There's nothing more exhilarating—and at times nerve-wracking—than gathering a group of leading industry professionals to dissect your product. That's what the recent Luxury Travel Expo Advisory Board Meeting was all about. More than 25 travel industry leaders came together at Jumeriah Essex House on May 17 in New York City. These enthusiastic travel executives offered their expertise to help shape the educational program and overall success of Luxury Travel Expo. 
Sorting out the suggestions is always a challenge—fewer sessions, more sessions, shorter sessions, longer sessions. You get the idea. But what comes forth more than anything else is the willingness of the luxury travel community—represented by hoteliers, suppliers, agents, association heads, consultants, destinations and others—to embrace our show and help make it better.
This week's column is a salute to our advisory board members. Pease study their names; you'll see what I mean when I say the ideas for our show come from the industry's very best.
Luxury Travel Expo
Advisory Board Members
Scott Ahlsmith, Vice President, Global Network Solutions, Virtuoso; Priscilla Alexander, President and Founder, ProTravel International; Greg Bernd, Vice President of Sales, Classic Vacations; Roselyn Cosentino, Chief Marketing Officer, Luxe Worldwide Hotels; Greg DeClemente, Managing Director, Courtyard Travel; Nathan Devore, Co-President, Rich Worldwide Travel; Kathy Falkensammer, CTC, President, Prestige Travel; Rob Fielding, Director of Sales, Southern USA, TCS Expeditions; Barbara Gallay President, Linden Travel Bureau, Inc.; Joan Gibbs, Vice President Sales - North America, Jumeirah; Mark Ginna, Vice President National Sales, Loews Hotels; Suzanne Hall, Senior Director, Marketing & Development for Land Products, Ensemble Travel; Audrey Hendley, Vice President Marketing, American Express, Consumer Travel, American Express Travel; Maureen Jones, President, All Horizons Travel; Robert W. Lepisto, CTC, Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing, SeaDream Yacht Club; Ignacio Maza, Executive Vice President, Signature Travel Network; Gary Murphy, President, Brendan Worldwide Vacations; Jonathan Newbury, Vice President Marketing, The Americas, Small Luxury Hotels of the World; Joan Novack, Majesty Travel; Laurie Palumbo, Chief Operating Officer, Island Destinations; Mariana Pedrero, Mexico Tourism Board; Diane Petras, Conference Manager, The Travel Institute; Dr. Lalia Rach, Associate Dean, New York University; Peter Rasmussen, President, Travel Counsellors LLC; Pilar Rios, Director of Promotions, Sol Melia Hotels & Resorts; Lee Robinson, Vice President, Field Sales, Princess Cruises and Cunard Line; Jacque Salentine Busby, President, Salentine Travel; Navin Sawhney, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Tauck World Discovery; Elizabeth Schaefer, Associate Regional Director of Sales, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts; Sheri Seguin, Director, Consumer Travel, American Express; Rabia Shahenshah, Tzell Travel and Tours; Kenan Simmons, Vice President, Sales, The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd.; Linda Stillman, Senior Director of Sales, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau; Robin Tauck, President, Tauck World Discovery; Bruce Tepper, Joselyn, Tepper & Associates; Roy Twiste, Director of Leisure Sales & VIP Desk, Carlson Wagonlit Travel; Ann van Leeuwen, Vice President, North American Sales, Virtuoso; Tim Warburton, President, WIMCO Villas and Hotels; Scott Wiseman, Executive Vice President, Abercrombie & Kent, Inc.
Those on the Board Who Were Unable to Attend the Recent Advisory Board Meeting
Lynne Bigger, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Consumer Travel Network, USA, American Express; Peter S. Carideo, President, CRC Travel; Mark Conroy, President & CEO, Regent Seven Seas Cruises; Terry Dale, President & CEO, CLIA; Ed Fioravante, Sales Executive, LVCVA; Stacy Fischer-Rosenthal, Executive Vice President, Fischer Travel Enterprises; Donna Flora, Vice President, Travel Industry Relations, American Express; Fay Georgousis, Director, Greek National Tourist Office; Richard Harpen, CMP, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino; Anastasia Mann, Chairman & CEO, Corniche Travel Group & Anastasia's Africa; Jack Mannix, President & CEO, Ensemble Travel; George Morgan-Grenville, President, Abercrombie & Kent, Inc.; Larry Pimentel, Chairman & CEO, SeaDream Yacht Club; Dennis Pinto, President, Micato Safaris; William Talbert III, President & CEO, Greater Miami CVB; John Ueberroth. Chairman & CEO, IndeCorp; Valerie Wilson, President & CEO, Valerie Wilson Travel, Inc., Julie Zadeh, Managing Director, Travel Trade Marketing, Hawaii Visitor & Convention Bureau.
Alicia Evanko, CMP Show Director [email protected]