Ariel is a communicator, activist, and traveler based in Brooklyn, New York, who has worked, edited, and traveled across the globe. As the former Program Director and a founding team member of WITS, she has helped shape what the event is today. Ariel has served as the editorial strategy director at the Vera Institute of Justice, a national organization dedicated to ending mass incarceration in the United States, and as the digital team lead at Lambda Legal, the oldest and largest LGBTQ and HIV civil rights legal advocacy organization in the world. 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 Hyder Hock is the Chief Impact Officer at Destinations International, where she provides strategic oversight and thought leadership for the association’s social impact, professional development, and advocacy initiatives.

She leads the development of policy-relevant resources and leadership tools that support destination decision-makers to advance a more resilient global tourism ecosystem. Sophia serves on the boards of TravelAbility and the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA) and is actively engaged in World Economic Forum tourism initiatives, contributing to global dialogue on tourism’s role in economic resilience, workforce development, placemaking, and long-term value creation.