If there was any question about the viability of the travel industry in 2024, the evidence from the surge of guests at the Travel & Adventure Show in Dallas, Texas suggests that travel is alive and well. Travel is well in terms of interest from potential travelers, and well in terms of travel marketing. The booths were filled with exhibitors, the seats were filled to listen to travel expert presentations, and a tone of excitement shined throughout.
Truthfully, I expected this excitement to be the case given the eager climate for travel these days. However, I did wonder if perhaps some interest would wane following the initial travel burst when Covid-related precautions ended. Fortunately, my expectations of sustained travel enthusiasm matched the reality of this year’s Show.
My favorite part of the Show was the clear genuineness of the presenters and exhibitors. I didn’t feel as though I was being “sold” from various tourism board representatives. Rather, it felt like friendly conversations among fellow travel lovers coupled with helpful destination-specific information. Keep reading to learn more.
2024 Updates to the Travel & Adventure Show
The Travel & Adventure Show is a multi-city series of programs that has seen over 2.5 million travelers and over 4,500 exhibitors represented.
As previously highlighted here, the Travel & Adventure Show remains a top-tier trade show for the travel industry.
Flowing throughout the sea of tourism boards, travel celebrities, travel agents, and cultural dance performances were countless visitors primed to feed their hunger for travel.
There were several new and returning aspects of this year’s Show as compared with the 2023 Travel Show. The Global Beats Stage, highlighting dance presentations from around the world, seemed to have a wider range of representation this year. National and regional patriotism was on full display. Happily, the tone was extremely supportive with groups of dancers cheering on each other’s performances.
We also enjoyed seeing diplomatic representation with the U.S. Consulate from Dallas hosting a booth. Several of the Show’s sponsors, including AAA Travel, MSC Cruises, Mexican Caribbean, were also well represented with booths and informational signage.
More than just travel destinations, travel-related products shared the spotlight today. An innovate new app called GeoLanes caught our attention, as CEO Adriana Lamar outlined the trail of digital breadcrumbs that become a highly useful travel tool.
2024 Celebrity Guest Speakers
We found the lineup of celebrity guest speakers to be well-rounded and engaging once again. There were plenty of options including Emmy Award winning reporter Peter Greenberg, and SVP of Business Development for Green Book Experience, David Jackson.
In particular, the themes of the speech by Andrew McCarthy rung true as a he spoke of the importance of “connection to override (travel) fears”.
It was a good reminder to be open-minded with your travel encounters, as sometimes these lead to the most memorable and satisfying experiences.
If you’re looking for a well-written travel read, check out McCarthy’s Walking With Sam.
Pauline Frommer, of Frommer’s Travel Guides fame, shared helpful tips ranging from the risks of AI-generated travel guide content to tips for selecting the ideal tour guide. As I scanned around the crowd during her presentation, I could see heads nodding in unison to the acquired wisdom from such a seasoned traveler.
Top Travel Destination Exhibits
Of the destinations on display, more than a few spots were added onto my personal bucket list. Christian Mani with Cook Islands brought some of the renowned warmth of the islands as he described some of the welcoming cultural traditions to be found by visitors.
Similarly, Tina Hodgson with the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism wowed us with the just-far-enough-but-not-too-far Cayman Islands. From her descriptions, it sounds like there are some very interesting lodging options soon to open there with eco-friendly wellness in mind.
James Evans of Master Liveaboards was speaking my language when he regaled us in vivid detail about his scuba diving experiences, touching on the sensory deprivation underwater that leads to mindfulness and “living in the moment”.
One of our more memorable encounters was with the representatives from Southeast Idaho. Apparently, there’s a lot more to Idaho than their potatoes, including lava hot springs and gorgeous Bear Lake scenery.
Still, when they told us about the potato-shaped hotel we were sold. The concept seems well baked, and that’s high praise coming from someone who is careful to not throw money down the tuber. Okay, I just couldn’t resist some potato humor for our new Idahoan friends (but no joke about the potato hotel…apparently that’s seriously real.)
Final Travel & Adventure Show Takeaways
Current travel information. Interactive activities. Engaging presentations. Fun for the whole family. Don’t forget the exclusive travel deals! Just as I had hoped, the 2024 Travel & Adventure Show in Dallas came through with an inspiring energy fitting for our travel-hungry world.
The Travel & Adventure Show series takes place at nine U.S. cities: Chicago, Denver, New York, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Washington DC, Atlanta, San Francisco/Bay Area, and Dallas. Check out their website Travel & Adventure Series for the latest updates and schedules. Find them on social media and remember #DallasTravelShow.
Remember to read Andrew McCarthy’s book Walking with Sam, and for additional guidance as you plan your travels, check out this post on the Psychology of Travel Planning.
Feel free to respond below with your thoughts and tips for fellow travelers!
Happy Travels,
Dr. L
Founder, PsychologyofTravel.com
Disclosure: Special thanks to Travel & Adventure Show – Dallas for sponsoring our entry ticket admission, media credentialing, and media photos. All opinions remain my own and an honest attempt to review my experiences for my readers and followers. For more information, see our disclosure statement.
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The Travel Adventure Show sounds thrilling. Great way to fuel travel excitement and discover new destinations!