2026 RISE Travel Institute Annual Conference

It is our pleasure to invite you to the RISE Travel Institute Annual Conference on Thursday, June 11, 2026.

This year's RISE Travel Institute Annual Conference brings together alumni, partners, educators, tourism professionals, and members of the broader RISE community for an afternoon of reflection, learning, and dialogue.

While our Annual Conference has historically centered on Flagship Program alumni capstone presentations, this year's gathering will take a more expansive format. Alongside selected alumni capstone showcases, we will feature a keynote by John Sutherland, Senior Director of Community Impact at Tourism Cares; a special partner session with the Transformational Travel Council featuring capstone projects from alumni of their Signature Experience Design Program; and expert panels exploring destination stewardship, regenerative tourism, justice, peace, and the responsibilities of travel and tourism in a changing world.

Panel 1: Travel, Justice and Peace: Expanding the Circle of Responsibility

Travel is often framed as a way to broaden our horizons, build connections, and experience the world more deeply. But what does justice ask of us when we move through places shaped by conflict, inequality, displacement, ecological harm, or human and nonhuman suffering? This panel invites us to expand the circle of responsibility in travel. What does it mean for tourism to support communities facing harm or animals facing exploitation? How can travel help shift narratives, redistribute power, and create conditions for dignity, safety, and belonging?

Panelists:

• James Nadiope, Founder of Justice Tourism Foundation
• Carol Kline, Founder of Where Animals Matter
• Shai Goren, Global Product Manager, Mejdi Tours
• Roni Weiss, Founder of Travel Unity (Moderator)

Panel 2: Beyond Destination Marketing: Story, Stewardship, and the Responsibility to Place

What does it mean to approach a place not simply as a “destination” to be promoted and managed, but as lived, relational, ecological, and shaped by community agency? This panel invites us to move beyond traditional conversations about destination marketing and management toward deeper questions of narrative, stewardship, and accountability. Panelists will explore who gets to shape the story and future of a place, how tourism should support community agency, and how the regenerative framework can challenge us to rethink our relationships, responsibilities, and roles within the places we visit and promote.

Panelists:

• Tonya Fitzpatrick, member of the Maryland Tourism Development Board, co-founder of World Footprints, and author of Destination Stewardship
• Ryan Short, Co-founder of Civic Brand, and author of The Civic Brand
• Samantha Hogenson Bray, PhD Candidate, University of Waterloo, board member of Visit Macon County, and owner and steward of Recess Inn Bed & Breakfast
• Debbie Clarke, regenerative coach, and advisor at The Center for GOOD Travel (Moderator)

Together we'll consider how travel can move beyond consumption toward deeper practices of relationship, accountability, and care for people, animals, and place.

THIS WILL BE A VIRTUAL EVENT.

You can join us virtually on Zoom. A Zoom link will be shared with you once you've registered for the event.