This year there will be 60 first-time exhibitors, so even if you've attended in the past, there will be plenty of new places to explore. Also included in the price of admission is access to dozens of inspirational, educational and culturally focused sessions on five stages located right on the show floor, along with hands-on activities for the whole family.
A Wellness Travel Experience pavilion is a new addition this year that showcases trends in wellness travel. There are also seminar sessions with some of the world's top travel experts, including Rick Steves, Pauline Former and Samantha Brown.The following stages will also be set-up with additional opportunities:
At the Savvy Traveler Theater, visitors will interact with travel experts on subjects
ranging from packing and travel technology, to maximizing credit card reward points and
travel safety tips and plan in an unpredictable world.
At the Destination Theater, travelers will receive destination-specific information from local experts containing information on when to go, how to get there, what to see and local, off-the-beaten-path attractions from destinations such as Australia, Maui and Canada.
The Taste of Travel Theater highlights top chefs who present live cooking
demonstrations right on the show floor. Featuring cuisines from around the world,
guests will have the opportunity to taste samples and get a full cultural experience in a
stadium-seating styled theater.
At the Global Beats Stage, attendees can feel the beat and experience the rhythm of cultural dances and musical performances during more than 20 presentations throughout the weekend.
At the Destination Theater, travelers will receive destination-specific information from local experts containing information on when to go, how to get there, what to see and local, off-the-beaten-path attractions from destinations such as Australia, Maui and Canada.
The Taste of Travel Theater highlights top chefs who present live cooking
demonstrations right on the show floor. Featuring cuisines from around the world,
guests will have the opportunity to taste samples and get a full cultural experience in a
stadium-seating styled theater.
At the Global Beats Stage, attendees can feel the beat and experience the rhythm of cultural dances and musical performances during more than 20 presentations throughout the weekend.
Wellness Travel Experience
2018
marks the unveiling of the first ever Wellness Travel Experience pavilion,
which highlights health-focused travel suppliers, products and services
showcasing the latest trends and news in this growing travel sector. The
program also includes an educational stage presentation on Saturday, February
10th hosted by Founder/CEO of Travel to Wellness Anne Dimon. Wellness Travel
Experiences will include aroma therapy from Sundara Inn and Spa, motivational
cards, and an introduction to salt therapy.
“Now
more than ever travelers are looking for experiences that focus on promoting
mental and physical well-being,” said Dimon.
“From influencer-led yoga retreats to instructional culinary vacations teaching
participants how to cook healthy meals and make better food choices, this
travel trend has quickly become the fastest growing travel sector worldwide.”
Wellness Travel Panel: Finding the Right Fit
Saturday,
February 10
11:15
a.m. – 12 p.m.
Savvy
Traveler Theater
Panelists:
Robert Jeffers, Health & Wellbeing
Leader, Body Holiday;
Davina Bernard, Director of Wellness,
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise;
Carla Minsky, Communication
Specialist, Sundara Inn & Spa
To
view the full speaker schedule click here.
Travel Theater
Guests
learn the newest trends, hottest tips, and most reliable tools from some of the
world’s top travel experts. This year’s celebrity travel speakers include:
Rick Steves | Writer and Host, Rick Steves Europe
and Travel with Rick Steves
European
Travel Skills
Saturday,
February 10
10:30
a.m. – 12 p.m.
Samantha Brown | Host, Places to Love with Samantha
Brown (PBS)
Places
to Love
Saturday,
February 10
12:45
– 1:45 p.m.
Pauline Frommer | Editorial Director, Frommer’s
Guides
Spend
Less, See More: Strategies for Creating Dream Vacations in ALL Price Ranges
Saturday,
February 10
2:15
– 3:15 p.m.
To
view the full schedule click here.
*Meet and greets follow each session.
*Meet and greets follow each session.
Destination Theater
From
where to go and when to go, to what to do and how to get there, destination
experts give visitors the in-depth information needed to travel like a local.
Vicky Evans | Assistant Vice President, AAA Travel
Sales Development
Explore
Top Destinations and Benefits of Traveling with AAA
Saturday,
February 10
11
– 11:30 a.m.
To
view the full schedule click here.
Savvy Traveler Theater
Showcasing
travel tips, tricks and actionable advice, you’ll learn how to travel like a
pro straight from the experts. Topics include packing tips, technology skills,
travel safety methods, budget travel hacks, etc.
Angel Castellanos | World Travel Expert,
AngelsTravelLounge.com
Travel
Like a Pro: Packing Tips & Savvy Travel Skills
Saturday,
February 10
2:15
– 3 p.m.
To
view the full schedule click here.
Taste of Travel Theater
Located
at a stadium seating-styled theater right on the show floor, “Taste of Travel
Theater” invites visitors to discover the unique cultural flavors of local,
regional and worldwide cuisines. Guests can enjoy a variety of cooking
demonstrations from world-class chefs and receive recipes for dishes from
around the world.
Hosted
by Blast Marketing & PR Founder and President John McCartney, featured demonstrations include:
Ryan Burns | Executive Chef, The Blanchard
Saturday,
February 10
10:30
-11:15 a.m.
Recipe:
Sturgeon with Charred Vegetables and Barigoule Emulsion
Meilie Tsai | Founder, Chicago Taiwanese Cuisine
and Culture Association
Saturday,
February 10
1:45
– 2:30 p.m.
Recipe:
Taiwanese Taco (Gua Bao)
Ancilleno Solomon | CEO, Ice Chef Bahamas Catering
& Events
Sunday,
February 11
1:45
– 2:30 p.m.
Recipe:
Bahamian Conch Fritters
To
view the full demonstration schedule click here.
Global Beats Stage
Visitors
are invited to watch and participate in performances representing several
destinations from around the world (right on the show floor.) The interactive
performances rotate throughout the day and provide a sneak peek into a diverse
range of customs and cultures. Highlights include:
Nordic Folk Dances
Saturday,
February 10 at 11 a.m.
Sunday,
February 11 at 2:10 p.m.
Muay Thai Boxing Demonstration
Saturday,
February 10 at 12 p.m. & 2:15 p.m.
Classical Indian Dance
Saturday,
February 10 at 1 p.m.
To
view the full performance schedule click here.
Single and two-day tickets are available online. Normally $15 for single-day and $22 for two-day admission, you can use the discount code of CHPR for a rate of $11 for single-day or $18 for two-day admission. For
more information on attending the event, please visit www.travelshows.com/shows/chicago.
