2023 Day 1

Wednesday, November 1

All times are listed in Eastern Standard Time. Program is tentative and subject to change.

9:00am - 10:00am Educational Sessions

The Host Agency Conundrum

Owning and operating your travel business is complex and unless you have experience operating a travel agency, your best choice is to work through a host agency to get your business up and running. You will save a considerable amount of time and resources on the operations side of your business and be able to spend the majority of your resources on the things that your business needs the most, and that is marketing and building your brand.
Maybe you are just getting started with your travel agency and you are not sure if you need a host agency. If you do, how do you find the right one to best suit your business direction? Join Joanie Ogg, CTC, MCC to unravel the mystery in this workshop about what a host can offer and how you can find your perfect partner.
Presented by Joanie Ogg, CTC, MCC, Founder & Co-Owner, TravelProfessionalNEWS.com, HomeBasedTravelAgent.com, FindaHostTravelAgency.com

VAX VacationAccess

VAX: The Must Visit Leisure Travel Marketplace
Join us to experience the power of the VAX. VAX VacationAccess is the premier Leisure Travel Marketplace, home to a wealth of tools, resources, content and suppliers that advisors rely on all in one spot. Let us show you how VAX can helps you grow your business with bookable product, educational opportunities, offers & promotions and tons of exciting editorial content on The Compass. In this session you’ll have the opportunity to learn the latest happenings for VAX VacationAccess.
Presented by Michelle Payette, Brand Ambassador, VAX VacationAccess

Sandals

Sandals and Beaches 2.0 Come see the Future of the #1 All-Inclusive
What is the future of the World’s Best All Inclusive? We’ve been busy raising the bar higher than ever, and you are invited to experience the stunning evolution and unveiling of Sandals and Beaches Resort’s newest innovative features, destinations, training programs, and more!  Be the first to see our latest destinations, like Curacao, and St. Vincent, and unique hotels, like the all-new Sandals Dunn’s River.  Discover never seen before Love Nest suites and stunning new water features, not to mention the exotic array of new restaurant concepts!
Presented by Catherine Pawelek, Senior BDM Southeast USA, Sandals and Beaches

10:15am – 11:45am Educational Session

Carnival Corporation Opening Workshop

What’s New at Six of the Carnival Corporation Brands
Learn the latest news from six of the Carnival Corporation brands all in one workshop!  Did you know that Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America, Princess, Seabourn, Cunard and the Italian brand Costa are all part of the Carnival Corporation family?  Together with German-based AIDA, British-based P&O UK and P&O Australia it is the largest cruise corporation in the world with more than 350 years of combined cruising experience, cruising to all seven continents and more than 700 destinations around the world.  From family to luxury to expedition there is a Carnival Corporation brand that will suit your client expectations with comfort, safety and reliability.  Whether it’s just driving distance from home or on the other side of the world, our ships offer the best seats in the house for the best views at sea. 
Meet your Trade Sales Leaders who will talk about their new ships, new programs and the best options for your clients.
Presenters include: Casey Brown, Marketing Manager, North America; Rob Coleman, Vice President, North American Sales, Holland America Line; Jessi Fundora, Strategic Key Account Manager, Seabourn; Erik Jaramillo, Business Intelligence Manager, North America, Costa Cruises; Mike Julius, VP Field Sales, North America, Carnival Cruise Line; Jaime Paiko, Vice President of Sales, North America, Cunard; Anthony Viciana, Director of Sales, Eastern and Southeast U.S., Princess Cruises

12:00pm – 1:45pm General session sponsored by Carnival Corporation | Lunch sponsored by Carnival Cruise Line

Welcome from Fort Lauderdale

Presented by Stacy Ritter, CDME, President & CEO, Visit Lauderdale

A spotlight on Alaska – Visit Anchorage

Presented by David S. Kasser, SVP Sales, Visit Anchorage

TW Talk

Presented by Jackie Friedman, President, Nexion Travel Group  

CEO Conversation

Josh Weinstein, President and CEO, Carnival Corporation & plc; Arnie Weissmann, Editor-in-Chief, Travel Weekly; John Haeflinger, SVP of Sustainability and Maritime Policy, Carnival Corporation

Carnival Corporation Presidents’ Panel

Gus Antorcha, President, Holland America Line; Christine Duffy, President, Carnival Cruise Line; Natalya Leahy, President, Seabourn; John Padgett, President, Princess Cruises; Arnie Weissmann, Editor-in-Chief, Travel Weekly

Lunch, sponsored by Carnival Cruise Line

Presented by Christine Duffy, President, Carnival Cruise Line

2:00pm – 3:00pm Sponsored Workshops 

Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau

Find Your Miami
Greater Miami and Miami Beach is a place that bridges diverse communities, eclectic cultures, and innovative ideas together in a way you won’t find anywhere else.  Whether you’re looking for arts and adventure, agriculture and couture fashion, music and food, or any other combination, we have a Miami that feels like it was specially made just for you. So get ready to discover the one destination where the possibilities are endless. It’s time to Find Your Miami.
Presented by Debra Lee, Director of Travel Industry Sales, Greater Miami CVB

Japan National Tourism Organization

Endless Discovery Seminar by JNTO and Princess Cruises
Join this workshop by JNTO and Princess Cruises to learn about Japan as a cruise destination! We will introduce you to Japan's unmatched diversity of breathtaking natural beauty, intriguing culture and world-renowned cuisine, helping you create an unforgettable itinerary for your clients.
Representatives from Yokohama City and Ishikawa Prefectural Government, Kanazawa Port Authority will participate as our special guests from Japan to talk about their stunning ports and tourist attractions, while our partners at Prince Hotels USA, Inc. will highlight their wonderful accommodations on ground. Participate in a brief survey at the end to receive a Starbucks gift card. We look forward to seeing you!
Presenters include:  Kenji Kobayashi, Representative of Yokohama City; Tomohiro Kozaki, Executive Manager, Prince Hotels USA, Inc.; Raffaele Lima, Port Sales Representative, Ishikawa Prefectural Government, Kanazawa Port Authority; Yohko Scott, Regional Promotion Director, Japan National Tourism Organization; Anthony Viciana, Director of Sales, Eastern & Southeastern U.S., Princess Cruises

Majestic Resorts

Discover the Majestic Way of Life!
Come and join us to discover detailed information and tips on how to sell and experience the majestic way of life!
Presented by Lucien Echavarria, Director of Sales and Strategic Partnership, USA & Canada, Majestic Resorts

Virgin Voyages

Now We're Voyaging
See why sailors around the world voted for Virgin Voyages as the best overall cruise line including Best Dining, Best Service, Best, Best Cabins, and Best Value for Money.
Presented by John Diorio, Vice President, North American Sales, Virgin Voyages

3:15pm – 5:00pm General Session

TW Talk

Presented by Jenn Lee, Vice President Trade Engagement and Support, Travel Planners International 

Mastermind Leadership Panel Discussion, sponsored by Uplift

Panelists include Katina Athanasiou, Senior Vice President, Sales & Services, Celebrity Cruises; John Chernesky, Senior Vice President of Sales, Norwegian Cruise Line; Rob Coleman, Vice President - North America Sales, Holland America Line; Koreen McNutt, Senior Vice President of Sales and Trade Engagement and Commercial Sales Officer, MSC Cruises; Anthony R. Meloro, Director, Business Development Support, Trade & Host Travel Partner Relations, Royal Caribbean International; Adolfo Perez, Senior Vice President - Global Sales & Trade Marketing, Carnival Cruise Line; Carmen Roig, Vice President of Sales, Princess Cruises;
Moderated by Danny Genung, CEO, Harr Travel and Mary Pat Sullivan, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Partnerships, Northstar Travel Group

A spotlight on Scenic and Emerald Cruises

Presented by Ken Muskat, Managing Director, Scenic and Emerald Cruises

Pitch Perfect: Luxury

Suppliers will join two top-selling travel advisors for a live selling session. The advisors will pitch potential client opportunities and travel troubleshooting experiences and the suppliers on stage will sell these travel advisors on the best experience for the customers. The goal of these live sales sessions is for the attendees in the audience to hear the supplier pitch, watch the advisor ask follow-up questions and truly see how a perfect customer experience is curated.

Panelists include: Tomás Baca-Cruz, Business Relationships Expert, Explora Journeys; Shanel Knight, MCC, Director, National Accounts & Business Development, Regent Seven Seas Cruises®; Jamie Paiko, Vice President, Sales, Cunard North America; Erica Richey, VP, Performance Marketing & Growth, Seabourn; Dianna Rom, Vice President, Sales, Windstar Cruises; Heidi Verschaeve, Commercial Director, Blue Diamond Luxury Boutique Hotel

Moderated by Nick Pena, Franchise Owner, Cruise Planners and Sanya Weston, CEO, Your Premier Travel Service Group

ALG Vacations Kindness Initiative

Presented by Jim Tedesco, Vice President, Sales, ALG Vacations

5:15pm – 6:30pm Think Tank (Advisors only)

5:15pm – 6:45pm STAR Program Roundtables  

7:00pm – 9:00pm STAR Program Dinner Reception, sponsored by ALG Vacations (invite-only)