2026 Day 3
Friday, November 6, 2026
All times are listed in Eastern Standard Time. Program is tentative and subject to change.
7:30am Registration opens
8:15am – 10:15am Breakfast, sponsored by Travel Insured International, & General Session
TravelPulse’s Travia
Presented by Eric Bowman, Editor-in-Chief, TravelPulse
Breakfast, sponsored by Travel Insured International
Presented by Barbra Taylor, President, Travel Insured International
Fireside Chat, presented by ONE
Moderated by Mary Pat Sullivan, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Partnerships, Northstar Travel Group; with Lisa Bauer, Chief Executive Officer, Starboard Group; and Marcia Rowley, Executive Chairman, ONE | Starboard
Coffee Chat with Mary Pat, presented by Majestic Resorts
Presented by Lucien Echavarria, Director of Sales & Strategic Partnership, USA & Canada, Majestic Resorts
Executive Leadership Panel
Moderated by Mary Pat Sullivan, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Partnerships, Northstar Travel Group and Johanna Jainchill, Editor-in-Chief, Travel Weekly
With:
Dondra Ritzenthaler, Chief Executive Officer, Azamara Cruises
Camille Olivere, Chief Sales Officer, Globus family of brands
Ken Muskat, President, Scenic Group (USA/LATAM), Scenic & Emerald Cruises
Barbra Taylor, President, Travel Insured International
TW Talks, presented by AmaWaterways
Presented by Jenn Lee, President & Chief Marketing Officer, Travel Planners International and Vacation Planners
A Word from Globus family of brands
A Spotlight on Celestyal
Presented by John Diorio, Vice President & Managing Director, North America, Celestyal
Peer-to-Peer Introduction, presented by Tern
10:30am – 11:00am Peer-to-Peer Sessions, presented by Tern
Be the Brand: How to Stand Out, Build Trust and Attract the Right Clients
Your personal brand is what makes a traveler remember you, trust you and choose you over countless other options. In this session, Angela Hughes shares how travel advisors can define what they want to be known for, communicate their expertise and create a consistent presence that attracts the right clients. Learn how to turn your experience, personality and point of view into compelling content across social media, video and professional platforms. You will leave with practical strategies for strengthening your visibility, establishing authority and building a personal brand that generates relationships, referrals and sales.
Presented by Angela Hughes, Chief Executive Officer & Founder, Trips & Ships Luxury Travel
Crisis Management: Managing Hurricanes, Supplier Failures, World Events, and Difficult Client Situations
Anyone can lead when everything is going according to plan. Leadership is tested when flights are canceled, hurricanes are approaching, suppliers fail, or clients are stranded halfway around the world. I’ll share lessons I’ve learned from navigating real travel crises and how our agency communicates, prioritizes, and supports both clients and advisors when everything seems to be happening at once. The goal isn’t to eliminate problems. It’s to become the calm voice your clients remember when things don’t go according to plan.
• Building crisis plans before you need them.
• Communicating facts without creating panic.
• Prioritizing when everyone needs you at once.
• Leading advisors through emotionally charged situations.
• Turning difficult travel experiences into long-term client loyalty.
• Supporting your team during stressful situations.
• Lessons learned from real-world travel emergencies.
Presented by Jennifer Kellum, Owner, Neverland & Main Travel | Aire Luxury Travel
What I Wish I Knew When I Became a Travel Advisor
Are you new to the industry? Join this session where former travel trade writer turned travel advisor Kerry Tice walks you through what she wished she knew when she joined the profession almost five years ago. Kerry will cover why you need a business plan, where to find new clients, the importance of relationships both inside and outside the industry, and what you don’t need to know to succeed! Also, learn how to recognize the shoppers, why it’s important to qualify your clients, and why knowing your value is key.
Presented by Kerry Tice, President & Owner, Enticing Vacations
Creating Systems That Allow You to Scale
Creating systems, automations, and workflows is what distinguishes a $1M agency from a very busy, and likely overwhelmed, individual advisor. In this session we’ll break down the booking process—inquiry, consultation, quote, deposit, final payment, travel, post-trip—and how you can implement systems in each phase. We’ll cover things like templates, client communications, follow up, CRM utilization, SOPs, and checklists. You’ll walk away armed with an action plan to keep your business moving without you working 24/7.
Presented by Susie Flores, Franchise Owner, Cruise Planners
11:15am – 11:45am Peer-to-Peer Sessions, presented by Tern
The Legal Issues Confronted by Agency Owners: Your People, Your Customers, and Your Future!
In this session, Attorney Jeff Ment will give agency owners (whether you’re a 1-person agency or have 100 ICs!) good practical advice on reducing risk, managing your team, and successfully create a succession plan. Bring your questions and get clear answers on legal topics that interest you!
Presented by Jeffrey Ment, Managing Partner, The Ment Law Group
Side Gig to Serious Business: How to Take Your Travel Agency to the Next Level
Many travel advisors start their business as a side gig, passion project, or flexible income opportunity. But at some point, growth requires more than loving travel, posting on social media, and answering client emails quickly. To move from side gig to serious business, advisors need to shift from simply working in the business every day to intentionally working on the business. In this session, Jesse Morris, Brand Ambassador for Travel Professional NEWS and Owner of We Book Travel LLC, will share practical lessons from building a part-time travel business into a multi-million-dollar agency. Attendees will explore how to think more strategically about growth, client experience, visibility, systems, time management, and business planning so they can build an agency that is more profitable, more professional, and less dependent on constant reaction mode.
Presented by Jesse Morris, Brand Ambassador, Travel Professional NEWS
The Client Experience: Every Touchpoint from Inquiry Through Post-Travel
Exceptional client experiences don’t happen by accident. They’re intentional. Every email, every phone call, every recommendation, and every follow-up shapes how clients see us. I’ll walk through the client journey from the very first inquiry to the welcome-home email and share simple ways to create an experience that clients remember and tell their friends about.
• Creating great first impressions.
• Setting expectations from the beginning.
• Communicating throughout the planning process.
• Small touches that leave lasting impressions.
• Preparing clients before they travel.
• Following up after they return.
• Turning feedback into repeat business.
Presented by Jennifer Kellum, Owner, Neverland & Main Travel | Aire Luxury Travel
Grow Your Groups Business: Relationships, Referrals & Revenue
Groups don’t have to be complicated, and they definitely don’t have to be scary! Let’s talk about how to turn the clients and relationships you already have into group opportunities and additional revenue. We’ll cover how genuine client relationships can blossom into groups, why learning resort and cruise line group policies matters, and how knowing the product gives you the confidence to recognize opportunities you may already be missing. Group business doesn’t always come looking for you, but you can intentionally build it around your niche and turn the business you’re already booking into even more revenue. Let's discuss how to plant the seed, grow the group, and turn those relationships into revenue.
Presented by Katie Lynn Reynolds, Destination Weddings Lead/Travel Advisor, Travelmation
12:00pm – 12:30pm Peer-to-Peer Sessions, presented by Tern
Stop Selling Vacations and Start Selling Your Expertise
In a world where clients can research destinations, compare prices, and find endless travel inspiration online, an advisor’s greatest value is expertise. This session will cover how to move beyond being an order-taker and become a trusted authority. You will learn how to communicate expertise, confidently make recommendations, and provide firm boundaries when needed. You’ll walk away from this session with the tools to build trust with your existing clients and attract new clients who value your guidance.
Presented by Bailey Dial, Independent Contractor, WDWGetaways
Luxury Is a Strategy, Not a Price Point
Luxury travel is not simply about selling the most expensive product. It is about understanding what a client values and creating an experience that feels personal, seamless and worth the investment. In this session, Angela Hughes will teach advisors how to identify luxury clients, ask better qualifying questions and recommend experiences based on value rather than price. Advisors will also learn how to elevate their positioning, communicate their expertise and transition an existing business toward higher-value sales. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for attracting the right clients, presenting luxury with confidence and building a more profitable travel business.
Presented by Angela Hughes, Chief Executive Officer & Founder, Trips & Ships Luxury Travel
Is Your Time Working Hard Enough?
When you’re running a successful travel business, there’s always another client to call, FAM to attend, event to join or opportunity to pursue. But does every demand on your calendar actually deserve your time? This candid session challenges experienced advisors and agency owners to rethink productivity, growth and what “success” looks like at this stage of their business. Explore strategies for focusing on bigger bookings, fewer—and better—clients, and the industry relationships and experiences that create meaningful business value. You’ll walk away with a framework for evaluating where your time goes, what’s worth saying yes to, and what you can confidently leave off the calendar.
Presented by Sanya Weston, Chief Executive Officer, Your Premier Travel Service Group
Show Up on Camera: Create Travel Content That Starts Conversations
You’re already seeing incredible things when you travel—now learn how to turn those moments into content that gets your clients talking. This session will help you identify the experiences worth capturing, feel more natural and confident on camera, and transform everyday travel moments into polished social content that feels authentic to you. You’ll see real examples of what works, learn simple ways to make content creation easier while you’re on the go, and discover how to use your own travel experiences to spark genuine conversations with current and future clients. Leave with practical ideas you can put to work on your next trip.
Presented by Nick Pena, Luxury Travel Advisor, Cruise Planners
12:45pm – 3:15pm Lunch, sponsored by Norwegian Cruise Line, & General Session
A Conversation with Marc Kazlauskas
With Johanna Jainchill, Editor-in-Chief, Travel Weekly; and Marc Kazlaukas, President, Norwegian Cruise Line
A Sit Down with Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Moderated by Mary Pat Sullivan, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Partnerships, Northstar Travel Group; with Emily Loewy, Vice President, Sales Strategy & Operations, Oceania Cruises; and Shawn Tubman, Chief Sales Officer, Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Lunch, sponsored by Norwegian Cruise Line
Presented by Zach Caravetta, Sr. Director, Sales & Operations, Norwegian Cruise Line
TravelPulse’s 40 under 40 Panel, presented by Collette
Moderated by Eric Bowman, Editor-in-Chief, TravelPulse and Melissa Cooper, Director of Marketing, Northstar Travel Group
With Kelsie Marchetti, Senior Manager of Virtual Events & Advisor Programs, Collette
Mickey McBride, Vice President of Sales, Avoya Travel
Ashley D'Aristotile, Owner, Flyway Travel
Sterling Wertanzl, Director of Operations, Sterling Journeys
TW Talks, presented by AmaWaterways
Presented by Phil Cappelli, Chief Executive Officer, Avoya
The Next Chapter of Luxury
Luxury is no longer defined by a single standard. For some, luxury is deeply personal experiences. To others, it’s exclusivity. In this panel, five leading luxury travel brands share their perspectives on what’s shaping the future of high-end travel. Explore emerging preferences, shifting definitions of value, and the experiences capturing the attention of today’s most discerning travelers. Gain fresh insights to help you anticipate your clients’ desires, ask better questions, and create journeys that reflect what luxury means to them.
Moderated by Angela Hughes, Chief Executive Officer & Founder, Trips & Ships Luxury Travel and Ruthanne Terrero, Director of Luxury Content, Northstar Travel Group
With:
Steve Smotrys, Managing Director/Senior Vice President, HX
Kelly Predmesky, Head of Sales, North America, Mitsui Ocean Cruises
Jim Marini, Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, Railbookers Group
Brenna Abels, Senior Director, Field Sales, Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Eddy Mestre, Vice President of National Accounts, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
A Spotlight on Sandals & Beaches Resorts
Presented by Gary Sadler, Executive Vice President, Sales & Industry Relations, Sandals & Beaches Resorts
Live Recording: Trade Secrets
Presented by Jamie Biesiada, Senior Editor, Travel Weekly, Northstar Travel Group
The 2026 Princess Mosaic Reveal
Join the Princess team to celebrate the reveal of the epic Princess Mosaic!
