Women’s Travel Fest
2023 Schedule

FridaY
Hotel Indigo
8.00 – 10.00 AM
(ADD-ON: $100.00)

Travel Hacking: Take a FREE trip in 2023
with Stephanie Zito
Have a dream trip in mind, but don’t know how to get there, affordably? This is the workshop for you! Travel hacking pro Stephanie Zito will share with you the best tricks to hack a vacation, and then help you plan your dream trip for FREE! 20 guests max.
Hotel Indigo
10.00 AM – 12.00 PM
(ADD-ON: $100.00)

Let's get (Financially) Naked
with Alyne Tamir
In this all-time crowd favorite workshop, Alyne will help you deep-dive into your money mindset and make it stronger. Come willing to be comfortable with opening up about your financial situation, as we will have conversations about our incomes, revenue streams, and how to increase them. 20 guests max.
Hotel Indigo
12.00 – 2.00 PM
(ADD-ON: $100.00)

Travel Writing: Craft the Perfect Pitch
with Jenna Scatena
What does it take to translate a good idea into an irresistible pitch? In this workshop with Jenna Scatena, we’ll learn how to get an editor to greenlight your pitch. We’ll cover the essential components of pitching, from honing in on a great idea, to writing a captivating hook and a walk-off that leaves the editor wanting more. Whether you’re just starting or you’re a seasoned writer aspiring to bigger outlets, this course provides clear guidance on crafting effective pitches for quality publications. 20 guests max.
Hotel Indigo
2.00 – 4.00 PM
(ADD-ON: $100.00)

Publish Your Travel Memoir
with Nikki Vargas
From the pros/cons of self publishing vs. getting published, to how to land a literary agent, what goes into a book proposal (a page-by-page breakdown), the negotiation and auction process of selling a book to a publisher, this workshop will get you ready to publish your manuscript. 20 guests max.
Hotel Indigo
4.00 – 6.00 PM
(ADD-ON: $100.00)

Break into Podcasting: How to Launch and Grow a Hit Travel Podcast
with Danielle Desir
Have dreams of starting a travel podcast? In this workshop, learn how to launch a show that stands out and what you need to grow long-term. Leave this session with a simple tech setup, a list of episodes you’re excited to produce, and a marketing plan that boosts discoverability from Day 1. 20 guests max.
DL Rooftop & Lounge
7.00 – 9.00 PM

The Official Opening Night Party!
Let’s get this party started! All ticketed guests, speakers, and sponsors are invited to join us for our annual kick off party that will take place at The DL Rooftop & Lounge, 95 Delancey St., New York City, NY 10002.
saturday
SAT, MARCH 4th
9.30 AM

Doors Open
Welcome to the Women’s Travel Fest!
MAIN STAGE
10.00 – 10.15 AM

Intro & Welcome
with founder Kelly Lewis
MAIN STAGE
10.30 – 11.15 AM

My Journey to 90 Countries and 4 Million Followers
with Alyne Tamir (Dear Alyne)
From strictly religious and married, to divorced and becoming a full-time content creator in 365 days. Join Alyne on her journey from minimum wage, to a community of nearly 4 Million followers. Alyne works with big brands like Coca-Cola, United Nations, Microsoft, Meta and also creates her own products: courses, masterminds, and retreats. She will be sharing with us her biggest, most important turning points throughout her journey, and top tips for people creating content today.
MAIN STAGE
11.30 AM – 12.15 PM

I Wanted to Change the World, So I Traveled
Live your life with a compass … literally and figuratively. How travel can become a way to define your unplanned destiny by enabling us to see through the eyes of other people and places.
MAIN STAGE
12.30 – 1.15 PM

How I Saved $100k with FREE Accommodation Around the World
with Nora Dunn
Accommodation is the most expensive aspect of your trip. But what if you could get it for free…AND stay in amazing places…AND have a more rewarding and unique cultural experience that you can’t get any other way? We’ll break down five different ways to get accommodation for free, how to find opportunities and land gigs, and ways to stay safe and ensure it’s a great experience.
BREAKOUT
12.30 – 1.15 PM

Traveling Sustainably and Ethically
with Calen Otto, Nikki Vargas, and Retha Charette
How can we ensure this beautiful Earth remains for generations to come? In this thought-provoking panel we will explore sustainability, the ethics of travel and geo-tagging, and share easy decisions we can all implement to create a better world.
LUNCH
1.15 – 2.30 PM

Lunch
Lunch break! Get to know other attendees as you enjoy a refreshing and healthy lunch.
MAIN STAGE
2.30 – 3.15 PM

From Passion to Profit: Turn Your Love for Travel into a Career
with Deidre Mathis
Want to find ways to keep traveling? Think your passion and your work can’t coincide? Think again! Hear from Deidre Mathis about how she turned her passion for travel into profit – and how you can too.
BREAKOUT
2.30 – 3.15 PM

Take Flight! Elevate Your In-Flight Routine
with Stephanie Flor, Kenecia Lashae and Alexandra Jimenez
Arrive better than ever with these travel tips from beauty & lifestyle expert Stephanie Flor. From how to most efficiently pack your bags, to techniques to elevate your beauty routine in-flight and easy stretches that help your body adapt to new time zones faster, this fun kickoff panel makes long flights something to look forward to.
MAIN STAGE
3.30 – 4.15 PM

Kickass Solo Women over 50
with Carolyn Ray, Melissa DaSilva, Diana Eden, and Dawn Booker
Mature 50+ solo women travellers share their life lessons, how they blaze their own trail and embrace the freedom and adventurous spirit that solo travel allows. Presented by Trafalgar.
BREAKOUT
3.30 – 4.15 PM

How to Get Started as a Digital Nomad
with Ashley McCurdy
After getting laid off from a corporate job, Ashley put all of her stuff in storage, threw her essentials in a carry-on suitcase, booked a one-way ticket to Florida, and started a new life on the road. If you also dream of crafting a remote career while traveling, this session introduces you to the digital nomad lifestyle that can be fulfilling both professionally and personally!
MAIN STAGE
4.30 – 5.15 PM

The Emotional Value of Travel
with Samantha Brown
Samantha Brown is an Emmy award-winning travel journalist and television host, notable for her work as the host of several Travel Channel shows. In January 2018, she began hosting “Samantha Brown’s Places to Love” on PBS. Her much-anticipated talk will cover how the act of traveling has immense emotional benefits to our well-being and outlook on the world.
MAIN STAGE
5.15 – 5.30 PM

Closing Comments
with founder Kelly Lewis
PARTY
The Mayfly
6.30 – 8.30 PM

Saturday Afterparty at The Mayfly
Get to know your fellow attendees at our annual Day 1 afterparty – with added travel matchmaking, to help you deepen connections this weekend! Cash bar.
269 E Houston St.
Sunday
SUN, MARCH 5th
9.30 AM

Doors Open
Welcome back to Day 2!
MAIN STAGE
10.00 – 10.15 AM

Intro & Welcome
with founder Kelly Lewis
MAIN STAGE
10.30 – 11.15 AM

Tap into the Power of Excitement: Live an Inspiring Life
with Lei Wang
Excitement is what led Lei Wang to go from an unathletic book nerd to becoming the first Asian woman to climb the highest peaks on each of the seven continents and ski to the North and South Poles. In this inspiring talk, she’ll show you how to turn your wildest daydream into reality, and live an inspiring life.
MAIN STAGE
11.30 AM – 12.15 PM

Life Changing Travel that Won’t Break the Bank
with Pauline Frommer
The notion that travel is an expensive hobby is still prevalent today. Pauline Frommer dispels that myth while also covering how a shift in mindset can enable you to experience an impactful trip despite having a limited budget. She’ll cover ways to save money right now including volunteer and sustainable travel. Ms. Frommer is the Co-President of FrommerMedia, Editorial Director of Frommer’s Guidebooks, author of the best-selling “Frommer’s EasyGuide to New York City” and “Frommer’s New York City Day by Day”, co-host of “The Travel Show”.
MAIN STAGE
12.30 – 1.15 PM

How to Travel the World without Quitting Your Day Job
with Erica James, Jen Ruiz, Kendra Abney, and Mita Carriman
If your full-time job is keeping you from seeing the world, this is the panel for you! Hear from inspiring women on how they maximize their PTO, ask their boss for time off, and balance travel with career.
BREAKOUT
12.30 – 1.15 PM

Balancing a Career, Life, Family, & Travel
with Erica Hackman, Timathea Workman, and Deidre Mathis
Kids, career, travel – can we really have it all? Hear from women who are primary caregivers on how they navigate travel and advocate for themselves and their dreams.
LUNCH
1.15 – 2.30 PM

Lunch
A tasty break to get to know attendees and chat with our amazing vendors.
MAIN STAGE
2.30 – 3.15 PM

Rent Your Home! Save (and Make) Money While Traveling
with Sarah Weaver
If your monthly rent or mortage payment is one of the things holding you back from travel, this talk will offer you a game changing perspective. As a traveler, coach, speaker, real estate investor, and real estate entrepreneur, Sarah shares her secrets on leveraging your biggest asset, your home, to be able to earn an income while traveling – even if you rent and don’t own!
BREAKOUT
2.30 – 3.15 PM

Telling Your Travel Story
with Victoria M. Walker, Nikki Vargas, and Danielle Desir
From social media to vlogging to podcasts, there is no shortage of ways to share your travels with the world (and get paid for it!) In this session we’ll talk about the pros and cons of each medium and how to find the one that’s right for you.
MAIN STAGE
3.30 – 4.15 PM

First Class Travel on an Economy Budget
with Ashley McCurdy, Stephanie Zito, and Ashley Peterson
When the economic outlook looks bleak, the first thing to go in a household budget is travel. However, it doesn’t have to be that way! This panel of experts will offer hacks and tips on how to maintain your passion for travel, even during recession times.
BREAKOUT
3.30 – 4.15 PM

How to Build a Travel Business and Scale Authentically
with Chelsea Glass, Stephanie Flor, and Haley Woods
How to build your own travel company and scale, authentically. In this panel, 3 business owners in the women’s travel industry peel back the curtain to give you insight into launching your own idea.
MAIN STAGE
4.30 – 5.15 PM

The Evolution of Solo Women's Travel
with Gabby Beckford, Haley Woods, Alexandra Jimenez, and Kelly Lewis
MAIN STAGE
5.15 – 5.30 PM

Closing Comments and SURPRISE Announcement
We have a HUGE announcement coming and you do NOT want to miss this!
#THANKYOU
Our Sponsors

Thank you to our vendors and sponsors who make the Women’s Travel Fest possible!
PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO
FEBRUARY 16-19, 2024