Barbara Booth, Co-Founder of Go-Be, CNBC Journalist

Barbara Booth is a visionary entrepreneur and award-winning journalist with a proven track record of building highly successful companies. She is the co-founder and CEO of Go-Be, a nationally recognized sustainable travel-gear brand embraced by airlines, corporations, and travelers worldwide who share her vision for making travel more sustainable, stylish, and wellness-focused, influencing not only how travelers journey but how corporations think about the travel experience. In the 1990s Barbara anticipated the major shift toward freelance talent and founded Editoria Elite, one of the first highly successful networks of top-tier writers and editors serving leading national brands needing on-demand talent. Currently a CNBC journalist, Barbara has spent more than a decade covering global business, politics, technology, and travel, interviewing industry leaders and producing in-depth investigations on critical issues that have shaped corporate practices and consumer understanding. Barbara also hosts a number of high-profile industry events in New York City as well as fundraising galas for the Kamen Brain Tumor Foundation, an organization close to her heart. Among many other major outlets, her work appears on NBC, MSNBC, International Business magazine, and the Harvard Review.

Carolyn Pearson, Founder & CEO of Maiden Voyage

Carolyn is an avid traveller, having visited over 50 countries and was so passionate about empowering others (particularly women) to travel with confidence that she launched her company Maiden Voyage back in 2008.  Today Maiden Voyage is a leading name in the travel security space, providing DEI-Informed Traveller Safety training and advising travel industry suppliers on all things inclusive traveller safety. She is a well-known industry face, conference speaker and press contributor. Previously, Carolyn has led executive-level technology roles for major travel brands including KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and easyJet.

Ged Brown, Founder of Low Season Traveller and Tourism Seasonality Summits

Ged founded Low Season Traveller in 2018 as the world’s first organisation completely dedicated to the promotion of travel during the off-peak seasons in each destination as a way to alleviate the growing issues of ‘over-tourism’.

A passionate advocate of the advantages of tourism, Ged has spent his entire career of over 30 years working at senior director level with leading travel and tourism organisations such as Thomas Cook, MyTravel, Kuoni, Routes, ForwardKeys, Travel Weekly and AviaDev. He is dedicated to ensuring that there is a sustainable tourism offering for future generations which protects and nurtures destinations, their people and their cultures. As such, he is frequently called upon to present keynote speeches at several travel industry events throughout the year and regularly writes articles and publications on the industry.

In addition to his role at Low Season Traveller, Ged is the Founder and CEO of the Tourism Seasonality Summits which are a series of events which bring together leaders from the travel and tourism sector to formulate strategies relating the the challenges and opportunities which seasonality brings. In 2025 the World Tourism Seasonality Summit and European Tourism Seasonality Summit are in partnership with Routes (Informa).  Ged is also proud to hold  an active role on the management board of The World Tourism Association of Culture & Heritage since 2018.

Leslie Andrews, Director of Category Management for JLL

Leslie is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of expertise in the Hospitality Industry and higher education. Her focus on travel management has seen her lead global travel programs and serve as the academic dean of an international school. Currently, she is the Director of Category Management for JLL, an ad hoc Professional Development Trainer, and a Coach. Her educational experience includes college instruction, curriculum design, faculty development, and mentoring of adult learners.

Leslie is an active thought leader and contributor to the industry, serving on the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) Foundation Board of Directors, and as Co-Chair of the Roosevelt University Heller Graduate School of Business Advisory Board, as well as a member of the DePaul University Dean’s Advisory Board. She is also a member of the ProcureCon Travel Advisory Board. In 2025, Leslie was also the recipient of President Joe Biden’s Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for volunteerism.

Dan Christian, Host of the Travel Trends Podcast , Founder and CEO of Acceleration Team

Dan Christian is a visionary leader in the travel industry, renowned for his expertise in business transformation and consumer behaviour. As the Host of the Travel Trends Podcast and Founder and CEO of Acceleration Team, Dan continues to shape the future of travel through insightful discussions and innovative strategies. His podcast, a must-listen for industry professionals, explores the latest global trends and technological advancements, providing valuable insights that drive growth and innovation.

For over a decade, Dan has taken to the stage to inspire and inform audiences about digital transformation, marketing, technology, evolving consumer expectations, and emerging trends. He brings a unique perspective, blending insights from his time as a C-Suite executive with his entrepreneurial ventures. As the former Chief Digital Officer at The Travel Corporation, Dan led 40 travel brands through a major digital transformation driven by data, consumer insights and being ahead of the curve. His key roles at G Adventures, and Lonely Planet highlight his leadership in marketing, e-commerce, and digital products, driving significant business growth. Dan’s entrepreneurial spirit, evidenced by the success of advising high growth start-ups, underscores his ability to engage and excite customers through compelling storytelling and strategic vision.