2026 Summit Speakers and Bios
With over 25 years of hands-on experience in the tourism industry, Jennifer Ackerson, president of Alon Tourism Solutions, has a deep understanding of how to connect suppliers, DMOs, and inbound operators for lasting success. Her comprehensive knowledge of the travel trade, combined with her ability to break down complex industry dynamics, makes her the ideal guide for anyone looking to expand their international tourism reach. Jen is the driving force behind the Inbound Insider Steps to Success™ Online Program, a first-of-its-kind online training built from decades of working directly with international buyers, suppliers, and destination stakeholders. Her expertise has shaped this interactive and engaging course, ensuring you walk away with real-world know-how, actionable strategies, and industry-proven methodologies to grow your business. If you want to effectively work with inbound operators, maximize international tourism ROI, and position your organization for long-term success, there’s no better expert to learn from. This course is your shortcut to mastering the travel trade, and Jen’s expertise is your competitive advantage.
Sally Berry is an experienced Tourism Professional with over 25 years of experience working at attractions, a regional Tourism office, and as an industry consultant and speaker. As Program Director at Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance, her role was to bring together different types of businesses to work together for the growth of the regional tourism economy. In her role as Global Tourism Manager at the Corning Museum of Glass, she led a team that implemented wide-ranging strategies to continually grow visitation - both from regional guests as well as visitors from around the world. During her tenure, Berry was named a ‘Top Tourism Networker’ as well as ‘Top 20 Tourism Professional in the U.S’ by Tour Operator magazine. In her current role managing both Great Lakes USA and Cruise the Great Lakes, Berry represents the organizations at trade shows and press events, and continues to build value for her partner states and members.
Quintin graduated Magna Cum Laude from the William F. Harrah School of Hospitality administration at the University of Nevada Las Vegas with a minor in Marketing. Upon graduating in May of 2009 Quintin enjoyed a successful, albeit short-lived career in Real Estate before the family business brought him home to Cody for good in 2014. Currently, Quintin works as the Chief Marketing Officer for Blair Hotels; during the summer months, he holds the prestigious position of “lead porter”.
Quintin is a member of the Inbound International Travel Association (IITA) Advisory Council, serves as a director on the Wyoming Office of Tourism (WOT) board, as well as the Park County, Hot Springs County and Big Horn County lodging tax boards. He is also a member of several national travel trade organizations including the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA), the American Bus Association (ABA), the National Tour Association (NTA) and Rocky Mountain International (RMI). In addition to serving on the Cody Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Quintin also volunteers on the Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale Committee as well as the Cody Culture Club.
Andrea Blankenship currently serves as Deputy Director of International Sales for the Colorado Tourism Office, a role she has held since joining the organization in July 2016. The international team works closely with in-market representatives to promote Colorado globally to media, travel trade partners, and consumers.
Andrea’s transition into tourism was a natural progression after a 21-year career in airline sales and marketing. During her tenure with Lufthansa German Airlines, she held positions in Miami, Chicago, and Denver, where she launched the airline’s first nonstop service between Frankfurt and Denver in 2001. She later served as Acting General Manager of Canada and District Sales Manager in New York City, gaining experience in one of the world’s most competitive aviation markets. Andrea returned to Denver as Director of Sales for Frontier Airlines, expanding her expertise in the domestic market and the low-cost carrier business model. In this role, she worked across corporate and leisure sales and gained valuable experience in online travel agency channels, distribution strategies, and marketing.
A Minnesota native, Andrea holds a Bachelor of Science in International Business Management and a Bachelor of Arts in German from St. Cloud State University. She completed her Executive MBA at the University of Denver in 2015. Outside of work, she enjoys adventure travel and fully embraces the Colorado lifestyle, including hiking, biking, skiing, and spending time outdoors
Ted Bowen IV handles Tourism Initiatives at Visit Galveston. He connects travel professionals to the stories, experiences, and selling power of Galveston Island, the historic Texas island destination less than an hour from Houston. Working across domestic and international markets, he leads travel trade initiatives that position the island as a must-stop on U.S. itineraries, including Texas and the Gulf Coast.
Bowen’s background spans major hospitality brands, including Four Seasons, Marriott, and Hyatt, along with destination sales roles at Visit Houston and within convention center account management. That mix of hotel, CVB, and travel trade experience gives him a practical, multi-disciplinary view of how destinations succeed in global distribution. A seventh-generation Texan, Bowen now calls Galveston Island home.
Adam Burke serves as President & CEO of the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, the official, non-profit tourism promotion organization for the City of Angels. With its mission to “improve the quality of life for all Angelenos through the economic and community benefits of tourism,” Los Angeles Tourism is proud to represent over 1,000 Member businesses across the local travel & tourism sector, which is one of the region’s largest contributors to employment, business sales, and tax revenues. With more than 30 years of travel & tourism industry experience, Burke previously served as Senior Vice President, Customer Loyalty for Hilton Worldwide with global management responsibility for the award-winning Honors customer loyalty program. He joined Los Angeles Tourism in 2016 as the organization’s Chief Operating Officer. Burke is actively engaged in advocating for the nation’s tourism sector and has been appointed by the U.S. Department of Commerce to serve on the United States Travel & Tourism Advisory Board. He also represents the U.S. as a Vice Chair of the World Tourism Alliance, in addition to serving on the Executive Committee of the Destinations International Foundation. Locally, Burke serves on the Executive Committee of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, and the Board of Directors of the CalTravel Foundation, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, and Sister Cities of Los Angeles, as well as the Advisory Board of the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission.
Janis Burke is a nationally recognized leader in global sports governance, major event strategy, and community impact. The Sports Events & Tourism Association appointed Burke as its first-ever Chief of International Sport & Strategy to help its members navigate and maximize opportunities around the historic wave of international events coming to the United States over the next decade.
As former CEO of the Harris County – Houston Sports Authority, she was the first and only woman to hold that leadership role since the organization’s inception in 1997. Over her 18-year tenure, she played a pivotal role in bringing world-class sporting events to Houston, overseeing a $1.2 billion bond debt service for professional sports stadiums while securing high-profile events such as the College Football Playoffs, NCAA Men’s Final Four, Olympic Trials, World Championships, AAU Junior Olympics, Copa America, and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Under her leadership, these events contributed over $3 billion in economic impact to the region. The organization was selected on several occasions by its peers as the best sports commission in the country while also earning the distinction of “Best Employer in Sports,” by Front Office Sports publication.
Burke created the Texas Sports Coalition to build a cooperative network for those doing sports business within the state. She also founded the Abilities in Motion (ongoing sports program for disabled), Houston Hall of Fame, National Battle of the Bands, and the Sports Authority Foundation. The Foundation was created to connect the Houston community to large events hosted locally each year. Under her oversight, more than $10M was given out to charitable initiatives, local college scholarships, and various youth programming through the power of sports.
In 2024, Burke was inducted into the Sports ETA National Hall of Fame and has also been recognized by a multitude of organizations over the years for her impactful community work. Distinctions conferred by Conference USA and Rice University acknowledging her for outstanding contributions as a woman in the Houston sports industry, the Sports Industry Impact Award from Sam Houston State University and identified by the Houston Business Journal as one of Houston’s Most Admired CEOs. The World Chamber of Commerce-TX, Chinese Community Center, U.S. Congress, and World Youth Foundation have given recognition for her accomplishments on the global stage.
A Michigan native, Burke built her career in sports tourism and event management across Detroit, San Antonio, and Pennsylvania before making a lasting impact in Houston. Her lifelong passion for sports fuels her mission to use major events as a diplomacy tool or platform for economic growth, social impact, and equity in athletics.
Daryl Cronk, Senior Economist at Tourism Economics, has more than 20 years of experience conducting market research and economic analysis in the tourism industry. At Tourism Economics, Daryl develops forecasts of hotel metrics, visitor volume, and visitor spending, and oversees other projects for a variety of destination and association clients. Daryl’s previous roles in the travel industry include CoStar’s Hospitality Analytics Team and leading the market research and business insights teams at Visit Orlando. In addition to forecasting and economic impact analysis, he has extensive market research experience covering a variety of quantitative and qualitative methodologies.
Fred Dixon is President and Chief Executive Officer of Brand USA, the nation's public-private partnership dedicated to increasing international visitation to the United States through marketing and promotional efforts. In this role, Fred is responsible for accelerating the organization’s efforts to build and execute effective marketing strategies to increase U.S. travel exports, create jobs, strengthen the economy, and help enhance the image of the United States with people all over the world.
Fred Dixon began his tenure as Brand USA’s President and CEO on July 15, 2024. He brings more than 30 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry.
Immediately before joining Brand USA, he served as President and CEO of NYC Tourism + Conventions for 10 years, where he developed and implemented New York City’s tourism, meetings, and events strategy and programming to grow business and leisure travel from across the USA and from around the world.
Under his leadership of NYC Tourism + Conventions, international visitation more than doubled to more than 13 million travelers, the result of a long-term strategy to create a global network of outposts comprising sales, marketing, and press professionals in diverse feeder markets including Australia, China, Mexico, Brazil, and the UK.
Dixon is highly respected within the travel industry and serves on several association boards and committees. He is the Immediate Past Chair of Destinations International, serves on the New York Convention Center Operating Corporation Board, the board of IGLTA, the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association, the U.S. Travel Association Executive Committee, and is a trustee for the FIFA World Cup 2026 NYNJ Host Committee.
Emily Douce is the Deputy Vice President for Government Affairs at the National Parks Conservation Association. Emily helps manage the department and advocates for additional funding for national parks, both through appropriations and supplementary sources. She has been instrumental in helping secure additional funding for national parks with the passage of the National Park Service Centennial Act, Great American Outdoors Act and national park transit and transportation funding through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. She leads the National Parks Second Century Action Coalition comprised of travel and tourism, outdoor industry, conservation and historic preservation groups to advocate for additional park funding with Congress and the Administration. She has a M.S. in Environmental Resource Policy from The George Washington University and a B.S. from Texas A&M University. Prior to working at NPCA, she worked at Marine Conservation Institute on ocean conservation issues and taught high school Chemistry and Environmental Science.
Elliott Ferguson serves as President and CEO of Destination DC, the official destination marketing organization for Washington, DC.
A 30-year veteran of the travel and hospitality industry, Ferguson leads Destination DC’s efforts to generate economic opportunity for the District through meetings and tourism, overseeing the organization’s convention and tourism sales, marketing, finance, and business development operations.
Ferguson began his tenure with Destination DC in December 2001 as the Vice President of Convention Sales, became Senior Vice President of Convention Sales and Services in 2005, and has served as President and CEO since 2009. Prior to working at Destination DC, he served as Director of Sales and Vice President of Sales at the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau. He has also served as Director of Sales at the Savannah CVB.
Ferguson currently serves as National Chair of the board of directors for the U.S. Travel Association, where he guides the board and association’s efforts to advance policies that facilitate more international and domestic travel. He also serves on the board of directors for the following organizations: Advisory Board of the Smithsonian National Zoo; DC Jazz Festival; Ryan Kerrigan “Blitz for the Better” Foundation, and the United Way of the National Capital Area. He represents Destination DC as part of the Hospitality Alliance of Washington, D.C.
Elliott Ferguson received a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing and Business Administration from Savannah State University. His many industry memberships include Professional Conference Management Association, International Association of Exhibition Executives, Destinations International, National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners, Meeting Professionals International, and American Society of Association Executives.
Ferguson and his wife, Telesa Via, also a hospitality industry veteran, are longtime residents of Capitol Hill.
Hylton Fothergill is a Senior Contract Manager at Bonotel Exclusive Travel. After studying Business & Tourism in the UK and working as a Tour Guide in France and Turkey, Hylton moved to the USA where he initially worked for a Florida based receptive operator in Miami Beach and Orlando before heading West to help open their Las Vegas office. In his 30+ years in the USA, Hylton has worked in various sectors of the travel industry, including a UK package tour operator, a helicopter sightseeing company, and the Arizona Office of Tourism as Market Manager for Europe and Asia. Hylton joined Bonotel Exclusive Travel in 2023 where he is a Senior Contract Manager for the Western USA, home based in Las Vegas.
Oswaldo Freitas is CEO and Founder of Easy Time Travel LLC. With more than 30 years in the industry, Oswaldo has worked with the USA trade for most of this time. He started contracting hotels, transportation, attractions, and other products for Soletur and Nascimento Turismo, both major tour operators in Latin America with headquarters in Brazil. Then he developed the Latin America Market for JTB Americas. Since 2019, he has opened his own company providing groups, leisure, and MICE, and FIT products for clients speaking Portuguese, Spanish, and English. 
Angel Green brings more than 20 years of experience in the tourism industry, with a distinguished 21-year career at the Chickasaw Nation, where she most recently served as Tourism Marketing Director. In 2024, she joined Visit Oklahoma City as Director of Travel Trade, where she continues to champion destination development, strategic partnerships, and industry growth. Angel currently serves on the Board of the Oklahoma Travel Industry Association, contributing her expertise to advance tourism statewide. A proud mother of three and grandmother of 6, she loves traveling with her family and friends and creating meaningful experiences
Florian Herrmann is the CEO and founder of Herrmann Global, a strategic tourism marketing firm headquartered in the Rocky Mountains with offices in the US and Europe. His vision for the travel industry is simple: Utilizing innovative technology to connect destinations and attractions with a passionate and responsible global travel audience. Together with his global team, he has built the social platforms Visit USA Parks and Untraveled to inspire millions of global travelers about destinations that are lesser known. His expertise in the travel trade industry is significant. His first job after high school was a traineeship at a travel agency in Germany, organizing sightseeing trips all around the world. Since then, his focus has always been on collaboration among industry stakeholders and how trade can build a better future for sustainable tourism.
Florian holds a Master’s in Business and Sustainable Destination Management from George Washington University and is currently an active member of the World Travel Tourism Council to help making global travel a better fit for the world.
Erica Jones is the Senior Director of Government Relations at U.S. Travel Association, where she helps lead the organization’s federal advocacy strategy and engages with policymakers on issues central to the travel industry. In this role, she manages legislative priorities spanning Brand USA, disaster relief and recovery and the broader economic impact of domestic and international travel.
Prior to joining U.S. Travel, Erica served for more than three years as Director of Government Relations at the American Gaming Association, where she advanced policy initiatives on behalf of the nation’s commercial and tribal gaming industry. She previously worked at a boutique lobbying firm supporting a portfolio of transportation and air travel clients—including U.S. Travel—providing strategic counsel on federal policy, appropriations and regulatory engagement.
Erica began her career on Capitol Hill, spending nearly seven years in congressional offices. Most notably, she served over five years with Representative Dina Titus (D-NV), a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, House Foreign Affairs Committee and Co-Chair of the Travel and Tourism Caucus.
Tilo Krause-Dünow is Chief Executive Officer, CANUSA TOURISTIK. He has been active in the U.S. travel business since 1977 and founded CANUSA Touristik in 1983. Today, CANUSA TOURISTIK is the leading German specialist tour operator for travel to North America, with a strong focus on Canada and the United States.
Industry Engagement & Leadership
Tilo has played an influential role in the international travel industry, serving for many years as Chairman of the Destination Canada Commission in Germany, where he helped strengthen Canada’s presence in the German-speaking market. He currently serves as Vice President of the Visit USA Committee Germany (VUSA), actively supporting and promoting travel to the United States.
Stacey (Tiger) LaCompte, enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and descendant of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. She currently serves as the Executive Director, North Dakota Native Tourism Alliance and Native American Cultural Tours “Building Back Better and Stronger” “Telling our Story with our own Voices” - Vision of our future of strength with sustainable economic development thru tourism
Previously, Stacey served as Executive Director & Project Manager for the North Dakota Indian Business Alliance; Executive Director of the Wakpa Sica Reconciliation Place/Historical Society (Oceti Sakowin – Seven Council Fires); Acting Director of the He Sapa Repatriations Alliance; Project Coordinator for the Great Plains Economic and Commerce Association; and Co-Founder of the South Dakota Indian Business Alliance, among other positions. First cohort member of Native Nation Rebuilders selected by the Bush Foundation in 2010. Cohort 3 for the “Change Network”.
Stacey embraced her training and education for the betterment of our Oyates (Our people), while being mentored, was provided guidance according to her elders addressing and acknowledging her path of life. They advised her that the path of life comes to you: “Embrace it and Work for your People”!
Stacey is married to Brian LaCompte, proud mother of four sons and one daughter, grandmother of eight grandsons and one granddaughter.
Helen Marano is currently the Senior Vice President of Longwoods International, a highly acclaimed market research firm dedicated to insights on US travel trends, image research and resident sentiment perspectives among other arenas. She serves as a brand ambassador and consultant for their efforts.
In her role as Executive Vice President of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), Helen formed the External Affairs Department, expanding the engagement of the Council and the travel and tourism industry with global academia. This enhanced her role as Senior Vice President of the Government and Industry Affairs Department which she developed for WTTC.
Helen’s active leadership in the travel and tourism industry is derived particularly from having led the National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) of the United States for more than a decade and a half. During Helen’s tenure, the NTTO was the leader in industry relations between government and every sector of travel and tourism in the country. Her leadership in creating coalitions and inter-governmental collaborations led to a series of important accomplishments which included opening up Chinese group travel for the USA, and having a lead role with industry in the formation of the Brand USA Corporation for marketing the USA.
In 2020 the Women In Travel and Tourism International (witti) honored Helen with a Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to the sector. In 2019 The International Institute of Peace Through Tourism presented Helen with the Celebrating Her Award for building global alliances that promote Tourism as a force for good.
Luisa Mendoza is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of GTSE (Global Tourism Sports & Entertainment) and a globally recognized visionary with more than 25 years of leadership in international business development and marketing across the tourism and sports industries. Her distinguished career includes senior leadership roles as Senior Director at New York City Tourism and Conventions and as the first Director of Sports and Tourism Development for the Brooklyn Nets. At NYC Tourism, Mendoza led high-impact strategies focused on Spain, Latin America, and U.S. Hispanic markets, strengthening New York City’s global brand and visitor engagement. Her tenure with the Brooklyn Nets further deepened her expertise at the convergence of professional sports, tourism, and destination marketing. 
Dr. Lori Pennington-Gray is an internationally recognized scholar and academic leader whose work focuses on tourism crisis management, resilience, environmental risk, and community adaptation. She currently serves as an Endowed Professor and Director of the Richardson Family SmartState Center for Economic Excellence in Tourism and Economic Development at the University of South Carolina and is Co-Director of the Center for Clean Water and Healthy Ecosystems, a multidisciplinary initiative supported by the Office of the Vice President for Research.
Richard Peterson, President & CEO, U.S. Cultural & Heritage Marketing Council, is an internationally recognized leader in cultural heritage tourism, destination marketing, and community engagement. As President & CEO of the U.S. Cultural & Heritage Marketing Council (USCHMC), Peterson leads initiatives that connect people, culture, and place through innovative, community-centered strategies that advance sustainable tourism and economic vitality. With more than 25 years of international tourism experience, Peterson’s work spans strategic planning, product development, and experiential storytelling—bridging the worlds of tourism, arts, heritage, and the creative economy. His consulting collaborations with national tourism offices, global travel brands, and cultural institutions have shaped dynamic programs that celebrate authenticity and elevate underrepresented voices in destinations worldwide. Prior to leading USCHMC, Peterson held senior leadership positions with the California Academy of Sciences, Los Angeles Tourism, Hilton Hotels, and Santa Monica Travel & Tourism. He is a frequent advisor and thought leader for organizations including the U.S. Travel Association, state tourism educational symposium, Destinations International, Visit USA programs, university programs, International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association, US Conference of Mayors, and the American Indigenous Tourism Association. Peterson has also lent his professional expertise with select industry programs that have included California Travel Association’s Board of Directors, US Travel’s At-Large Board of Directors, World Travel Tourism Council Task Force – and Arts Council Planning Committees.
Jason Reckers is the Founder of Nexus K3, Inc., where he helps destinations, inbound operators, and tourism organizations unlock the value of their institutional knowledge and apply AI in practical, operationally ready ways. With over twenty-five years of executive leadership, including two decades as COO and now Business Advisor to the Adventure Travel Trade Association, he has guided global teams through digital transformation, technology adoption, and large-scale content and event programs. During his tenure at ATTA, Jason led major initiatives that delivered industry education on emerging technologies and digital best practices, preparing thousands of tourism professionals for new tools and shifting traveler behavior. His current work focuses on AI discoverability, structured content, and workflow efficiency, helping organizations position their teams and products to remain visible, competitive, and aligned with how international travelers now search and plan.
Dr. Peter Ricci serves as Director, Hospitality and Tourism Management program at Florida Atlantic University (FAU). The Program is a globally top-ranked program. Peter has published more than 70 industry/academic articles. He also maintains numerous hospitality industry certifications with a career spanning 35+ years.
Peter is a Distinguished Alumnus of the University of Florida with bachelor’s and master’s degrees plus a doctorate from the University of Central Florida in Higher Education Administration and Leadership. Recent recognition includes the 50 Most Influential Educators in Global Hospitality and the 50 Most Inspirational People in Global Hospitality and Travel both from the prestigious International Hospitality Institute. He is also a recipient of the Stewart Distinguished Professor award, the FAU College of Business top recognition.
His proudest accomplishments include having a Scholarship named in his honor from the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) over 10 years ago and his creation of a COVID-era Hospitality Industry Certificate designed to keep hospitality workers engaged during the dark days of the Pandemic. To date, the certificate now has over 100,000 enrolled from 177 countries.
Dr. Ricci has a lifelong passion to advocate for Florida’s #1 private sector industry, hospitality and tourism. He is a proud Floridian of more than 48 years
Stacy Ritter assumed the role of President and CEO of Visit Lauderdale, the official destination marketing organization for Broward County, in 2016, bringing with her a wealth of experience in public service and community leadership.
As the CEO, Stacy Ritter oversees this dynamic organization comprising a dedicated team of over 50 professionals with a $27 million operating budget strategically positioning Broward County as a premier destination on both domestic and international fronts. Under her leadership, Visit Lauderdale covers a wide range of responsibilities, including sales and marketing development for leisure, international, sports, convention and group sales. Moreover, her influence extends to multicultural tourism, LGBT+ development as well as international advertising and public relations campaigns.
Stacy’s commitment to promoting tourism and economic growth extends beyond her role at Visit Lauderdale. She serves on the United States Travel Association Board of Directors, the Women in Travel and Hospitality, and the steering committee of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. Additionally, she holds a position on the executive board of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance and Winterfest. Her involvement in community initiatives includes participation in the Orange Bowl Committee and serving as a board of Trustee for the Museum of Discovery and Science.
Before taking the helm at Visit Lauderdale, Stacy served as an elected Broward County Commissioner from November 2006 to June 2016, representing the 3rd District, and serving as County Mayor from 2008 to 2009. Prior to her tenure in Broward County government, Ritter served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1996 to 2004, representing the 96th District.
Ms. Ritter’s dedication to community service has earned her numerous accolades and recognitions, including induction into the Broward County Women’s Hall of Fame, Women of the Year by the American Jewish Congress, and recognition as the First Lady of Broward. She has been named one of the 50 Most Powerful People in Broward by Gold Coast Magazine and received the honor of being one of the 100 Outstanding Women by the Boys and Girls Club. She has received the Allied Champion Award from the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, Courage in Leadership from the Stonewall National Museum and Archives, Prestigious Woman Award from South Florida Business and Wealth, and holds the industry certification as a Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME).She has also been recognized with the Smart Meetings 2024 Catalyst Award. She has been named one of the 2025 Florida Trend 500.
Additionally, she serves as an advisory board member of Fort Lauderdale Illustrated and consistently ranks among South Florida Power Leaders by the South Florida Business Journal. In 2023, she was recognized as a Power Leader in Hospitality by the same publication.
During her tenure as Broward County Mayor, Stacy played a pivotal role in key infrastructure projects, including the advancement of the new county courthouse and improvements to the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, which included the expansion of the south runway. These initiatives have since resulted in new airline services and record-breaking passenger traffic.
Stacy Ritter was born in Washington, D.C., and made Broward County her home in 1974. She earned her law degree from Nova Southeastern University College of Law and is a licensed attorney with the Florida Bar. She received her BA from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. Stacy Ritter’s unwavering commitment to community development, tourism, and public service continues to make a lasting impact on the Greater Fort Lauderdale area.
With a Master’s degree in Sustainable Destination Management from George Washington University (2010), Lena Ross has dedicated her career to enhancing tourism practices that honor cultural heritage and environmental sustainability. As the current Chairperson of the International Inbound Travel Association (IITA) and a past president of Grand Circle, Lena plays a pivotal role in advocating for sustainable tourism practices and is a leader within the Inbound Travel Community.
She collaborated with the North Dakota Native Tourism Association (NDNTA) to help design and implement innovative Tribal tourism products across three Tribes, ensuring that these initiatives are both culturally respectful and economically beneficial and bookable on the consumer level for both domestic and international visitors. She is currently working with AIANTA (American Indian and Native Tourism Association) to continue to work with small Native businesses to make them bookable tourism products.
With her current position as President and Chief Operating Officer of America 4 You (and past Director of Product Development), Lena possesses a comprehensive understanding of the industry. Her role within America 4 You allows her to seek out smaller tourism products in rural or third-tier destinations and help find ways to put them “on the map” for an international audience by using her knowledge of the USA and itinerary planning skills to create itineraries that showcase their lesser known products while still being marketable to an overseas audience. America 4 You works hard to alleviate some of the stress put on the major tourist attractions such as National Parks and large cities by still featuring them but adding more time in lesser-known areas that will eventually become highlights themselves on an international scale.
As Chief AI Officer and SVP of Innovation at Brand USA, Janette spearheads AI-driven strategies to enhance tourism marketing, streamline internal operations, and foster innovation for the benefit of both Brand USA and the broader U.S. travel industry. Prior to joining NYC Tourism, she spent more than two decades marketing Broadway at organizations such as Broadway.com and AKA, a global leader in entertainment advertising and strategy. She is a two-time Ironman, a LinkedIn Top Voice, an expert advisor for the European and U.S. cohorts of the “AI Opener for Destinations” program, and was named a 2024 Influential #Eventprof by Northstar Meetings Group.
Sherry L. Rupert (Paiute/Washoe) is the Chief Executive Officer of the American Indigenous Tourism Association and has nearly 25 years of executive-level experience managing and promoting Indigenous Tourism. As CEO of the American Indigenous Tourism Association, the only national association dedicated to Indigenous tourism, she is the leading voice when it comes to advocating for travel and tourism as a significant economic driver in Native Nations and communities across the U.S. and its territories. She also holds leadership positions on various national boards including the U.S. Department of Commerce Travel and Tourism Advisory Board and the National Park Service Advisory Board Tourism Committee. She is a former member of the Business Advisory Council under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Travel Association Board, and a Co-Chair of the America250 Hospitality and Tourism Advisory Committee. In 2024, Sherry joined the inaugural board as a U.S. representative of the newly-formed global organization, Destination Original Indigenous Tourism, where she serves as one of three key architects in its creation.
Under her leadership, she has launched the Economic Impact of U.S. Indigenous Tourism Businesses, the first-ever ever study of its kind. She also curates a robust educational program for tribes and indigenous-owned hospitality enterprises around the country. In 2025, she led the charge for the landmark expansive and inclusive move from the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association to the American Indigenous Tourism Association, ushering in a new era for Indigenous tourism across the U.S. and its territories. Prior to assuming the role of CEO, she served as President of the American Indigenous Tourism Association’s Board of Directors since 2012. During that time, she was instrumental in working with Congress to pass the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience (NATIVE) Act. Sherry previously served as the Executive Director of the State of Nevada Indian Commission, reporting directly to the Governor of Nevada to serve as a liaison to the state’s 28 tribes, bands and colonies and served as the Chairperson on Nevada’s Indian Territory, Nevada Commission on Tourism.
She has won numerous awards and accolades for her work, including for her work in preserving the site of the Stewart Indian School as a museum and cultural center and coordination of the popular Stewart Father’s Day Powwow, the largest three-day Powwow in Northern Nevada. She successfully raised $5.7 million in state appropriations to establish a museum and cultural center at the historic site. She led the development and implementation of the Stewart Indian School Master Plan (Interpretive Plan, Market Study, and Business Strategic Plan) for the State of Nevada. Sherry also created and implemented the award-winning Stewart Indian School Trail, a self-guided cell phone walking tour of the Stewart Indian School campus in 2008.
As CEO of the American Indigenous Tourism Association, the organization has received industry recognition to include the Clyde Warrior Civil Rights Recognition presented by the Native Professional Advancement Center in 2024 and was awarded by Condé Nast Traveler’s 2024 Bright Ideas in Travel list for its partnership with the U.S. Forest Service Community Navigator program. Sherry was also recognized in 2024 by Leisure Group Travel’s Women in Tourism Leadership Spotlight, highlighting her contributions to Indigenous and cultural tourism across the U.S. In 2025, the American Indigenous Tourism Association was recognized by Wanderful’s Bessie Awards as 2025 Collaboration of the Year for its partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the Community Navigator Initiative.
Sherry holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Finance Major from the University of Nevada, Reno and has completed professional training courses and programs to support her work in advancing cultural tourism in the United States.
Lisa Simon currently serves as the Executive Director of the International Inbound Travel Association, the only trade association focused solely on international inbound travel to the United States. With her 30-years of experience in the travel industry specializing in association management, strategic planning, and tourism market development, she has spoken on global and domestic travel industry trends throughout the United States and around the world.
Simon is also the principal of The Simon Connection, LLC, specializing in association management, strategic planning, and tourism market development. She has spoken on global and domestic travel industry trends throughout the United States and around the world.
Previously, Lisa served as the president of NTA (National Tour Association). During Lisa’s tenure with NTA, she expanded NTA’s international presence, including working with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the China National Tourism Administration to open the U.S. as a preferred destination for Chinese travelers. NTA was the only association that volunteered to work with the two governments to register and approve U.S. tour operators to work with the China market.
Mindy hails from Charlotte, NC, where she graduated with a degree in Political Science and International Politics. After graduation, she spent over 10 years in television news as a reporter, anchor, writer, and producer. After leaving the media, she spent the next 12 years in luxury hotel sales, working
with top accounts at 4 and 5-star hotels.
In 2006, she joined Visit Savannah as their Group Tour Manager, working primarily with the domestic motorcoach industry. Shortly after coming on board, she started working to help bring Savannah into the international spotlight. For 15 years, she worked with both the domestic and international markets as the
Director of Tour, Travel, and International Sales. At the beginning of 2022, her focus turned exclusively to the organization’s international efforts as the world began to recover from the pandemic and our borders began to reopen for inbound travel. Over the past 16 years, she’s worked hard to create strong partnerships with Georgia’s state tourism office, the US-based receptive operators, the state’s representatives abroad, as well as international tour operators in Savannah’s key source markets.
Greg Takehara has been the CEO of Tourism Cares since 2019. He previously served on its Board, acting as its Chair before becoming CEO. Prior to Tourism Cares, Greg was the President of Trip Mate, Inc., a travel insurance administrator. He began his thirty-seven-year career in the travel and tourism industry at The Mark Travel Corporation, where he served as General Counsel.
Greg has served on the Boards of the US Travel Association, the National Tour Association, and the IGLTA Foundation, as well as numerous industry committees. He is a frequent speaker at industry events and meetings. Greg currently lives in Orlando, is from Chicago, and has an undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and a Juris Doctor degree from Washington University in St. Louis.
Peter van Berkel is the President of Travalco USA Inc. and based in South Florida. After his studies in the Netherlands he joined Travalco and the company has been owner-operated with the same partners since its inception in 1985. After serving four years as Chairman of the International Inbound Travel Association (IITA) during Covid and its aftermath, Peter currently serves on the Executive Committee as the Immediate Past Chair.
Peter is a leader in various aspects of the inbound travel advocacy matters as it pertains to best practices for National Parks and finding solutions to alleviate negative impacts due to high visitation levels of certain destinations. In 2018 he received the IITA Travel Professional of the Year award. In 2023 he was appointed to the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board (TTAB) which advises the Secretary of Commerce Secretary Raimondo on travel industry matters.
Travalco is a full range B2B Inbound Tour Operator for North America with high standards and select distribution methods as well as innovative product and high-end technical tools to support these standards. Its clientele consists of Tour operators and travel professional from around the world. In additional to a curated portfolio of Accommodations all over the USA, the company also operates the largest selection of Self Drive Programs with more than 150 distinct products for the North America markets including almost all of the BRAND USA Itineraries. In addition to offering a large number of Seat-in Escorted Tour programs in select languages Travalco also operates many client specific Group Tour series and fully customized ad-hoc group programs.
The company has been consistently trusted and has enjoyed mutually beneficial relationships with the leading tour operators and wholesalers worldwide as well as major Hotel companies and suppliers for more than 37 years. In 2017 Travalco was selected and awarded “Best DMC Worldwide” by the Belgian Travel Trade.
Emmanuelle Vaugeois Bolaños is the Founder of Scenic Roads. She is of French nationality and has lived in Las Vegas since 2008. She followed her husband to Vegas when he got a job at Cirque du Soleil as an Acrobat. She always loved travel, so it was natural for her to create her DMC in 2018. Scenic Road organizes FIT/Group/Incentive tours for the French market. Emmanuelle Vaugeois Bolaños is a dynamic, results-driven executive with expertise in marketing, partnerships, and business development across diverse industries. She brings a strategic mindset, strong leadership, and a collaborative approach to creating meaningful growth and driving organizational impact.
Fred Walker has nearly 30 years of experience in the travel industry as the Global Marketing Manager for ND Tourism and formerly as the Marketing/Sales Manager for Jamestown, ND, the Buffalo City. Fred works with International media and travel trade on a daily basis as well as North Dakota partners serving as a resource for both sides. The international program at North Dakota Tourism is now working in 7 markets and 16 countries. Fred serves on the ND Native Tourism Alliance Advisory Board and has served on the ND Travel Industry Conference Committee for 20+ years, and has served on the board of the NDACVB (now DMAND), serving as its President in 2002.He is a native and lifelong resident of North Dakota, growing up in Mayville. He and his wife Michelle along with their family now reside in Bismarck.
Roni Weiss is the Executive Director of Travel Unity, a nonprofit focused on making the world of travel welcoming to people of all backgrounds and identities.
He led the creation of the first travel industry standards for inclusive practices and runs Travel Unity’s certification programs, oversees consulting projects, and coordinates its Alliance. Born in New York and raised in Washington State, Roni earned his Associate’s degree with Honors at age 12, graduated high school at 15, and completed dual Bachelor's degrees in Drama and English at 18. Roni has visited 70+ countries (including every country in Europe), six continents, and 48 U.S. states. He lives in Pleasantville, NY, with his partner, Lauren, and their four children.
