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 Rick Steves, Rudy Maxa and Patricia Schultz 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.
Saturday, May 8
10:45 am – 11:30 am
Savvy Traveler Theater
Travel Smart, Travel Safe, Travel Well…All You Need to Know Before Your Next Trip
Moderator:
Angel Castellanos, World Travel Expert, Writer/TV Host, AngelsTravelLounge.com
Panel discussion with representatives from:
Rob Romanowski, Foreign Service Officer currently serving as the Division Chief for European Affairs for American Citizen Services, Bureau of Consular Affairs at the U.S. Department of State
Lorie Dankers, Seattle-based Public Affairs Manager, Transportation Security Administration
Trusted Traveler Programs, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Department of Homeland Security
10:15 am – 11:45 am
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
10:30 am – 10:45 am
Destination Theater
Visit East Asia: China, Japan & Korea
Evan Chan, Representative of CNTO
Siobhan Aamoth, Marketing Coordinator, 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.
11:15 am – 11:45 am
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.
12:00 Noon – 12:45 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
12:00 pm – 12:30 pm
Destination Theater
The Hottest Destination You’ve Never Been To – Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, MSC Cruises New Private Island
Bob DeAgazio, Business Development Manager, MSC Cruises
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Travel Theater
Secrets From a Travel Journalist
Rudy Maxa, Travel Journalist & Broadcaster
The travel landscape has changed dramatically in the last several years, and Maxa’s anecdotal presentation provides advice on how to navigate the new rules. Plus, recent studies have shown that travel can be beneficial to your physical, mental, and emotional health–Maxa reveals some surprising statistics that will make you want to book a ticket out of town sooner rather than later!
Autograph Signing Immediately Following
12:45 pm – 1:15 pm
Destination Theater
ASEAN Travel Hacks: Exploring Exotic Indonesia with COO TRVEE Indonesia
Abdul Razak (Zaki) – COO TRVEE Indonesia
Join the unstoppable journey of Zaki with his mindful experiences of exploring Indonesia. He’ll explain how to be a smart traveler by being logical with your travel plans, expenses, and personal preferences. Enjoy every bit of culture, culinary and adventure on the session itinerary. Zaki will truly unleash your experiences to bring the best out of yourself when it comes to traveling.
1:00 pm – 1:45 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.
1:30 pm – 2:00 pm
Destination Theater
Insider Tips to the Best of Alaska
Ruth Rosewarne Kimerer, Tourism Sales Manager, 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!
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Travel Theater
1,000 Places to See Before You Die: Global Deluxe Edition
Patricia Schultz, Bestselling Author of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die and 1,000 Places to See in the United States and Canada Before You Die
Patricia Schultz, author of the best-selling travel bible 1,000 Places to See Before You Die, takes you around the world by sharing a few of her favorite destinations, continent by continent, in a brand new presentation. Dipping into the new Deluxe Edition’s visually rich collection of don’t-miss attractions, the author shares history, interesting facts, and beautiful photography from the book that help illustrate some of the globe’s countless treasures—from Patagonia’s dazzling glaciers to the Sing Sing Festival in Papua New Guinea and some of her favorite towns in Europe.
Autograph Signing Immediately Following
2:00 pm – 2:45 pm
Savvy Travel Theater
Journey Well: 5 Ways to Make Each Trip A Life Experience
Trish Feaster, Founder & CEO of The Travelphile
Travel can be so much more than just selfies at the Louvre and checking off your Bucket List. Packed with smart strategies and thoughtful travel tips, this class with help you discover fun and engaging ways to transform your trip of a lifetime into memories you’ll cherish for a lifetime. Learn from veteran traveler, tour guide, and guidebook researcher Trish Feaster about how to gain a better understanding and connection with local cultures, savor unforgettable cuisine, minimize crowds, save time and money, and become a more intentional and experiential traveler. You’ll find new ways to turn your ordinary vacation into an extraordinary experience!
2:15 pm – 2:45 pm
Destination Theater
The Islands of Tahiti: Paradise on Earth
Denise Schmiedeknecht, Travel Trade Manager, 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.
3:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Destination Theater
Join us on a Hike Through Switzerland
Vanessa Zwinselmann, Manager Marketing North America, Switzerland Tourism
3:00 pm – 3:45 pm
Savvy Travel Theater
Heritage Travel: Walking in Your Ancestors’ Footsteps
Mickela Mallozzi, Host and Executive Producer of Bare Feet with Mickela Mallozzi
Lisa Vogele, Chief Tree Climber, Travel Your Tree, Where Ancestry Meets Adventure
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.
3:30 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
3:45 pm – 4:15 pm
Destination Theater
Yosemite: Insider Tips and What’s New
Jen Lopez, Marketing Manager, Visit Tuolumne County
Julie Hadzega, Travel Trade and Operations Manager, Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau
Brooke Smith, Director of Public Relations, Visit Yosemite | Madera County
Alicia Vennos, Economic Development and Film Commissioner, Mono County
Jamie Richards, Public Affairs Officer, Yosemite National Park, National Park Service
In this 30-minute presentation, regional insiders will be sharing exciting new ways to access Yosemite National Park, and new attractions in each of Yosemite’s four gateway entrances.
4:00 pm – 4:45 pm
Savvy Travel Theater
The Motivations and Rewards of Expedition Travel
Alex McNeil, Product Director, Quark Expeditions
What does it mean to travel to the ends of the earth, to become one of a privileged few to marvel at the splendour of the Arctic and Antarctica, to learn about their moods and changes? Join expedition and business leader Alex McNeil as he shares insights and stories of his polar journey which has spanned almost 15 years. Alex has completed over 100 polar expeditions including 14 expeditions to the Geographic North Pole. He has sailed on fourteen different expedition vessels, icebreakers, and completed trips by land and aircraft. Through his travels he has developed a strong passion for the polar regions, the people who live and work in the Arctic and Antarctic, and inspiring people to travel there.
4:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Destination Theater
Greater Miami, More Than Just A Beach
Debra Lee, Director, Travel Industry Sales, Greater Miami Convention & Visitor’s Bureau
Destination update focusing on new hotel builds, attractions, cruises, new service into Miami International Airport & Events
Sunday, May 9
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
11:30 am – 12:15 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.
12:00 pm – 12:30 pm
Destination Theater
The Luxury of Train Travel Around the World
Supinder Singh, President, Palace Tours
12:45 pm – 1:30 pm
Destination Theater
Travel Better for You, Travel Better for the World
Alexis Bowen, Country Manager US, Evaneos
Edvinas Pundys, Owner & Travel Expert of Seagull Travel
Evaneos is the leading online marketplace connecting individual travelers with the best hand-picked and carefully vetted local experts in 160 destinations. Evaneos experts are true locals, which means travelers spend less time planning and more time exploring with the benefit of true insider knowledge and custom-made itineraries. With a commitment to responsible travel and empowering local communities, Evaneos’ mission is simple : better trips for travelers and better trips for the world. Join us to learn the 5 mistakes every traveler makes when booking a vacation and how you can do it better.
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 – 2:15 pm
Travel Theater
1,000 Places to See Before You Die: Global Deluxe Edition
Patricia Schultz, Bestselling Author of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die and 1,000 Places to See in the United States and Canada Before You Die
Patricia Schultz, author of the best-selling travel bible 1,000 Places to See Before You Die, takes you around the world by sharing a few of her favorite destinations, continent by continent, in a brand new presentation. Dipping into the new Deluxe Edition’s visually rich collection of don’t-miss attractions, the author shares history, interesting facts, and beautiful photography from the book that help illustrate some of the globe’s countless treasures—from Patagonia’s dazzling glaciers to the Sing Sing Festival in Papua New Guinea and some of her favorite towns in Europe.
Autograph Signing Immediately Following
2:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Destination Theater
Beyond the Safari: Discover the Best of Africa Through Its People
Linda Higdon, Tour Host, “Women’s Journey to Kenya”, Global Heart Journeys
Join Linda Higdon, Host of “Women’s Journey to Kenya”, as she invites you backstage into a bespoke African adventure that offers a deep cultural immersion into the lives and spirituality of the Kenyans she has worked with for over 20 years: indigenous and village women, a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, visionary leaders shaping their country’s future, and hundreds of children. Travelers will open their minds and enrich their senses in a luxury adventure for the heart. And yes, safaris and premier hotels are included!
Discover why Forbes wrote “This Trip Should Be on Every Woman’s Bucket List”.
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.
2:45 pm – 3:45 pm
Travel Theater
Secrets From a Travel Journalist
Rudy Maxa, Travel Journalist & Broadcaster
The travel landscape has changed dramatically in the last several years, and Maxa’s anecdotal presentation provides advice on how to navigate the new rules. Plus, recent studies have shown that travel can be beneficial to your physical, mental, and emotional health–Maxa reveals some surprising statistics that will make you want to book a ticket out of town sooner rather than later!
Autograph Signing Immediately Following
3:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Destination Theater
French Wine & Cheese? Yes Please!
Kim Dickey, Marketing Manager, French Canal Boat
Do you love the idea of spending a week in France immersed in the best of French food, wine and culture? How about with just a few of your closest friends and none of the crowds? Are you looking for something unique and active with the perfect mix of down time and excursions? Do you want to unplug from your daily life and enjoy the simple pleasures of sipping champagne as you cruise through some of the most beautiful scenery in France? Or…would you prefer to take a leisurely bike ride along the historic tow-paths and through quaint country villages? If this sounds like you, we invite you to join us as we introduce you to the little-known world of luxury of barge cruising in France!