Amy is a luxury hospitality marketing leader with over 20 years of experience shaping globally recognized brands, including Ritz-Carlton Residences, Four Seasons Residences, Denihan Hospitality, José Andrés Group, Major Food Group, and CORE: Club. She has led 50+ brand launches across luxury hotels, private clubs, and Michelin-starred restaurants in markets like New York, Miami, London, Dubai, and Seoul.

Currently, as the Marketing, Communications & Strategic Partnerships lead at CORE: Club, she is redefining modern membership through culture, innovation, and elevated brand experiences. Amy is known for creating high-impact strategies that resonate with discerning, high-net-worth audiences.

Anne, currently the Editorial Director for Shermans Travel Media — running ShermansTravel and the new Smart Luxury — is an award-winning travel and food editor. She sets and carries out the vision for publications, champions innovative and inspiring storytelling, and manages editorial teams in premium content outlets. Previous editing posts include BBC Travel, BBC World’s Table, Afar, and Smarter Travel Media when it was owned by Trip Advisor.

Ashlea is a longtime contributing editor at Condé Nast Traveler and a special project editor for TIME's World's Greatest Places list and Oprah. Her byline turns up everywhere: in Afar, New York Magazine, Buy Side from WSJ, T: The New York Times Style Magazine, Bon Appétit, Chase Travel, Artful Living, and more.

Cari traveled the world initially as her parents’ excess baggage and later as an insatiable explorer. After becoming a lawyer, Cari worked 15 years for Butterfield & Robinson. In 2009, Cari founded Gray & Co. to craft the most upscale private active journeys for the world’s most discerning travelers, many of whom travel via private jet.

The company produces discreetly guided trips around the globe for select friends, families, corporate retreats, multi-gen groups, and more. Media nods include a win of Travel & Leisure’s “World’s Best Tour Operator” and, for 2025, she’s once again a Conde Nast Traveler Expert and a Robb Report Travel Master.

Chris is an executive vice president at MMGY Global, the world’s leading integrated marketing firm specializing in the hospitality, travel & entertainment industries. He is responsible for the company’s research and insights division, including its syndicated Regional Portrait™ Series, DK Shifflet PERFORMANCE™ data products, and its custom solutions team. He oversees the organization’s substantial commitment to research and insights as the foundation for strategic planning to guide its global portfolio of clients.

A graduate of Princeton University, Chris received a bachelor’s degree in history. He also earned an MBA from Vanderbilt University with an emphasis in service marketing.

Frank grew up in Malibu chasing waves and adventure, a passion that led him around the world—from film sets in Los Angeles to lodges in Spain, South Africa, and Tanzania. After managing a luxury safari lodge, he became International Sales & Marketing Director for one of East Africa’s top climbing outfitters—organizing high altitude climbing and trekking, pioneering mountain biking safaris, and building deep ties with local communities.

At Adventure International, he helped expand operations beyond Africa into The Himalayas and The Andes, curating luxury adventure travel across the globe. For over a decade, he's designed and led programs for some of the top brands in the luxury adventure travel industry. Most recently, he's focused on expanding into Privately Guided National Park experiences that bring the same level of exclusivity, immersive adventure, and attention to detail to America’s most iconic landscapes. This next chapter blends world-class adventure design with the accessibility of domestic travel, creating unique, high-touch experiences in North America.

Greg is a seasoned leader in the luxury and lifestyle hospitality sector, with over 16 years at WorldHotels™. He was instrumental in launching WorldHotels™ Crafted, a collection of design-forward lifestyle hotels, and has driven significant brand growth. Under his leadership, WorldHotels™ earned multiple HSMAI Adrian and Golden Bell Awards.

Previously, Greg served as Global VP at Molton Brown UK and held executive roles in top luxury hospitality firms and hotel groups. He holds MBAs from Syracuse University and the London School of Economics, and completed leadership programs at Cambridge, UK, the Center of Creative Leadership, U.S., and in Japan.

James, a veteran travel journalist, is Editor in Chief and Founder of Insider Travel Report, an online newsletter for 125,000 U.S. travel advisors and other travel industry professionals. Insider Travel Report publishes travel news articles and posts video interviews five days a week, 52 weeks a year.

Shillinglaw previously served as editor at large for Travel Market Report, a daily online newsletter for travel agents and the travel industry. He also was editorial director and editor in chief for Travalliancemedia, which produced two monthly travel industry trade magazines, Agent@Home and Vacation Agent, and a daily newsletter and news website, TravelPulse.com.

Shillinglaw is a double recipient of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) Travel Journalist of the Year award, in 2003 and 2014. The award recognizes a journalist who has contributed to the promotion of the travel agency community and is a supporter of ASTA.

Kate is responsible for the strategic direction, management, and oversight of the destination's marketing efforts. She joined the LVCVA in May 2020 and helped navigate reopening the destination after the unprecedented COVID-19 shutdown.

She helped transform the positioning of Las Vegas into the Sports and Entertainment Capital of the World through strategically leveraging major marquee events like Super Bowl 58 and Formula 1 as marketing platforms for the destination. In recognition of her innovative leadership and impact, Kate was named one of Forbes' 2025 Entrepreneurial CMO 50.

Kristin brings more than two decades of experience in global tourism, destination marketing, and strategic partnerships. Her career reflects deep expertise across the travel ecosystem, including roles at Korean Air, Crystal Cruises, Signature Travel Network, and MeringCarson. This broad foundation has given her a 360-degree perspective and the ability to positively influence passenger growth and visitor spend.

Kristin served as Director of Marketing and then Managing Director of Tahiti Tourisme North America for over eleven years.  She continues to lead the Tahiti account while overseeing trade representation for additional international destinations.

Laura brings 20 years of experience as an editorial leader, digital strategist, and award-winning storyteller. Previously, she was Afar's digital content director, nominated for a Webby and a National Magazine Award; deputy digital director of Condé Nast Traveler; and executive editor of the short-but-sweetly-lived Further magazine.

She’s an avid traveler (36+ countries) with special interest in Scotland, Ireland, Australasia, and the Middle East, as well as adventure, wellness, arts & culture, and family travel. Passionate about mentoring journalists and finding that next great story, Laura is based in New York with her husband and daughters.

Maya works across print and digital. She leads hotels coverage for the brand, including "First In" hotel reviews, in-book hotel spotlights, and T+L's annual It List of the 100 best new hotels of the year. She's been full-time at T+L for four years and was previously a freelance editor at Departures and GOOD Magazine.

Whether you’re seeking a luxury travel and lifestyle PR agency or need the ultimate guide to over 100 countries, look no further than Melanie Brandman. As Founder and CEO of The Brandman Agency, she’s as well-connected as she is worldly, and is known to be one of the most credible travel experts in the business.

Melanie rose through the corporate hotel and media ranks, working as Vice President of Corporate Affairs for InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, for Vogue Australia, and for herself, as the founder of The Brandman Agency and several successful travel start-ups, including Travel Curator.

Recipient of HSMAI’s “Lifetime Achievement Award” and spotlighted as one of the “50 Most Important Women in Travel” by WONDERLUST, Melanie’s global reputation is soundly rooted in leadership, style, support, and in her endless energy and eternal optimism.

Michael oversees some of the world’s most extraordinary luxury lodges across Australia, New Zealand, Chile, and Canada. He brings a guest-first mindset to shaping the future of ultra-luxury, experiential travel. Michael’s mission is to lead with purpose, crafting deeply personal journeys that reconnect travellers to land, people, and legacy.

With a career spanning Four Seasons and Disney, he is known for building hospitality experiences that are both imaginative and grounded in cultural and environmental stewardship. Michael drives a movement that fuses ultra-luxury travel with regenerative impact—transforming luxury from consumption into connection.

Travel media pioneer Michaela is the creator, director, executive producer, and writer behind the award-winning series: OH THE PEOPLE YOU MEET with Michaela Guzy, SLEEPING AROUND SAFELY, and LIVING LIKE A LOCAL, seen on Qatar Airways in-flight, Modern Luxury's M/LUX Network, KTLA+, and People's Planet. 

Michaela is an OG digital nomad who has been "houseless, not homeless" while she has traveled to over 120 countries to film her shows that focus on PEOPLE, PLACES + PURPOSES. She is a vocal advocate for sustainable living, regenerative travel, ending homelessness, breaking the poverty cycle through education, and empowering NextGen filmmakers.

Nick founded TravMedia in 1999 after ten years as travel editor of Courier Newspapers, Australia. His knowledge and contributions to the travel industry are extensive. Nick is a proud supporter of the SATW and sponsors the ONE Travel Conference Travel Writer Award for outstanding work in promoting US travel.

He is an active member of the ASTW, serves as a judge for the Gourmet Travel Annual Awards, and supports the British Guild of Travel Writers Awards along with the ASTW Awards. Nick created IMM 13 years ago, The Summit 8 years ago, and this year marks the inaugural IMM LUX. TravMedia also powers the online event marketplaces for IPW.

Stephanie brings nearly three decades of global brand and communications leadership. She has held executive roles with top hospitality companies and served as Chief Marketing Officer and Deputy Director for the Arizona Office of Tourism.

Her career spans London, New York, Honolulu, Phoenix, and beyond, with award-winning achievements including two Emmy nominations for her work at NBC Nightly News. Widely recognized for her strategic vision, she has shaped the reputation of some of the world’s most respected travel and lifestyle brands.

Tom's career path has included leadership roles in advertising, media production, and entertainment. His versatile background spans traditional advertising agencies to highly innovative media ventures. His work has been awarded numerous Cannes Lions, Clios, Tellys, and many other awards.

Currently, Tom serves as both the Chairman of Irish Boy Ventures, a media and entertainment holding company, and as the Co-Founder and Head of Creative/Production for Modern Luxury’s M/LUX Network. His creative leadership for M/LUX primarily involves the creation and production of original luxury lifestyle programming focused on Travel, Fashion, Beauty, Design, Culinary, and The Arts. Modern Luxury brand clients encompass all luxury segments, including Hospitality, Fashion, Travel, Real Estate, and Home and Design. They include Rolex, LVMH, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, AccorHotels, Belmont, Four Seasons, Omega, and many others. M/LUX distribution partnerships are currently with Apple TV, Roku, Samsung TV Plus, and Amazon Fire.

After 30 years in the industry, Wendy has built a career crafting luxury travel for the music world’s biggest names. She quickly rose through the ranks at Universal Music Group Travel, becoming an Ultra Talent VIP Agent and managing travel for platinum artists and executives across powerhouse labels including Island Def Jam, Universal Motown, and Interscope Geffen A&M.

In 2014, she launched Travel Princess Inc., expanding into corporate, production, luxury leisure, and artist tours. Renowned for her precision, discretion, and white-glove service, Wendy’s award-winning excellence has made her a trusted partner to global talent, managers, and executives.