Ariel is a communicator, activist, and traveler based in Brooklyn, New York, and a founding team member of WITS. She is the editorial strategy director for the Vera Institute of Justice, a national organization dedicated to ending mass incarceration in the United States. Previously, she ran the digital team at Lambda Legal, the oldest and largest LGBTQ and HIV civil rights legal advocacy organization in the world. She has worked, edited, and traveled across the globe, but most often dreams of selling everything she owns and booking a one-way ticket to Amsterdam. Learn more on her website.

JoAnna Haugen is an award-winning writer, speaker, consultant, and solutions advocate.

She is also founder of Rooted, a purpose-driven communications consultancy, learning lab, and solutions platform at the intersection of social impact, storytelling, and radical innovation in tourism. Through Rooted, JoAnna works with destinations, travel brands, tour operators, and tourism professionals from around the world to unlock the power of strategic storytelling and communication that shine a light on responsible tourism and destination stewardship. Learn more about her work at RootedStorytelling.com

Marissa is an seasoned event management professional with over a decade of event strategy experience. She holds an MBA from Eastern Illinois University and a BS in Marketing from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, bringing a strong foundation in marketing and business development to the rapidly evolving events landscape. Her career began in international education encouraging young people to study abroad, and she transitioned into working with women travelers around the globe as the Head of Operations at Wanderful. She currently manages global events that support some of WTW’s most critical marketing and business priorities. Learn more on Marissa’s LinkedIn profile.

Martinique Lewis is an award-winning diversity in travel consultant, President of the Black Travel Alliance, Director of Partnerships for the Black Travel Summit, and the host of National Geographic's Black Travel Across America. She is also the creator of The ABC Travel Greenbook and App, the number one resource connecting destinations to Black travelers and the African Diaspora globally.

Trusted among her peers as a "connector," she is always connecting the dots to ensure the travel industry is mindful of diversity—not just as a "buzzword" but as an action that produces results. As a digital disruptor and someone immensely in love with all things travel, she strives daily to change the narrative by advocating for travelers from different demographics across multiple platforms. Learn more on Martinique’s website.

Nikki is an editor and author represented by the Paradigm Talent Agency. Her bestselling memoir CALL YOU WHEN I LAND (HarperCollins, 2023) was named a best women's memoir by Glamour, a bestseller by Hudson Books, a staff pick by Apple Books, a book pick by Real Simple, a recommended read by Good Morning America, and a winner of the 2024 Bessie Award. Her first book, WANDERESS, was published by Penguin Random House in 2022. Today, Nikki is a Senior Editor for Fodor's Travel, a legacy publication reaching millions of readers. Before Fodor's, she worked for Atlas Obscura, Culture Trip, and The Infatuation. Learn more at NikkiVargas.com

Sophia provides leadership, coordination, and strategic direction for the design and implementation of the social impact strategy within Destinations International, across its member organizations, and the broader tourism industry. She integrates human centered design thinking, and mindfulness practices into her work as a holistic way to develop sustainable outcomes that align with business performance and the enabling environment. Learn more about her work at Destinations International.