Luxury Hoteliers Magazine 1st Quarter 2018 | Page 81

Notable Q&A’s included an interview with Tom McAlpin, President and, CEO for Virgin Voyages, who let attendees in on innovations they can expect from the cruise industry. A speaker favorite was Tom Marchant, owner, and co-founder of The Black Tomato Group who led the session, “Earned Experiences and the Psychology of Travel.” Marchant’s session highlighted the industry’s rapid increase in people seeking out adventurous experiences that combine a sense of achievement with a back-to-your-explorer-roots sense of intrepidness. “Inspire people through engaging and unique travel experiences,” he says. ILHA 81