THE 13TH ANNUAL LOS ANGELES TRAVEL & ADVENTURE SHOW 2018
at THE LOS ANGELES CONVENTION CENTER – DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES
It’s the most wonderful time of the year… no, not Christmas and the Winter Holidays, but the return of the Travel & Adventure Show at the Los Angeles Convention Center! Believe it or not, tens of thousands of people here in L.A. will be celebrating it.
Before you know, as my new YouTube series takes off, you’ll hopefully see me speaking on this stage before you know it.
It’s no secret I live to travel. It’s been in my blood since I was a toddler, traveling the world ever since. Something I have been blessed to do, however, most people would be surprised just how simple it is to travel, let alone how inexpensive it can be. If you don’t believe me, there’s your first reason to head over to the Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show. Need a few others, ok, let me fill you in on some.
Where else can you hear travel icons speak, like Rick Steves, then get a chance to chat first hand after… the LA Travel Show!
But first, a brief background of what’s now known on social media as the #LATravelShow. If you are a fan of travel, then there’s no other convention open to the public like this one. Not only is it the only one in Los Angeles, it’s now the largest in the country. If you don’t believe me, be a part of the over 50,000 people who will be in attendance this upcoming Saturday and Sunday, on February 24th and the 25th, 2018.
Here I was checking in with great representatives from Thailand.
There are endless amounts to explore and discover revolving around the world of travel and adventure, thus where the convention gets its name. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or just starting out, this is the place for you. For starters, there are over 350 exhibitors from destinations around the globe, consisting of thousands of U.S. and worldwide travel experts.
Some incredible executive chefs from Arizona were serving up some of their states delicacies.
From foreign tourist bureaus, cruise lines, resorts, air & train transportation, private tours, guidebooks, apparel and more. You can see they have you well covered.
You won’t go hungry with so many samples from some many destinations available.
Many of the exhibitors will feature giveaways for trips, travel discounts, small gifts to hand out and some even have food & drink samples from their homeland. Now you get an idea of why it’s so busy.
I have many friends in the travel industry, but few I can say not only do I consider mentors, let alone who have helped my journey forward, such as Samantha Brown.
There are three main theaters where you can hear travel experts speak on travel… the Travel Theater, Destination Theater and the Savvy Traveler Theater stages. Speaking of travel experts, this year include some travel icons and heavyweights. Such as the return of Samantha Brown – Travel Channel host of 18 years and now moved to PBS hosting her new series Samantha Brown’s Places To Love (https://Samantha-Brown.com/episodes/);
Be sure to check out Samantha Brown’s hit new series, “Samantha Brown’s Places To Love” now on PBS every weekend and available online.
Rick Steves – Travel Writer & Host of Rick Steves’ Europe and Travel with Rick Steves (www.RickSteves.com);
One of the best moments was getting a chance to talk travel with Rick Steves in the media room back at the Long Beach Convention Center.
Pauline Frommer – Editorial Director of the Frommer Guides and Publisher of Frommer’s Travel Guides (www.Frommers.com); Phil Koeghan – Host/Co-Executive Producer of The Amazing Race & Author of No Opportunity Wasted; Patricia Schultz – Bestselling Author of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die; and Peter Greenberg – Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter, producer, and CBS News Travel Editor just to name a few. The best part of these appearances is after each one is done, they then do a meet & greet. Giving the chance for fans to say hello, grab a picture or get an autograph.
One of the most knowledgeable people in the travel industry, and still one of the nicest, Pauline Frommer of Frommer’s Travel Guides.
How about watching world culinary chefs demonstrate their country’s cooking on the Taste of Travel Theater stage where you’re even able to sample the food. Some of this year’s special guests include Shaun O’Neale, Winner of MasterChef Season 7 and Cheferee: Anthony Martorina of Culinary Fight Club.
All day, both Saturday & Sunday, culinary experts from around the globe will be cooking up dishes, all of which you can sample.
Maybe you would like to get off your feet and sit down to enjoy some amazing cultural performances on the Global Beats stage. They have that covered too, a few examples of dance troupes from China, the Cook Islands, India, Panama and Taiwan; and musical acts from the Bahamas and Thailand.
The entertainment on the Global Beats Stage is non-stop, with a new demonstration almost every 20 minutes.
If it’s hands-on activities you’re looking for then they have those too. For the second year in a row, the hit of the LA Travel Show is back, Camel Rides! Yes, here’s your chance to see what it’s like crossing the Sahara while on a camel.
Hanging out with my new friend Eli The Camel. Quite the Gentleman if I may say so.
They have diving lessons in a pool to get your feet wet, literally. Ride on a SegWay or climb a giant rock wall. For the first time this year, you can join mad scientists from Two Bit Circus as they showcase their most popular games or enter the Virtual Reality Activity Pavilion. That’s just a few, there are so many more activities you can see why you’ll be busy one day there or the entire weekend.
Think you have what it takes to rock climb… well try it out first hand.
Another first this year is the Hilton Passport Project, quite an amazing perk. Hilton Hotels are teaming up with the U.S. Department of State to help get more people traveling in 2018. If you need a U.S. passport or just need to renew your current passport, they’ll have you covered. Plus, all applicants with an appointment will get free admission into the show. Check out the Travel Show’s website for more details.
It’s not a job well done for me if I don’t stop by each year to check in with my pal Lenny the Lion from South Africa.
For me, it’s a bit of a homecoming of sorts. The LA Travel Show is now in its 13th year, many years I had gone, but the past few I’ve had the honor to attend with a Press Pass. Receiving Press credentials was only icing on the cake to attending, thanks to the popularity of this blog. In fact, my life’s new direction is owed to this convention. From its days at the beautiful Long Beach Convention Center to now at the mammoth, modern Los Angeles Convention Center.
People often ask if Samantha Brown is just as real & warm in real life, as she is in all her shows… well of course! It’s a lesson to for those in travel & all walks of life, to be who you are. Hopefully, you’ll come down, listen to her speak, meet and see for yourself.
The travel industry is filled with amazing people, those helping to provide the travel to those doing the traveling, to those who write and film about it. I’m lucky to cover the spectrum in my life. Just a couple of years back of all the friends I’ve made in this business, my friendship with Samantha Brown, had me close to having my own show on the Travel Channel. Dreams do come true, but if they don’t, never give up. Now thanks to Samantha and other friends like travel icon Rudy Maxa who guests the Travel Show circuit, I’m now on my way to a YouTube series.
Big thanks to Rachel with LivItaly Tours. From last years show until now, she’s helped pave the way for some great adventures ahead.
Needless to say, this year’s LA Travel Show has me looking forward to attending. From a business standpoint, I can’t wait to network, research, film, and document this incredible event. Catch up with Samantha Brown, Rick Steves & Pauline Frommer. Spend some time brainstorming with LivItaly Italian Tours (www.LivItaly.com) and some other great tour companies. But especially crossing over my business into a personal life as my wife and I have some great trips in the works now due to all of this. This gives us a chance to learn more about where not only we plan on traveling to, but to open doors to new places as well.
Back in Long Beach, I was able to meet Angelo from LivItaly Tours, first introducing me to their incredible company. Here’s to many future memories.
I’ll be there at 9:30 am on Saturday for a private media tour, thanks to all the fantastic hospitality of Marketing Maven. Then I’ll be ready to enjoy the day when the doors open at 10 am along with many friends. I hope to see many of you there joining us.
This year with the Winter Olympics, South Korea I’m sure will have even more to show off.
If you don’t live in Los Angeles, the Travel & Adventure Show will also be in Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco and Washington D.C., so check out www.TravelShows.com for more information.
During our media tour, we had the chance to see the Cook Island dancers perform before the doors opened. Later on, doing their full show for the crowds.
THE 13TH ANNUAL LOS ANGELES TRAVEL & ADVENTURE SHOW 2018
Saturday, February 24th: 10:00am – 5:00pm
Sunday, February 25th: 10:00am – 5:00pm
At the LOS ANGELES CONVENTION CENTER (South Halls JK)
1201 South Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015
213-741-1151
