Wednesday, 24 Septemer 2025
09:30 - 10:15
Auditorium 5, CCL
A City on Mars: Can we settle space, should we settle space, and have we really thought this through?
Earth is not well. The promise of starting life anew somewhere far, far away—no climate change, no war, no X—beckons, and settling the stars finally seems within our grasp. Or is it? My co-author/husband and I are sci-fi geeks who set out to write a book about the glorious future of space settlements, but after years of research, we aren’t so sure it’s a good idea. Read more.
| Dr. Kelly Weinersmith Rice University |
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| David Chapman WYSE Travel Confederation |
10:40 - 11:00
Workshop area, CCL
Global market outlook for youth travel
| Greg Richards Research Advisor, WYSE Travel Confederation |
11:20 - 12:00
Auditorium 5, CCL
Ask the buyers: Outlook on youth travel
What are buyers looking for in youth travel experiences for the next few years? What is in demand and what are the challenges? Read more.
| Philip Russell Plan my Gap Year |
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| Laura Sampedro Klook |
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| Clare Weston KILROY |
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| Greg Bows Impact Travel Group |
12:20 - 13:00
Auditorium 5, CCL
Why the US is still open for business through BridgeUSA
Karen Ward of the US Department of State will join members of the Coalition for American Public Diplomacy and Leadership (CAPDL), Bill Gertz of AIFS, Modesto Reyes of OFIT, and Bettina Wiedmann of Experiment e.V. to discuss how the US remains welcoming of BridgeUSA participants. Read more.
| William L. Gertz AIFS |
| Modesto Reyes OFIT |
| Karen Ward US Department of State |
| Bettina Wiedmann Experiment e.V. |
| Carmen Iezzi Mezzera CADPL |
14:20 - 15:00
Auditorium 5, CCL
Curation and the future of youth travel
Curation? Isn’t that about stuffy old museums with old stuff? Not anymore. Curation has moved out of the museum and onto the street, into curated retail and into a raft of curated websites. Read more.
| Etienne Matichard JO&JOE |
| Kim Callender SoloTrvlr |
| Sofia Ferraz Tasteology |
| Greg Richards WYSE Travel Confederation |
15:40 - 16:00
Workshop area, CCL
The rise of coffee tourism: Mapping culture, curiosity and community
Coffee is a universal language, transcending borders as a sort of passport to discovering community in a city. Read more.
| Sofia Ferraz Tasteology |
16:20 - 17:00
Auditorium 5, CCL
The critical connection: Mobilising change
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Before the social begins, end your day with a session that’s unignorable, unforgettable, and unifying. This isn’t a wind-down. It’s a wake-up. Read more. |
| Chris Arnold Made Impact |
| Jackson Muneza M’vunganyi Award-winning broadcaster, multimedia storyteller and global speaker |
| David Chapman WYSE Travel Confederation |
Thursday, 25 Septemer 2025
09:20 - 09:40
Workshop area, CCL
From purpose to paycheck: Can cultural exchange and career progression coexist?
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Cultural exchange programmes were founded on the ideal of fostering global understanding through shared experiences. Read more. |
| Crystal Bunts Alliance Abroad |
| Marlenny Peña OFIT |
10:00 - 10:20
Workshop area, CCL
How to make international agency partnerships work and last
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In the au pair and cultural exchange sector, no agency succeeds alone. Cross-border collaboration is essential, but not all partnerships are created equal. So, what separates a partnership that simply works from one that thrives and lasts? Read more. |
| Patricia Brunner IAPA |
10:40 - 11:00
Workshop area, CCL
How to build long-term partnerships with purpose
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Explore in this session how cultural exchange drives professional growth, regional inclusion, and long-term collaboration. Read more. |
| Muzo Unluel GEC |
| Marianny Aquino ACE International |
12:00 - 13:00
Auditorium 5, CCL
Update from the US Department of State
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Cultural exchange programmes offer significant benefits to public diplomacy, national security, and economic prosperity. Read more. |
| Karen Ward |
| Casey Slamin InterExchange |
14:20 - 15:00
Auditorium 5, CCL
“Tourism is dead…”
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The travel sector stands at a crossroads. As global challenges reshape the expectations and values of travellers, especially younger generations, the traditional tourism product is quickly losing relevance. Read more. |
| LuÃs Araújo Global Tourism Leader |
| David Chapman WYSE Travel Confederation |
16:00 - 16:20
Workshop area, CCL
How to shape resilient leaders for tomorrow: The camp counselors’ adaptive playbook
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Today’s camp counselors need more than enthusiasm—they need resilience, cross-cultural savvy, and leadership that resonates with Gen Z and Alpha. Read more. |
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Marina Onaca |
16:20 - 16:40
Workshop area, CCL
How to synergise with community partners
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Local communities provide unique opportunities to travellers and tourism organisations. Read more. |
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Grant Millar |
16:40 - 17:00
Workshop area, CCL
How to use context effectively to enhance AI in cultural exchange
| AI that forgets context is just automation. What if your AI tools remembered the language of your exchange programs? Read more. |
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Rob Burchell |
Friday, 27 Septemer 2024
09:40 - 10:00
Workshop area, CCL
How to maximise flexibility and minimise footprint
We all know that there are a multitude of options to present to customers when selecting a way to travel a destination. I want to open your eyes to an option that enables any customer, on any budget, a way to maximise their time and experiences in that destination….and that is using a hop on hop off bus service. Read more.
| Matthew ” Muddy” Toohey Kiwi Experience |
10:00 - 10:40
Auditorium 5, CCL
The state of exchanges after 6+ months of the Trump Administration
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Mark Overmann Alliance for International Exchange |
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David Chapman WYSE Travel Confederation |
11:40 - 12:00
Workshop area, CCL
How to spark lasting impact for your travellers
| How can travel lead to lifelong friendships? At Hostel Hoff, volunteers come together from around the world and form a unique family. Read more. |
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Mary Wanjiku Njuguna |
12:40 - 13:00
Workshop area, CCL
How to improve local relevance and sustainability of cultural exchange
| Is a cultural exchange experience meaningful if your participants are not connected to the local community? Read more. |
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Diego Lopez |
14:00 - 14:20
Workshop area, CCL
How to meet participant expectations for internships and work abroad placements
| In this session we will explore practical strategies to meet and exceed participant expectations in international internships and work placements. Read more. |
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Aplav Saxena |
14:20 - 14:40
Workshop area, CCL
How to ruin your career through travel
| Think travel ruins careers? Think again. Read more. |
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Sibu Szymanowska |
14:40 - 15:00
Workshop area, CCL
How to build greater opportunities for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth to travel, work and connect
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More and more, youth within Canada and the global travel market self-identify as 2SLGBTQIA+. Read more. |
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Liz Hong-Farrell |
16:00 - 16:20
Workshop area, CCL
How to be a more inclusive accommodation
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Many people think accessibility is complicated or very costly, but the truth is, there are small, practical improvements you can easily apply in your accommodation. Read more. |
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Izaskun Quilez |
16:40 - 17:00
Workshop area, CCL
How to inspire trust between higher education institutions and the student travel industry
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Student exchange programs face complex and ever-changing challenges in our multi-layered industry, but one aspect of J1 program never changes: the need for higher education institutions (HEIs) to collaboration and be actively involved throughout the student application process. Read more. |
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Chaz William Brown |
