| Women in Travel |
 Women in Travel Conference 2025 March 27-28 | Georgetown, TX Join us for meaningful dialog, creating connections, and mentorship opportunities This conference is a space dedicated to women in the travel industry where you can connect, converse, and create lasting mentorship opportunities. This professional development event features thought-provoking discussions with industry leaders and motivational speakers. Together, we’ll explore strategies to elevate women’s roles in travel and tourism leadership, and highlight innovative programs designed to propel your career forward. Register now!  Registration Rates Member Rate
$325 Non-Member Rate
$425 Cancellation Policy - Full refund until 5:00 PM on February 27, 2025. No refunds after 5:00 PM on February 27, 2025. This cancellation policy helps us ensure the most accurate counts possible for the event. For questions about this policy, please contact the Texas Travel Alliance office at (512) 328-8842. Schedule All sessions and events held in the San Gabriel F Room unless otherwise specified 8:00 - 9:00am
Registration, Networking Continental Breakfast, and Professional Development Lounge Open
9:00 – 9:10am
Welcome Remarks
Speaker: Erika Boyd, President & CEO, Texas Travel Alliance, and Council Member Amanda Parr, City of Georgetown 9:10 – 10:10am
Help Her Thrive: Leadership Strategies for Women’s Success
Keynote Speaker: Melissa Majors, Consultant, Coach, and Author Great leaders don’t hoard power—they share it. They create environments where everyone can grow, contribute, and thrive. But let’s be realistic: women in the workplace often face unique challenges that make success harder than it should be. Covert competition, microaggressions, lack of sponsorship, the tightrope between authenticity and assimilation, increased scrutiny—you name it. In this engaging, story-driven session, Melissa Majors unpacks the research, shares real-world scenarios, and delivers practical leadership strategies that help eliminate barriers to women’s success. Whether you're a manager, an aspiring leader, or a supportive colleague, this session will equip you with the tools to lead with integrity and impact. This isn’t a talk suggesting women must transform into an unrecognizable version of themselves to be successful—it’s a roadmap for supporting other women’s success so they can thrive just as they are. If you desire a better way to unlock the best performance for everyone on your team, this session is for you. 10:15 – 11:15am
Building Successful Teams
Moderator: Erika Boyd, President & CEO, Texas Travel AlliancePanelists:
Aileen Ramos, Director, Laredo Convention & Visitors Bureau and Traci Lewand, SVP of Operations, San Antonio Zoo
Join us for an inspiring session on "Building Successful Teams," where industry leaders share their insights and strategies for creating cohesive, high-performing teams in the travel and tourism sector. In this session, you'll discover proven techniques for fostering collaboration and communication within diverse teams, innovative approaches to leadership that empower and motivate team members and help achieve success in the travel and tourism industry. 11:15 - 11:35am Networking Break and Professional Development Lounge Open 11:35am – 12:25pm
Open Forum with Maura Gast
Join us for this insightful discussion with one of the industry’s most respected leaders, Maura Gast. She will moderate an open dialogue where participants can explore the challenges women face in advancing their careers, gaining leadership opportunities, and ensuring their voices are heard in decision-making. This engaging session will encourage all to share experiences and learn from one another, fostering a collaborative and empowering conversation. 12:25 - 1:25pm Networking Lunch & Professional Development Lounge Open Sponsored by Dallas Cowboys Football Club/AT&T Stadium 1:30 - 2:20pm Fostering a Successful Mentorship Speaker: Cara Frank, Chief of Staff, Simpleview Join Cara Frank, Chief of Staff at Simpleview (a Granicus company), for a thoughtful session about professional mentorship in the travel industry. She’ll explore the distinct roles of mentorship and the key ideas that foster successful mentoring relationships — including clear boundaries, mutual respect, and open communication. Attendees will learn from Cara's real-world mentorship experiences, empowering them to build strong, supportive networks that drive personal and professional growth. 2:30 - 3:15pm Data-Driven Success: Empowering Women to Navigate Industry Trends for Career Growth Speaker: Cindy Decker, Senior Manager of Client Relationships & Insights, Tourism Economics In today’s fast-paced and data-driven world, understanding industry trends and leveraging data is key to unlocking professional growth—especially for women looking to elevate their careers. Join us for an insightful session on how to harness the power of data and stay ahead of the curve by understanding emerging trends in our industry. We will explore the importance of data literacy and how it can open doors to new opportunities, drive smarter decision-making, and give women the tools to make impactful career choices. You’ll also gain valuable insights into the current trends shaping industries today and learn which trends to watch closely to ensure you're always a step ahead. Whether you're looking to advance in your current role or pivot into a new field, this session will provide the knowledge and inspiration to make you a data-driven expert in the tourism industry. 3:30 - 4:15pm Being Your Best Self: A Workshop for Women in Travel Speaker: Cambria Jones, Chief Marketing & Experience Officer, SearchWide Global In this empowering and interactive workshop, you will discover how to live authentically, align your actions with your values, and step into your full potential. Through guided reflection, practical exercises, and meaningful discussions, you will learn how to maximize your strengths, improve areas of growth, and embrace what makes you uniquely you. We will explore strategies for building confidence, setting intentional goals, and cultivating a mindset that fosters happiness and fulfillment. Walk away with actionable tools to navigate your personal and professional life with clarity, purpose, and self-assurance. It's time to show up as your best self—every day! 4:15 - 5:00pm Professional Development Lounge Open 5:30 - 7:00pm Networking Reception at Brass Peacock Sponsored by Visit Georgetown Join the Georgetown CVB team for an evening at the new underground speakeasy the Brass Peacock for cocktails and light hors d'oeuvres. Brass Peacock a hidden gem at City Post Chophouse—113 E. 8th Street. No sign, just head to the left side and descend the secret stairs! *Shuttle to run continuously from 5:00pm – 8:00pm 8:00 - 9:00am Networking Continental Breakfast and Professional Development Lounge Open 9:00 - 10:00am The Art of Professional Presence: Etiquette for Leaders Speaker: Katie Cook, VP of Client Success, Zartico; Margo Richards, Sr. Vice President of Community Resources, Lower Colorado River Authority; and Shelley Hall, Vice President of Marketing, Visit Austin Join Margo Richards, Katie Cook, and Shelley Hall for this session where they will share business etiquette tips and lead round table discussions on modern business etiquette topics with you and your peers. 10:15 - 11:15am Inspiring Fireside Chat with Marsha Flanagan, President and CEO of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE)11:15 - 11:30am Closing RemarksKeynote Speaker  Help Her Thrive: Leadership Strategies for Women’s Success Melissa Majors has spent over 25 years optimizing the business impact of human-centered leadership. As a captivating storyteller, Melissa delivers talks that spark inspiration, insight, and action, empowering audiences to return to work with great wisdom and drive. She’s been featured at events for Google, MPI, and many more, and her books, Help Them Thrive and The 7 Simple Habits of Inclusive Leaders, provide actionable leadership strategies. Get ready to be inspired by her empowering session on leadership strategies for women's success.  Venue  Sheraton Austin Georgetown Hotel & Conference Center
1101 Woodlawn Ave
Georgetown, TX 78628 TTA Block Rate: $159 + taxes/night Cut-off deadline: EXTENDED TO MARCH 16, 2025 (unless sold out prior) Hotel Booking |
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