Join award-winning travel writer Gary McKechnie as he spotlights four favorite destinations in the U.S. He’ll focus on attractions and activities that appeal to every member of your family.

Gary is best known for his best-selling guidebook The Great American Motorcycle Toursas well as USA 101: A Guide to America's Iconic Places, Events, and Festivals

Looking to encounter sensational cultures and sights in Europe? Join Trafalgar Tours, the world's favorite touring company, as they introduce you to Europe by Land.  Experience Europe where at every turn you are greeted by its magnificence and the fusion of past and present.

Sandra Furlong, Communication Manager, AAA Travel. Are you prepared for your next travel experience? Join Sandra as she discusses everything you will need for your next travel experience - all in the convenience of one location.

Discover the unique scenic treasures of Europe from the luxurious serenity of your river cruise ship. Sailing Europe's glorious rivers -- the Danube, Main, Rhine, Moselle, Rhone, Saone, Seine, and Douro -- you will appreciate the heart of Europe’s charming waterside villages and exciting cultural centers in the most relaxing way to vacation.

Experience the magic and excitement of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™, to be revealed this spring at Universal’s Islands of Adventure® theme park -- only at Universal Orlando® Resort.

With two amazing theme parks, non-stop nightlife, and three Four Diamond Award® on-site hotels, Universal Orlando® is the only place where you can be courageous. Be outrageous. Be EXTRAORDINARY!

Amy Tine started her career with Universal Orlando Resort straight out of college as a reservations agent for Universal Vacations. Amy has also worked in the Resort Sales division at Universal Orlando and was instrumental in launching the Universal Partner Hotels program. Her current position is regional sales manager in Travel Industry Sales, a job that gives her the opportunity to speak to the travel community, which in turn helps ensure that all guests have a memorable vacation experience when they visit Universal Orlando Resort!

Paul Mann is the Founder and CEO of FETCH! Pet Care, the largest pet sitting franchise in the United States, serving thousands of clients in hundreds of cities and towns from coast to coast. Mann founded FETCH! Pet Care in 2002 as a San Francisco Bay Area local pet sitting and dog walking service, and, after experiencing rapid growth and profitability, launched this first-of-its-kind franchise-based business in 2004. Through Mann's leadership, FETCH! Pet Care has established itself as the nation's largest and most sophisticated professional pet care network. In his current capacity, Mann oversees all FETCH! Pet Care franchise sales, corporate marketing and communications, as well as franchisee training and support.
Carolyn Spencer Brown
Carolyn Spencer Brown, one of America’s leading cruise journalists, is Editor in Chief of Cruise Critic (www.cruisecritic.com), the industry’s most prominent outlet for consumer-oriented cruise travel news and information. In this role, she oversees all editorial planning, development and implementation for Cruise Critic, as well as CruiseCritic.co.uk, its U.K.-based sister Web site. Spencer Brown formerly covered the cruise industry as a staff writer for the travel section of The Washington Post, where she wrote about numerous other facets of traveling. She was the original contributor to “Coming and Going,” the newspaper’s weekly travel news column, and author of other news, trend and destination-oriented features.
Deb Abraham, Jacque Busby

DEB ABRAHAM - EDITOR
Author, cultural historian and professor, Deb Abraham joined Luxury Travel Magazine in 2006 to share her perspectives on international destinations and experiences. "Travel enriches our lives and offers endless variety," she explains. "My job is to introduce our readers to the possibilities!" Deb is a member of International Society for Travel Writers.

JACQUE SALENTINE BUSBY - CONTRIBUTING TRAVEL EDITOR
Jacque is a seasoned world traveler with 25 years of experience in the travel industry. Her personal travel love is yachting and she has journeyed extensively throughout Europe, Asia and Africa. Jacque is an active member of ASTA and also serves on the Luxury Travel Advisory Board, Connoisseur Club three years in a row and is a Platinum Travel Society member.

Ten years ago, Gary McKechnie and his wife Nancy Howell sold their home in Mount Dora, Florida, and embarked on the "McKechnie-Howell Trans-American Motorcycle Expedition." It was a yearlong exploration of the United States that resulted in the nation's best-selling motorcycle guidebook -- Great American Motorcycle Tours. Gary's passion for travel also led to a seven-month backpacking trek across Europe, a motorcycle tour in the Alps and his latest adventure: A two-year tour of America to write USA 101 -- A Look at 101 Icons, Places, and Festivals that reflect the American experience. Gary is a former standup comedian, improv actor and emcee. He is also a lecturer on Cunard Line's Queen Mary 2, and he and his wife Nancy run the Coconut Cottage Inn in Mount Dora.

Gretchen Anderson, the Director of Product Development for AAA Northern California, Nevada and Utah

During more than fifteen years in the travel industry, Gretchen has designed exclusive tours that have sent AAA Members to all seven continents.  With a passion for ecotourism and a strong commitment to traveling responsibly, Gretchen led AAA NCNU in becoming the first AAA Club to join the World Heritage Alliance for Sustainable Tourism and currently sits on the governing body. 

Julie Quarry started shooting seriously just a few years ago while visiting the islands of Kuna Yala in Panama.  For the first time in her life, she was handed an SLR, a PENTAX digital SLR, and was able to learn in real-time, minute-to-minute.  In that nine-day trip how she saw the world was changed forever.  She quickly discovered how to capture and visually explore the subject using her natural eye for light and design, but now she could easily share these found moments of beauty with others, and that was a both a thrill and a never-ending challenge. Julie currently shoots for tour companies capturing the experiences guests feel while on their lifetime journeys. She has been on the cover of publications such as Alaska Airlines, Horizon Magazine, VIA Magazine, and several travel brochures.  Her work has also appeared in Conde Nast Traveler, Recommends, Cruise Travel Magazine, Vacations Magazine, the Traveler, Sojourns, Cruise & Travel Lifestyles, etc. (See Publication Samples.)  Julie is proud to have been selected by Pentax to become one of their charter Pentaxian’s (see Julie Quarry-Video link PENTAXIAN) and has been featured in two issues of POPULAR PHOTOGRAPHY Magazine highlighting her passion for travel photography and love for showing people the splendors of the world.

Laurie Peterson is the community manager for AAATravelViews, based in the AAA national office in Central Florida.

Jeff Howe is a travel counselor with AAA Washington in Seattle.

Michel Mousseau is a manager of AAA inspections for properties in the U.S., Canada and Mexico

Tony Perrone is a AAA account manager for properties in the Caribbean and Mexico.

Marc has worked in the travel industry for over 15 years primarily holding executive level sales positions with Tauck, Orient Cruise Lines and Trafalgar Tours, where he started his career. 

Currently, Marc is President of Insight Vacations, the leader in premium first-class escorted tours to Europe, the USA and Canada. He is responsible for overall growth and operations of the business. He has been with Insight since August of 2002 and is credited with increasing Insight’s sales to record breaking levels as well as securing partnerships with major industry accounts.

Michel Mousseau is a regional manager of lodging and restaurant inspections with 23 years of AAA experience. He is responsible for inspections across Canada as well as in Alaska, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, New Hampshire, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin and Mexico.  Prior to that, he spent 10 years in the food and beverage industry in Western Canada.

Nancy Logan has served as director of National Accounts for Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection for the past three years. In this position, Nancy is responsible for sales and marketing development for AAA Travel. She started her career as a travel agent 16 years ago. She then expanded her experience as a sales account manager for Brendan Worldwide Vacations and key account manager with Globus Vacations.

Jeff Howe is a travel counselor with AAA Washington in Seattle.

Heidemarie Chernushin is a travel counselor with AAA East Central, based in Cleveland, Ohio.

Mike Mouser is an mapping and travel information expert in AAA’s national office in Central Florida.

Paul Wiseman has an impressive travel industry career that includes retail, wholesale and international and domestic airline operations. Paul left Australia in 2007 after working as the managing director of that country's Trafalgar Tours for six years. The company achieved extraordinary successes with Paul at the helm. Before that, he was general manager for Contiki Holidays and national travel agency sales manager for Avis Rent-a-Car. His entry into the industry 20 years ago was as a leisure-travel agent. Paul holds a master's degree in Tourism Management from the University of Technology, Sydney, and recently graduated from the Senior Manager Development Program at the Australian Graduate School of Management. Paul and his wife Karen, who was born in L.A., have a son, Sam. Paul and Karen have traveled extensively throughout Europe, Great Britain, North America, Asia and the Middle East.

Rita Lewis saw the movie Cinderella when she was just 4 years old. She visited Disneyland for the first time when she was 13. And she grew up watching the original Mickey Mouse Club and The Wonderful World of Color. “I’ve always had a strong tie to Disney,” Rita says. “Walt reminded me of my Dad. And we had such wonderful vacations to Disneyland and later Walt Disney World that it just seemed like a perfect place to work.” Rita is a Certified Travel Counselor. She began her Disney career booking travel for Walt Disney World Resort guests and cast members. “I’ve always loved to travel. It’s just in my blood. I began planning our own vacations, and then started helping friends and family. I became a travel agent in 1983 and have remained a part of the industry ever since.” Years ago when her kids were growing up, the family's favorite destination was Walt Disney World, where “everyone can be a child again.” Now her favorite spot to visit is Maui because of the sunsets and the Hawaiian people. Her favorite Disney character? Tinker Bell! “I believe in the magic. I love to fly and travel, and I live by faith, trust and pixie dust!”

Tommy Keesling has traveled to more than 30 countries worldwide and has lived all over the United States and Japan – his dad was in the Navy. Living his life on the road and traveling so much as a kid instilled in him a love of new places! Like a trip he made once to Indonesia where he went white-water rafting, mountain biking and rainforest trekking! His favorite Disney destination? Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park -- because it's so unique. His first Disney job was working in the air operations department at  Walt Disney Travel Co. and in travel agency sales. Additionally, he has worked as an agent and manager at a travel agency in Orlando, Florida, and he’s a Certified Travel Counselor. Tommy is currently responsible for developing training programs primarily for the travel trade community. Woody from Toy Story is the Disney character Tommy most identifies with -- because Woody's a stand-up guy who's looking out for others!

In 2000, she assembled her tips into a fact-filled, well-illustrated book, Smart Packing for Today’s Traveler. A revised and expanded edition was released in early 2004, and the newly updated Third Edition was released in April 2008. For the past few years, her website, www.smartpacking.com, has offered additional aid to travelers and media researchers with information about the travel industry’s latest rules and policy changes.