond the postcard shots everyone else is taking and how to create interesting, storytelling images your friends and family will be begging you to see, not the other way around.
12:30 pm – 1:00 pm
Destination Theater
More Fun Awaits You in the Philippines
Francisco Hilario M. Lardizabal, Tourism Attaché/Director, Philippine Department of Tourism – New York
Alvin Adriano, CEO, Travelwise International
The presentation is anchored on the Philippines’ More Fun Awaits campaign that aims to strengthen the Philippines’ positioning as a top-of-mind tourist destination in the global market once international leisure travel to the country resumes. The presentation will showcase the preparations that the Philippine Department of Tourism has been carrying out while tourism has been put on hold because of the pandemic. The campaign is focused on communicating exciting destinations to visit, starting with those that have been ready to welcome domestic tourists. It also includes new tourism products and circuits. Aside from the sun and beach tourist destinations that the country is well-known for, the campaign puts a spotlight on new and enhanced bike tours, dive circuits, farm, and food tourism circuits, hiking and trekking, and outdoor museums through historical and cultural tours that cater to tourists’ new normal preference for outdoor activities and well-ventilated areas.
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Travel Theater
A Special Report from the Master Road Warrior: The Brave New World of Smart Travel, Where You Can Go, and Where You MUST Go, in the Next Year
Peter Greenberg, Emmy Award-Winning Investigative Reporter and Producer and CBS News Travel Editor
Autograph Signing Immediately Following
1:15 pm – 1:45 pm
Destination Theater
So, you want to go to Antarctica or the High Arctic? Here’s What You Need to Know…
Steve Wellmeier, Managing Director, Poseidon Expeditions USA
There are more choices than ever for the intrepid traveler interested in exploring the polar regions – Antarctica, the Arctic and even the North Pole! With these choices come many questions: what exactly are “the polar regions” and where can we go and what will we do and see on arrival? What kind (and size) of ship do I want to be on? Will the ships and our activities be environmentally friendly? What does the traveler need to know about climate issues, and how these might – or might not – affect tourism operations in the polar regions? Steve will do his best to answer these and many other questions you might have about visiting Antarctica or the Arctic!
1:15 pm – 2:00 pm
Savvy Travel Theater
Our Favorite Solo Travel Tips, from The Experts
Moderator: Beth Santos, Founder and CEO, Wanderful
Panelists: Nikki Vargas, Co-Founder, Unearth Women
Taina Benitez, Founder, Teach with Love
Youmie Jean Francois, Founder and CEO, Flex-n-Fly
2022 is the year of getting out there, and if you’re like many Americans you might be considering solo travel for the first time (because really, why wait?). Great news – your solo travel journey is about to get a whole. Lot. Better.
Whether you’re considering your very first solo trip or are a total solo travel veteran, join leading women’s travel community Wanderful (sheswanderful.com) and a panel of local solo travel experts and content creators who are going to divulge their top tips for going solo – from what to pack and where to go, to favorite travel hacks along the way to make your next solo trip your best one yet.
2:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Destination Theater
A Food Writer’s Guide to Brooklyn with Brian Cicioni
Brian Cicioni, Travel Writer & NYC Tour Guide, IMayRoam.com
There’s a reason that the welcome sign on the Brooklyn side of the Carey Tunnel boasts, Brooklyn: Name It…We Got It! NYC-based tour guide and travel writer, Brian Cicioni, will be sharing ten years’ worth of suggestions from exploring Brooklyn’s food scene. Get ready for some perspective-shifting tips and mouth-watering shots from some of his favorite restaurants in NYC’s most populous borough!
2:15 pm – 3:00 pm
Savvy Traveler Theater
Tech Tips for Smarter Travel
Angel Castellanos, World Travel Expert, Writer/TV Host AngelsTravelLounge.com
Technology has become even more important for travel these days. There is no doubt that our smartphones can be the most important travel tool in today’s world. 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 easier 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. 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
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Travel Theater
1,000 Places to See Before You Die
Patricia Schultz, Author, “1,000 Places to See Before You Die”
and “1,000 Places to See in the United States and Canada Before You Die”
Autograph Signing Immediately Following
2:45 pm – 3:15 pm
Destination Theater
The Azores, Nine Islands in the middle of the Atlantic
Edward de Melo, President of Tour Azores
Join us for a presentation, on these beautiful islands located in the middle of the Atlantic. We will share place to go, the gastronomy of the destination, as well as the various adventure you can go on in these Portuguese Islands. Only five hours away from New York City, you will be amazed at what the Azores has to offer.
3:15 pm – 4:00 pm
Savvy Traveler Theater
Top Destinations for 2022
Darley Newman, TV Host & Producer, Travels with Darley
Description: Emmy Award-nominated television host, writer, and producer Darley Newman shares insider’s tips and recommendations on where to travel in 2022—places that combine culture, cuisine, history, and a healthy dose of wellness and nature. She covers the changes and trends in travel today, including what destinations are doing to welcome visitors amid the continuing pandemic, and what travelers can do to best enjoy their adventures.
Mixing popular locations with hidden gems, Newman shares new ideas for where to go next and how. From Asia to Europe, the USA and Mexico, discover a diverse cross-section of travel opportunities. She’ll share behind the scenes photos and videos to fuel your wanderlust.
3:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Destination Theater
Guadeloupe Islands, The Ultimate French Caribbean Experience
Sandra Vénite, CEO of Sandra Venite Consulting, Representing the Guadeloupe Islands Tourist Board
Learn why Americans are more and more falling for the dazzling French Caribbean Archipelago. Pioneer in Eco-Friendly policies in the Caribbean and gifted with diverse sceneries and a strong cultural Heritage, the Guadeloupe Islands are an invitation to a full immersion in « Art de Vivre » under the Caribbean sun.
3:45 pm – 4:45 pm
Travel Theater
A Return to Travel
Pauline Frommer, Editorial Director of The Frommer’s Guides and Publisher of Frommers.com
The world is as exciting as ever, but major destinations have changed in many ways over the course of the pandemic. Frommer will discuss how to plan the most appealing vacations for this unusual moment, covering everything from insurance issues to airfares and accommodations, from cultural shifts to modes of travel (tours, cruises, experiential attractions and more). And with pricing all over the map right now, she’ll also help you find the best values, whether you’re vacationing in the lap of luxury, roughing it, or doing something in between.
Autograph Signing Immediately Following
4:15 pm – 4:45 pm
Destination Theater
Guatemala: On the Edge of Discovery
Brent E. Winebrenner, Filmmaker, Guatemala: On the Edge of Discovery
Guatemala is a small country – of epic proportions. There are countless archaeological sites to explore, reminders of both the glories of the ancient Maya and the origin of the country’s rich cultural heritage. Guatemala is blessed with incredible biodiversity and a dramatic, ever-changing landscape. The smoking volcanos, black sand beaches, high mountain valleys, tropical forests and World Heritage Sites like Tikal, Antigua and Lake Atitlan are reason enough to visit. But what you’ll never forget is the easy grace and charm of the people you’ll meet along the way.
Filmmaker Brent Winebrenner will illustrate his highly informative and insightful presentation with excerpts from Guatemala: On the Edge of Discovery, a new documentary film that will be available for national broadcast on PBS later this year.
