Questex Travel Group today announced its line-up of speakers who will lead panel discussions and educational seminars for its Travel Industry Exchange event Sept. 15-17 at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, Florida.
The event, emphasizing niche travel and specialization, will offer over 60 sessions focused on revenue-generating niche segments, including certification programs in luxury travel, cruise ship travel and weddings and romance as well as concentrated programs in technology, trends, destinations and millennial travel.
Speakers List:
General Session: Raise the Bar Now: Step Up Your Business for the Next Wave of Travelers
• Joshua Bush, CEO, Avenue Two Travel
• Zane Kerby, president & CEO, American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA)
• Thomas Ostebo, president & CEO, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)
• Ruthanne Terrero, vice president of content and editorial director, Questex Travel Group
Cruise Travel Specialists:
• Charles Sylvia, vice president, trade relations, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)
• Gretchen Bell, vice president of sales, Americas, SeaDream Yacht Club
• Ellen Bettridge, vice president, sales & marketing, The Americas, Azamara Club Cruises
• Susan Shultz, director of sales, American Cruise Lines
• Susan Wolfson, travel expert, Go Astro Travel LLC, an independently owned and operated affiliate of Avoya Travel, an American Express Travel Representative
• Kim Grammer, travel expert, i-travelagent
• Mark Bradley, U.S. business development consultant, European Waterways Ltd.
• Joe Leon, senior director, business development & travel agency sales, Regent Seven Seas Cruises
• John Bateman, regional trainer, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)
• Navin Sawhney, chief operating officer, Ponant USA
• Wayne Peyreau, director of sales, MSC Cruises (USA) Inc.
• Nicola Iannone, director of sales, USA CroisiEurope
• Ken Muskat, executive vice president, sales, PR & guest services, MSC Cruises (USA) Inc.
• Rhian Torontow, travel expert, Magical Family Adventures
• Rainer Jenss, president & founder, Family Travel Association
Luxury 2.0: Going Beyond the Basics
• Ruthanne Terrero, vice president of content and editorial director, Questex Travel Group
• Mary Ann Ramsey, president and owner, Betty Maclean Travel
• Susan Moynihan, founder, The Honeymoonist
• Andera Malis, managing director, private client division, Camelback Odyssey Travel
• Michelle Woodson, owner/luxury travel advisor, MH Signature Journeys
• Leslie Overton, managing director, Absolute Travel
• Hope Smith, owner, Born to Travel, independent contractor affiliated with Montecito Village Travel & Virtuoso
Property and Destination Updates:
• Kelly Messina, sales executive, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA)
• Jim McMichael, specialty markets manager, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA)
• Ron Mracký, managing director, Africa Consult Group
• Sylvia Frommer-Mracký, owner, Production Travel & Tours
• Chris Austin, vice president, global retail leisure and luxury sales, Starwood Hotels and Resorts
• Joy Skaardal, sales manager, Scandinavian Airlines
• John McAuliff, executive director, Fund for Reconciliation and Development
• Sarah Postler, distribution development manager, Tourism Australia
• Adam Lubicz, marketing executive, USA, Destination New South Wales
• Kylie Smith, marketing manager, Tourism & Events Queensland
• Susan Brown, regional manager, The Americas, Tourism Victoria
• Daisy Godreau, business development manager, Puerto Rico Tourism Company
Lifestyle Travel and Trends Including: Adventure, Eco-Tourism, Culture, Culinary, Spa and Wellness
• Ron Fenska, vice president, sales, North America, Intrepid Group
• Dan Austin, founder & director, Austin Adventures
• Anne Dimon, CEO, Travel to Wellness, co-founder, Wellness Travel Media
• Carol Dimopoulos, president, Perillo’s Learning Journeys
• Michael Luongo, award-winning freelance journalist and photographer, About.com
• Doug Kostowski, founder, Travel People
• Carmen Perez, travel expert, Effortless Living
• Naomi Reed, corporate sales manager, Canyon Ranch
• Gilad Goren, founder & executive director, Travel+SocialGood
• Duane Penner, vice president, sales, Roadtrips.com
• Patrick Sarkisisan, founder and CEO, Sarkisisan Partners
Trends and Impact of Tech, Online and Social Media
• Anna Lysakowska, travel blogger, Anna Everywhere
• Caroline Eubanks, travel blogger, Caroline in the City
• Carmen Perez, travel expert, Effortless Living
• Michael Hodson, past president, Professional Travel Bloggers Association
• Jenna Vandenberg, executive vice president, marketing, Fifty & Five LLC
• Ari Charlestein, founder, Award Magic
• Rhian Torontow, travel expert, Magical Family Adventures
Wedding and Romance Travel Specialists
• Shannon LeBlanc, chief romance officer, Paradise Vacation Escapes
• Matthew Schumacher, commander in chief, Travel Troops LLC
• Yvette De Vries, president, Association for Promotion of Tourism to Africa (APTA)
• LoAnn Halden, media relations manager, International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA)
• Jim McMichael, diversity & cultural manager, Las Vegas Convention & Visitor Authority (LVCVA)
• Vicky Garcia, chief operating officer and co-owner, Cruise Planners
• Susan Moynihan, founder, The Honeymoonist
• Lisa Sheldon, executive director, Destination Wedding & Honeymoon Specialists Association (DWHSA)
Millennial Travelers and Advisors
• Ashish Sanghrajka, director of industry relations, Millennials in Travel
• Gilad Goren, founder & executive director, Travel+SocialGood
• Joe Pike, senior editor, Travel Agent magazine
• Dave Cicotte, marketing communications & social media associate, Conlin Travel
• Katelyn O’Shaughnessy, CEO and founder, TripScope
• Daniela Harrison, travel consultant, Avenues of the World
Multigenerational and Family Travel
• Nigel Osborne, vice president, sales and business development, Keytours Vacations International
• Rainer Jenss, president & founder, Family Travel Association
• Jennifer Forehand Round, manager, Slaydon’s Travel
• Brandy Posey, owner and CEO, Fairytale Adventures Travel
• Nicole Thibault, owner/consultant, Magical Storybook Travels
• Yvette De Vries, president, Association for Promotion of Tourism to Africa (APTA)
• Daniela Harrison, travel consultant, Avenues of the World
Your Business, Your Brand: Building Both Together
• Vanessa McGovern, executive vice president, business development & strategic partnerships, Global Institute for Travel Entrepreneurs (GIFTE)
• Trish Gastineau, travel expert, Simply Europe Travel
The full schedule can be viewed at http://www.travelindustryexchange.com/schedule.
