Presentation Line-Up
Family Travel Association Summit Recap
Letter from the President | Event Schedule | Presentation Line-Up | Summit Attendees | Gallery | Summit Presenters
About the Mountain Sky Guest Ranch
Monday, September 28th
| 9:00 | Rainer Jenss, FTA Introduction |
| 9:30 | Jim Pickell, HomeExchange The Sharing Economy’s Impact on Traveling Families |
| 10:00 | Sarah Gavin, Expedia Why Vacation Deprived is the New Sleep Deprived and What to Do About It |
| 10:30 | Wendy Perrin, WendyPerrin.com The Unique Challenges Parents Face When Traveling with Children followed by Panel Discussion with Ida Keiper, Starbrite Traveler Eileen Ogintz, Taking the Kids |
| 11:15 | Margo Peyton, Family Dive Adventures Keeping Kids Safe on the Road |
| 11:45 | Sarah Liaram, Sanctuary Retreats Families Giving Back |
Tuesday, September 29th
| 9:00 | Randy Garfield, USTA What Happened to the American Vacation? |
| 9:30 | Toby O’Rourke, Kampgrounds of America (KOA) How Technology Is Changing the Way Families Travel Together |
| 10:00 | Richard Wiese, Born to Explore Travel That You Cannot Find in the Guidebooks |
| 10:30 | Panel: The Future of Family Travel with The Unique Challenges Parents Face When Traveling with Children Heidi Mitchell, t+l – Moderator Jeremy Saum, AFAR Lissa Harnish-Poirot, Family Vacation Critic Bonnie Levengood, MSC Cruises |
| 11:15 | Chris Elliott, USA Today Finding Your Inner Consumer Advocate |
| 11:45 | Nancy Sathre-Vogel Roadschooling: How Travel Facilitates Learning |
Coltur Peru: Outdoor Adventures, Hidden Gems and Millennia of History
Nestled in the heart of the South American country, you’ll find Coltur Peru, a destination management company with a history going back to 1957. As a family business, the closeknit team of experts join forces to “craft unparalleled travel adventu
Continue Reading Story
Succession Planning for Your Family Business
Family businesses can be incredibly rewarding and fulfilling for all involved. From growing up and seeing other family members work hard each day to joining a family business through marriage, there’s a lot of pride that comes from having a sta
Continue Reading Story
Social Media Best Practices for Tour Operators
Social media can be a powerful tool, but only if you know how to use it right. In a Family Travel Association Lunch & Learn with Tamay Shannon, Social Media Strategist and Founder of W2S Marketing, we looked at how you can effectively use socia
Continue Reading Story
Universal Orlando Resort Unveils New Details About the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic
The destination’s third installment of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is coming to Universal Epic Universe in 2025. In 2025, Universal Orlando Resort will debut its third captivating installment of its wildly popular Harry Potter-themed la
Continue Reading Story
FTA Member Spotlight: Dude Ranch Association
The Dude Ranch Association has been around for nearly 100 years, and it’s just as relevant as ever. In fact, these relatively secluded, nature-filled destinations were perfect for the era of social distancing, and families continue to see the benef
Continue Reading Story
Six Flags and Cedar Fair Complete Merger
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, now the largest and most diverse amusement park operator in North America, has announced the successful completion of the merger of equals between Cedar Fair and former Six Flags, effective July 1, 2024. The combi
Continue Reading Story
Step Into Bluey’s World, Opening in Brisbane in November 2024
The eagerly anticipated Bluey’s World is set to open in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia on November 7, 2024, offering families an unforgettable Bluey adventure. Bluey’s World is a one-of-a-kind, immersive experience that will take visitor
Continue Reading Story
FTA Member Spotlight: Amazing Ecuador
Amazing Ecuador was founded by Paúl Peralvo and Belén Sandoval out of a love for their beautiful country. This husband and wife duo went to school for ecotourism and tourism business administration respectively, and have joined forces (along with t
Continue Reading Story
New Rule to Save Airline Passengers Millions in Hidden Junk Fees
Rule will save consumers over half a billion dollars each year in expensive, unexpected baggage, change, and cancellation fees by requiring airlines to make these costs clear upfront. The Biden-Harris Administration has announced a final rule to prot
Continue Reading Story
Are You Ready for National Travel and Tourism Week?
The annual celebration underscores travel’s essential role in driving our nation’s economy, cultivating vibrant communities and forging connections. You may already have your calendars marked, but if you didn’t, be sure you’re
Continue Reading Story
Meet the Board: Jenn Lee
Jenn Lee, Travel Planners International’s VP of Industry Engagement and Support, isn’t shy about her obsession for guiding and leading today’s entrepreneurial-minded travel advisor community. So, it was a natural fit for her to join the board o
Continue Reading Story
Meet the Board: Stephanie Lee
Stephanie Lee is the founder of Host Agency Reviews (HAR), a website that connects over 70k visitors a month to travel industry resources. HAR helps people looking to join the travel industry the roadmap to successfully start and grow their travel ag
Continue Reading Story