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 Adam Richman, Rick Steves 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 – 11:15 am
Savvy Traveler Theater
99 Ways to Cut Your Travel Costs – Without Skimping
Russell Hannon, Ultra-Economical Travel Expert
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 money on your next great escape.
11:15 am – 11:45 am
Destination Theater
Going Local with a Year of Italian Festivals
Lisa M. Vogele, Chief Travel Addict, Lisa’s Travel Guides
Have you ever just arrived at your destination and missed out on a cool local food festival or historical reenactment? Author & Travel Blogger Lisa Vogele will introduce you to a diverse collection of food & folklore festivals highlighting various regions of Italy. This presentation will interest foodies, history buffs, Italophiles and offer tips for incorporating festivals into your travel planning. Festivals are a great way to experience the local culture and cuisine of any travel destination.
Author Book Signing Immediately Following
11:45 am – 12:30 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 Noon – 1:00 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
12 Noon – 12:30 pm
Destination Theater
See More of Alaska: The Inside Scoop on Alaska Adventures
Ashley Heimbigner, AWE Tourism Sales Manager, Visit Anchorage
Learn about the hidden gems and can’t-miss experiences from Southcentral Alaska destination expert and lifelong Alaskan, Ashley Heimbigner. With more moose, more glaciers, more national parks, more daylight and more coastline than any other state, Alaska has it all. Start with Anchorage, an urban oasis in untamed wilderness nestled between Cook Inlet and the Chugach Mountains with 60 glaciers within 50 miles of the city. Maximize your land or cruise experience with adventures that take you from city to summit, from sparkling waters to snow-capped peaks and beyond.
12:45 pm – 1:15 pm
Destination Theater
Relax and Retire in the Natural Beauty of North Carolina
Andre Nabors, Partner Relations Manager, Visit North Carolina
Andre will elaborate on the multitude of options for visitors to enjoy the great vacation and retirement areas that North Carolina has to showcase.
12:45 pm – 1:45 pm
Savvy Traveler Theater
Safe & Smart Travel: Planning Ahead & Staying Safe Overseas
Moderator: Russell Hannon, Ultra-Economical Travel Expert
Panelists: Henry Hand, Director of Office of Policy Coordination and Public Affairs for Consular Affairs
Orlando Rivera, Director of the Philadelphia Passport Agency
How do you know if you are making the right choices when it comes to your overseas travel plans? The Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs and the Philadelphia Passport Agency have teamed with travel experts to share tips for planning your international trip and for staying safe while traveling abroad, helping you stay informed and prepare for the unexpected while adventuring overseas. Presented by: U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs.
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Travel Theater
Exploring Forkfirst: A Foodies Guide to Global Exploration
Adam Richman, Actor and Television Personality
Autograph Signing Immediately Following
1:30 pm – 2:00 pm
Destination Theater
How to Visit All Three US Virgin Islands in One Vacation
Heather Gibbs, Regional Manager – Northeast for the U.S. Virgin Islands
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.
2:00 pm – 2:45 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
2:30 pm – 3:15 pm
Destination Theater
Cruises – One Size Does Not Fit All!
Denise Julian, Foundation Business Development Coach, 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.
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Travel 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
3:00 pm – 3:45 pm
Savvy Traveler Theater
LGBT Travel: Tours, Cruises, Events and Destinations for 2017
Ed Salvato, Editor in Chief, ManAboutWorld Magazine
Miles Mitchinson, Owner and Co-founder, Detours Travel
Jody Cole, Owner/Guide of Wild Rainbow African Safaris
Kelsy Chauvin, Freelance Writer
Session Description: Join this interactive and informative panel with leading experts in gay, lesbian and LGBT family travel. Our moderator, ManAboutWorld’s Ed Salvato leads a very well-traveled group in a lively discussion touching on new cruises and tours, not-to-miss events and up-and-coming hot spots around the world. The panel has collectively been on all seven continents and over 200 countries as out gay and lesbian travelers. Come with your travel questions. This is a session you won’t want to miss!
11:15 am – 12:45 pm
Travel Theater
Europe Through the Back Door with Rick Steves
Rick Steves, Travel Writer, Host of Rick Steves Europe and Travel with Rick Steves, Europe Through the Back Door
Join travel expert Rick Steves – acclaimed for his bestselling guidebooks and public television series – as he shares the latest in smart European travel. In this entertaining, information-packed slideshow lecture, Rick will explain how to travel smoothly and affordably by stretching your travel dollar, eating and sleeping well, avoiding crowds, and packing smartly. Freshly back from lots of travels, Rick will share exactly how you can enjoy maximum travel thrills for every mile, minute, and euro on your next European adventure.
Autograph Signing Immediately Following
11:30 am – 12:15 pm
Savvy Traveler Theater
99 Ways to Cut Your Travel Costs – Without Skimping
Russell Hannon, Ultra-Economical Travel Expert
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 money on your next great escape.
12:15 pm – 12:45 pm
Destination Theater
PORTUGAL: How to Savor Europe’s Hidden Gem Like a Bon Vivant
Sheree M. Mitchell, President & Founder of Immersa Global
Portugal has recently been named “The New Tuscany” and “Europe’s Best-Kept Foodie Secret”. Before these catchy titles, Sheree, a seasoned solo traveler, spent months exploring this tiny forgotten coastal nation in search of the best local food, wine, and fun. Join her for this informative session as she shares her best tips for living, eating and drinking around Portugal like a true bon vivant. Come explore how to get off the tourist track, save money, and most importantly connect with the amazing locals of this magical country.
12:30 pm – 1:15 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
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
1:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Destination Theater
“Friendly Shandong” Welcomes You to Exploring Taoist, Confucian Heritage and The Art of War in Shandong, China
Mr. Chang Jiang, General Manager of Shandong Traffic and Communication Tourism Group Co., LTD, Shandong, China
1:30 pm – 2:15 pm
Savvy Traveler Theater
Where to Travel With Kids This Summer, Without Breaking The Bank
Lissa Poirot, Editor in Chief, Family Vacation Critic
Summer vacations are coming up, and whether you want to go away for a weekend or take two weeks off with the kids, family travel expert Lissa Poirot will showcase the best destinations for kids, what’s new at these destinations, where to stay and how to save on everything from accommodations to airfare to dining to attractions. Think you can’t afford a family vacation? Think again!
2:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Destination Theater
Israel: Land of Creation – a Timeless Adventure
Sigal Hadad, Operations Manager, Northeast Region, Israel Ministry of Tourism
Though this small country is but the size of New Jersey, situated on the border between Asia and Africa, Israel is one of the most topographically and historically unique destinations in the world. We will explore the many attractions and activities an adventurer can experience from visiting the lowest place on earth to enjoying the delights of an emerging culinary scene to walking in the footsteps of the bible.
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Travel Theater
Atlas Obscura: An Explorer’s Guide to the World’s Hidden Wonders
Joshua Foer, Cofounder, Chairman, and Editor at Large of AtlasObscura.com
Ella Morton, Associate Editor and Co-Author, Atlas Obscura
Join Joshua Foer and Ella Morton for a tour of the most astonishing and curious travel locations across the world. When Foer and Morton set out to write Atlas Obscura: An Explorer’s Guide to the World’s Hidden Wonders with co-author 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
2:30 pm – 3:15 pm
Savvy Traveler Theater
Cruises – One Size Does Not Fit All!
Denise Julian, Foundation Business Development Coach, 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.