Kristy Durso is an internationally recognized accessibility expert, keynote speaker, and founder of Incredible Memories Travel. She is also the cofounder and lead architect behind the award-winning Spectrum of Accessibility™ training program, which equips the travel and hospitality industries to better serve travelers across mobility, hearing, visual, cognitive and intellectual, invisible disabilities, neurodivergencies, and dietary needs. A leading voice in accessible tourism, Kristy works at the intersection of policy, hospitality, and lived experience, advising destinations, travel brands, and industry organizations on how to elevate accessibility from compliance to exceptional hospitality. She serves on multiple advisory boards and collaborates with global organizations to advance inclusive travel standards.

Dan Flores is a seasoned professional with almost 20 years of experience in the tourism industry. Dan is the head of tourism at Satisfi Labs, the No. 1 conversational AI chat platform for sports, entertainment, and tourism. Satisfi Labs’ platform utilizes natural language processing and machine learning to understand customer queries and deliver personalized, real-time responses.

In his 20-plus years working as a tour operator in the student travel industry, Bud was a leader in researching the trends within the student market and the economic impact of student travel. Serving as president of the Student and Youth Travel Association in 2011–2012, Bud helped tour operators communicate how educational travel connects curriculum to reality, practice to performance, and classrooms to careers. Bud has presented to educators and students about trends in the student travel marketplace, how to host a student group, and safety procedure and protocol. In 2021, Bud joined the team at GroupCollect and has served as president for the past year. The company’s innovative software, coupled with Bud’s industry knowledge, has positioned GroupCollect as a leader in registration and payment solutions for group travel professionals.

Adam Halay

Joe’s father has used a wheelchair for his entire life, and Joe noticed how his father was treated differently from the rest of his family and that the world was not designed for people with disabilities in mind. He founded VisitAble to create more welcoming and inclusive experiences for all, working to remove barriers and change attitudes related to disability. 

Julianne Krogseng

Wendy MacKenzie Pease is the owner and president of Rapport International, a Boston-based translation and interpretation services company. She has worked with hundreds of companies to help them communicate across more than 200 languages and cultures. Wendy is a creative entrepreneur with an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and a B.A. in Foreign Service & International Politics from Penn State. A frequent speaker, writer, trainer, advisor, and avid world traveler, she is the author of “The Language of Global Marketing,” co-author of “The Secrets of Global Sales,” and the host of “The Global Marketing Show” podcast, where experts share their life-changing experiences and real-world advice for managing the opportunities and challenges of global business.

Jeff is the founder of NTA Corporate Partner The Ment Law Group. He has more than 30 years of experience representing many types of travel companies and professionals, including tour operators, vendors, DMCs, travel agents, transportation companies, and trade associations. Jeff counsels clients on the industry’s best practices, including contract terms, compliance with government regulations, risk assessment, crisis response, and employment issues. Jeff also represents travel companies in litigation throughout the country. His background in the industry includes working as a travel agent, a tour guide, and a sales manager for two airlines.

Roland Neave

Mark Ostach helps people find the courage to connect. A globally recognized speaker and leadership coach focusing on human connection and mental wellness, Mark helps teams and individuals expand their mindset through storytelling and simple leadership strategies. Frequently featured in USA Today, he has presented TED talks, written books, and spoken to thousands of people encouraging them to embrace a spirit of courage through vulnerability. In 2022, Mark launched the “Courage to Connect” podcast and published his book “If You Really Knew Me …. The following year he published key takeaways from his work with more than 200 organizations, focusing on fostering social connection and digital wellness in the workplace.

Michelle Pino

Catherine Prather

Tico has a passion for tourism and travel, and it’s reflected in his background in managing markets in the United States, Europe, and beyond for more than two decades. As a Certified Destination Management Executive, Tico has emerged as an innovative leader not only in increasing sales figures but also in developing real relationships with receptive operators, wholesalers, and attractions.

Louisiana raised, Tico has spent 13 years as the Sales Director of the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau, where he managed sales operations and developed niche tourism markets. As the Director of Tourism in New Orleans, he set his sights any and everywhere by overseeing three European offices, promoting the Big Easy as one of the premier tourism destinations in the world, and creating and updating itineraries for all of the attractions in the city.

Now, Tico is using his years of experience to focus on international tourism, sales relationships, and product development with his venture Tourism Tactics by Tico. 

Tracy Spears loves to work with organizations that are committed to creating a culture of high-performing teams and workplaces that people love. She is a best-selling author, international keynote speaker, and podcast host of “Shift Out Loud.” Tracy didn’t go to Harvard. She didn’t go to Yale. Instead, she graduated with lifelong lessons from growing up in a trailer park in Tulsa, Oklahoma—lessons about inclusion, delegation, perspective, and the power of community. Her athletic ability earned her a softball scholarship to the University of Oklahoma. After 29 years in corporate America, Tracy co-founded The Leader Lab and then created Trailer Park University, the place she believes gave her “the best education money can’t buy.”