Who’s in the Room at Women Leading Travel Forum and Why It Shapes What Happens Next

At the Women Leading Travel Forum, the audience is intentionally designed.

Attendees step into a room with leaders who carry revenue targets, build teams and influence direction across airlines, cruises, hospitality and travel tech. That shared level of responsibility creates instant alignment and raises the level of every conversation.

Last year’s profile makes that clear:

• 350+ attendees
• 89% director level or above
• 74% from companies with $100M+ in annual revenue

People arrive ready to exchange ideas, speak the same language, evaluate opportunities and move quickly when something clicks.

A Room Designed for Real Conversations

The forum brings together leaders operating at a similar level, which shifts the quality of dialogue.

Conversations focus on leadership realities, how technology is reshaping the industry, and where to place the next strategic bets. Attendees will tune into what’s working, where teams are adjusting and how others are navigating similar challenges.

The result is clarity leaders can act on.

Where Conversations Turn Into Outcomes

Sessions dig into topics like AI adoption, automation, and evolving customer expectations, with a clear focus on practical application. Attendees leave with strategies grounded in real business context.

Beyond the sessions, the room itself does the work:

• Hiring conversations start between trusted peers
• Advisory and board connections take shape
• Partnerships move toward execution
• Strategic ideas get refined through experienced input

Each interaction carries weight because the people in the room have the authority to act on what they discuss.

Why Cross-Industry Perspective Sharpens Thinking

The audience spans hospitality, cruise, airlines, finance, and travel tech.

That mix brings fresh angles into familiar challenges. Attendees gain perspective from adjacent sectors and leave with ideas that are relevant and ready to apply.

The Leaders Guiding the Conversation

Attendees will hear from leaders including:

• Marion Jones, Former Olympic Athlete, Personal Growth & Leadership Coach, Marion Jones Elite Performance
• Julie Averill, Chief Impact Officer, Gold Thread LLC
• Dana Shapir Alviene, Chief Guest Officer, Breeze Airways
• Cindy Solomon, President & CEO, Courageous Leadership Institute
• Karen Laos, Global Speaker, Karen Laos 
• Janet Bava, Chief Commercial Officer, Windstar Cruises
• Christine Duffy, President, Carnival Cruise Line
• Delia Osegueda, Vice President of Global Partnerships, AIC HOTEL GROUP
• Romie Mushtaq, MD, Chief Wellness Officer, Great Wolf Resorts

Together, they anchor conversations that continue well beyond the stage.

A Community That Extends Beyond the Event

There’s a shared understanding in the room that shapes how people connect.

Leaders speak openly about growth, team dynamics, and the realities of navigating change. That openness builds trust quickly and creates relationships that continue long after the event.

Why This Room Changes What Happens Next

Access to the right people accelerates progress.

Attendees gain proximity to leaders shaping hiring, partnerships, and strategy across the industry. They step into conversations that influence decisions before they become visible elsewhere.

That shift creates momentum they can carry back to their teams and businesses.

Join the Room

For those ready to connect with women leaders in travel who are actively shaping the future of the industry, this is where it happens.

Register now to secure a place at Women Leading Travel Forum 2026.

Further Reading: Why Carnival’s President Is Betting Big on Proximity and Price Power