Mexico’s Gentle Giants: Protecting Humpback Whales
2020-04-24 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Click to Register
Mexican Expedition Leader team Astrid and Karel call Puerto Vallarta home…and they’re here to introduce you to their offshore neighbors, the humpback whales of Banderas Bay. These energetic whales often feed in large groups and are among the most vocal cetaceans, known for their exuberant “singing.” Fifty feet long and weighing up to 40 tons, they put on quite a show when they breach — leaping completely out of the water and landing with a mighty crash. But despite their size, they aren’t impervious to threats, including entanglement in fishing gear. Learn all about Mexico’s humpbacks with Astrid and Karel, who fill us in on efforts to protect them in Banderas Bay, as well as current research and conservation work on the humpbacks’ behalf.

Yellowstone: 25 Years after the Return of the Gray Wolf
2020-04-27 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
Click to Register
In 1995, gray wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park after decades of absence, having been eradicated from the park in 1926. In the years since their return, they’ve grown to flourish in their native habitat, restoring balance to local ecosystems and captivating visitors who come to view them in the wild. Aaron will fill us in on a quarter-century of conservation success, highlighting what’s been achieved and the challenges that remain. Join us to learn more about the wolves of Yellowstone, and why the park offers the world’s best chance to spot this icon of wilderness in its native ecosystem And if you can’t join us live, we’ll post the webinars online for you to view any time.

Mountain Gorillas on the Rise: A Conservation Success Story
2020-04-27 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Click to Register
The world’s mountain gorilla population has increased from approximately 250 to more than 1,000 in the last 50 years due to heroic conservation efforts largely funded by tourism. The mountain gorilla, which lives in the forested mountains of East Africa, is the only great ape species with a growing population— a true sign of conservation success. However, has mountain gorilla conservation been too successful? What does their increasing population mean in such a restricted range? Do we have to worry about inbreeding? Expedition Leader Mark Jordahl will discuss these important questions and more during this webinar on the still-endangered mountain gorillas of Uganda and Rwanda. He will also talk about the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these close cousins of ours, and why conservation efforts need to be intimately tied to public health and economic development in the communities surrounding the gorilla parks, in order to ensure their future survival.

Our Own Stimulus Program for Travel Advisors
2020-04-28 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
Click to Register
Join Dan Austin, founder of active travel company Austin Adventures, as he shares a quick overview of Austin Adventures and how they are taking aggressive steps to help you, the Travel Professional, NOW!
After seeing how hard agents have been working through the current “situation” Austin Adventures is determined to make a difference and help those that continue to support Austin Adventures. There will be a bounce in travel (Domestic) and we want to be ready to work side by side with our agent partners.
In this short webinar learn firsthand from CEO/Founder Dan Austin:
• Overview of Austin Adventures
• Top Ten Domestic Adventures
• Agent Stimulus Program (immediate relief)
• Hosted Departures for you and your followers
• Robust Q&A (everything on the table)
We want you to know that we are in this together.

Rebuilding and Re-Branding - The Road to Recovery for Group Travel
2020-04-28 14:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York)
Click to Register
The dust will slowly settle following the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scars will linger for quite some time. The tourism industry will undoubtedly resume, but the metric has changed. What will the face of group tourism look like in 2021? How can we minimize the financial devastation of 2020? What will travelers be comfortable in participating? How do you market and sell to the fearful consumer?
MARS has a plan in anticipation of this new reality of group travel and how we will play a supporting role in facilitating our partners’ future success. This webinar will focus on breaking the isolation and capturing the community’s inevitable desire to re-connect, experience, and engage, in order to rebuild and re-brand the group travel industry.

Nature Photography in Tropical Destinations
2020-04-28 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Click to Register
Tropical environments hold extraordinary biodiversity, with a plethora of diverse and spectacular wildlife subjects from towering elephants to agile orangutans to tiny yet highly photogenic insects like monarch butterflies and leaf-cutter ants. To capture this astounding range requires a diversity of shot settings and techniques to maximize your photography capabilities. The diversity of wildlife in the tropics is matched by the diversity of landscapes, and you’ll learn how to deal with everything from lighting challenges in shadowy rain forest to intense overhead sun. Join Court Whelan for an engaging tutorial on how to capture some of the planet’s most captivating wild spaces and their intriguing animal inhabitants.

LIVE with Sven and Ben
2020-04-29 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Click to Register
Please join us for a live chat with Sven Lindblad, founder and CEO of Lindblad Expeditions, and Ben Bressler, founder and president of Natural Habitat Adventures. These two adventure travel pioneers will discuss the companies they have built, the impact of Covid-19 on their operations, their thoughts on the future of exploring nature through travel, and how travel can be a force for good in the world. Plenty of time will be allotted for a lively Q&A session, too, so plan to ask anything you’re wondering about.

Take a Food Journey to Greece
2020-04-30 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
Click to Register
Celestyal Cruises proudly presents: “Take a Food Journey to Greece” with our special guest speaker, Diane Kochilas.
Food and travel go hand in hand, as we know. Experiencing a region’s cuisine is often one of the key reasons why we travel and explore. Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean are no exception to this rule as this region is blessed with an abundance of mouth-watering delicacies. The Mediterranean diet and Greek food in particular are known to be extremely healthy and tasty. During this live webinar we will explore why this is as well as how important of a role food plays in the Greek culture and society overall. We will also make a virtual voyage to Ikaria, the Blue Zone island Diane hails from. Is the local diet the reason why Ikaria has such a disproportionately large number of centenarians? Join us and you may just find out the secret to a long and healthy life.
Diane Kochilas is one of the world’s foremost experts on Greek and Mediterranean cuisine. She is the host, creator and co-producer of My Greek Table, the award-winning cooking-travel show about Greece that airs nationally on Public Television. The show is in its third season, with the newest series airing in May. Diane is an award-winning author of more than 18 books and runs the Glorious Greek Kitchen on Ikaria Cooking School every spring and fall on the island. She has been on the forefront of bringing healthy Greek and Mediterranean cuisine to an American audience for more than 25 years. As we call Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean our home, Celestyal Cruises and our kitchen crew are proud and excited to be working with Diane in a collaboration that will further enhance the all- inclusive experience we deliver.
Prize Give Away: One lucky attendee will win a 7 Night Greek Island Cruise and two other’s will win a copy of of Diane’s Cookbook!

Snow Leopards & Wildlife of the Himalayas
2020-04-30 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Click to Register
In the austere heights of the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau, an elusive feline thrives among the rocks and snowfields. Local people call the snow leopard the “ghost of the mountains,” an apt moniker for this large cat that moves stealthily through the barren terrain, camouflaged by its thick silver coat marked with black rosettes. Brad Josephs highlights the crucial role of conservation-focused tourism in sustaining the snow leopard population in northern India. He also introduces us to other charismatic Himalayan wildlife including the Tibetan wolf, Pallas cat, chiru (Tibetan antelope), wild yak and lammergeier (an Old World vulture with a 10-foot wingspan).

The Grizzlies of Yellowstone: A Conservation Triumph
2020-05-01 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Click to Register
Rocky Mountain naturalist guide Aaron Bott shares the inspiring story of the grizzly bear’s revival in Yellowstone. Exterminated throughout most of the American West in the 19th and early 20th centuries, grizzlies had nearly vanished from their native range. By the mid-1900s, only a couple of small populations remained in Yellowstone and Glacier national parks. In 1975, however, grizzlies received protection under the Endangered Species Act and their fate began to reverse. Thanks to intensive conservation efforts since, grizzly bear populations have been expanding, and the ongoing grizzly recovery program is now considered one of the world’s great conservation stories. Aaron shares this riveting narrative, with insight into all that’s been accomplished and what is still at stake for grizzlies in the Lower 48.

Uganda: More Than Just Mountain Gorillas
2020-05-04 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
Click to Register
I’m excited to introduce you to Mark, who has guided many safari guests into the rain forest-cloaked mountains of Uganda for face-to-face visits with mountain gorillas. The gorillas are a powerful draw for visitors to Uganda, there’s no question that spending an hour with these close cousins of ours can be a life-changing encounter.
But there’s so much more to see inside this small country! Within Uganda’s borders we find the source of the Nile River, the glacier-capped Mountains of the Moon, the world’s most powerful waterfall, abundant savanna wildlife, tree-climbing lions, one-tenth of all Africa bird species, and more ethnic diversity than any other country on the planet. Join Mark for a virtual visit with the mountain gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, plus four more Ugandan national parks that deserve much more recognition. You’ll learn why Uganda offers safari-goers a microcosm of the best of East Africa!

Riding for Rhinos: Where the Rubber Meets the Road for Rhino Conservation
2020-05-04 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Click to Register
How far will a South African conservationist go to help protect endangered rhinos? In 2017, over the course of 63 days and 2,008 miles, Expedition Leader Matt Meyer rode his bicycle through Washington, Oregon and California with a rhino statue in tow to raise awareness of the plight of these imperiled animals in Southern Africa. Along the way, he raised over $150,000 to support Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, Save the Rhino Trust in Namibia, and Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary in South Africa. The large rhino he was towing drew attention everywhere he went, and he had many opportunities to educate people about rhino conservation at schools, in communities and through live interviews on TV, radio and podcasts. In addition to sharing the story of his ride, Matt offers insight into the biology, behaviors and family dynamics of black and white rhinos in Africa.

TAP into Balloon Fiesta and Pueblo Cultural Tour
2020-05-05 14:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York)
Click to Register
Enjoy the rich, diverse and vibrant cultures of New Mexico as you experience one of the greatest visual spectacles on earth. During this 6 day journey, you will not only be thrilled by the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, you will also be touched by the enduring Pueblo Cultures that have existed for centuries and continue to thrive today. It is truly a Land of Enchantment!

Getting Great Photos on Your Smartphone
2020-05-05 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Click to Register
Smartphone cameras have made amazing strides in recent years, and some travelers don’t take anything else on their nature expeditions. If you’re curious about how to maximize your photography abilities using your smartphone, Court Whelan offers a toolkit of tips and tricks to garner enviable images. Learn to set your smartphone’s exposure, add a “rule of thirds” grid for appealing composition, find out when to choose portrait mode…these are just some of the topics Court will cover in this inspiring tutorial. He’ll also cover your phone’s video function – when should you switch to video instead of still photography, and what are the best wildlife sightings to choose slow-motion video for? Once you’ve gotten some great shots, it’s time to finesse them with some editing, and Court will explain how to use basic editing techniques for improving your photos before sharing and showing them.

Why I Love Recoveries - Revisited
2020-05-06 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
Click to Register
Due to high demand following our first presentation of Why I Love Recoveries, a second presentation is scheduled for this Weds., May 6. We look at key factors that encompass the new landscape and the heroes who pave the way. Learn more about the economic indicators that drive a recovery and thoughts on what you can do to best position yourself in a recovery.
Join Big Five president, Ashish Sanghrajka, for this timely webinar about our changing travel scene and the new tools companies like Big Five’s GIB 5.0 have available to you.

China’s Changing Views on Nature and Conservation
2020-05-06 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Click to Register
While much of the world views China as a powerful consumer of nature and natural resources, there is another side to the story. China’s success in saving the giant panda from the brink of extinction, with the help of WWF, is arguably the world’s greatest conservation story and could only be achieved through widespread appreciation of these charismatic animals. Will this love of the giant panda inspire the Chinese people to care for other aspects of nature as well, as their influence on the world continues to grow? We will take a deep dive into how China’s perception of nature is changing, largely engendered by its love of the giant panda. Nat Hab’s Chinese/Tibetan naturalist guide Philip He joins Brad Josephs live from Sichuan Province to help unravel mysteries of the giant panda and the attitudes and actions that might lead to even more conservation victories in China.

Bears, Belugas & Bright Nights: Churchill Through the Seasons
2020-05-07 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Click to Register
For a tiny little frontier town inaccessible by road on the edge of Canada’s Hudson Bay, Churchill sure has a lot to offer nature lovers through the year. Join veteran Churchill guide Annie Van Dinther for a virtual journey over the tundra, into the taiga, and to the mouth of the Churchill River as we discover Churchill in the fall, winter and summer. (We take a hiatus from April to June…mud season!). Renowned as the Polar Bear Capital of the World, Churchill is best known for its autumn polar bear encounters. Once the bay freezes and the bears head onto the ice to hunt, we return in winter to search for the northern lights—Churchill offers some of the best aurora-viewing on the planet! And when the summer sun warms the coastal plain, the tundra bursts with wildflowers, beluga whales congregate by the hundreds, and polar bears and other Arctic wildlife roam freely.

Reimagine Family Travel in NYC and Other Destinations – A Beyond Times Square Travel Experience Preview Webinar 2
2020-05-08 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
Click to Register
How are you doing, our stay-at-home travel advisors and travel fans? As we are seeing positive results of social distancing, our hearts are longing for a perfect trip with our loved ones when this is all behind us. In the second Beyond Times Square Travel Experience Preview Webinar, our Director of Sales Danielle Savarese will set your mind free and take you on a virtual excursion of the most memorable family travel experiences in New York City and other destinations. Join us on the webinar! Attendees will get early access to the new BTSQ Family Travel in NYC Binder with pricing information. The highlights of the webinar are:
• Travel in Style – Vintage Car & Private Cruise Tour of NYC
• Kids’ Favorites – Cupcake Challenge, Ice Cream Tasting, and Scavenger Hunt
• Private Family Tour of the Intrepid Museum
• Innovative Family Experience in Other Destinations
• Available to Book Now: Exclusive Broadway Virtual Experience – A perfect gift for family members

Lessons From the World's First Zero Waste Trip
2020-05-08 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Click to Register
Last summer, Nat Hab Director of Sustainability Court Whelan and Erin Simon, who heads up WWF’s plastic waste and packaging program, embarked on an experiment with a group of Nat Hab travelers: could 12 travelers on the World’s First Zero Waste Adventure limit the refuse they created on a 7-day Yellowstone trip to fit into one quart-sized jar? The goal was to refuse, re-use, recycle and compost in order to divert more than 99% of waste generated. Well, guess what: they did it! No small feat, considering the average American creates 4.4 pounds of trash each day. They also came away with practical lessons to guide us not only in reducing waste when we travel, but at home as well. Join Court and Erin for an inspiring presentation on what’s possible when it comes to reducing our waste footprint. You’ll come away with lots of approaches to incorporate into your everyday life…and you’ll be amazed at how simple most of them are.

From the Coasts to the Cloud Forests: Costa Rica’s Mind-Boggling Biodiversity
2020-05-11 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
Click to Register
From the crashing Pacific surf to the warm Caribbean coastline, and from lowland rainforest to icy cloud forest on soaring volcanoes, Costa Rica packs a lot of diversity into a relatively small country. Half a day’s drive can take you from dipping your toes in saltwater to crossing the Cerro de la Muerte at over 10,000 feet. This narrow land bridge connected North and South America a mere 3 million years ago – a blink of an eye in geological time – and the wide range of habitats meant there was a place for everyone when species began crossing between the two continents. Learn how this critical location and wide range of habitats has made Costa Rica one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, and how they became a model for using ecotourism to protect that phenomenal diversity. You will also find it hard to resist Costa Rican Expedition Leaders Alex Arias’ and Julio Madriz’s infectious love of their country.

Tigers: India’s Powerful Top Predators
2020-05-11 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Click to Register
Although they are still considered endangered, India’s Bengal tiger population has increased by 33% in just the last six years, to a current population estimate of 3,000. There are still more tigers in captivity in the world than in the wild, and popular shows like Tiger King can give a very inaccurate view of these powerful predators. In this webinar, Expedition Leader Surya Ramachandran will discuss the behavior, biology and ecology of wild tigers in India’s Ranthambore National Park, a protected area that was once the private hunting grounds of the Rajasthani Maharajas. A growing tiger population also comes with the risk of increased conflict with humans, and we will also learn what that means for communities living within tiger habitat.

TAP into World War II Memorial Tour
2020-05-12 14:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York)
Click to Register
Your clients will revisit the dramatic history of WWII, as Image Tours brings them to famous battle sites, war museums and memorials. Many scenic and cultural highlights are also included, providing for an enjoyable combination of learning and leisure. Join Justin Osbon from Image Tours Inc. to learn about this great 17-day tour of Europe.

Taking Your Nature Images From Good to Great
2020-05-12 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Click to Register
Even the best camera can’t match the sensitivity of the human eye for capturing the subtle beauty in the world we see, but a little bit of editing can bring an image from good to great. Join Court Whelan for a behind-the-scenes look at photo editing, arguably “the other half” of nature, wildlife, landscape and travel photography after the shutter has been pressed. While Court takes a minimalist approach to editing photos, it’s an increasingly important step in today’s photography world based on how cameras record “raw” data. He will share tips for how to edit using some of the most popular and powerful editing tools: Photoshop, Adobe Camera Raw, and Lightroom. Court will review his “go-to” approaches and considerations when editing photos, including tips and tricks for rescuing “bad” shots and taking the ordinary to extraordinary.

Bears, Bears and More Bears
2020-05-13 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Click to Register
You asked for it, and we are bringing it to you! We’ve received so many requests for more bear webinars that we’ve invited back one of our experts, Expedition Leader Brad Josephs, to take us on a deep dive into the biology and behavior of bears around the world. How do different species compare when it comes to reproduction and mating, raising of young, hibernation and other characteristics? How have bears adapted to survive in such varied habitats on six continents? What role do they play in the ecosystems they inhabit? How did the polar bear become classified as a marine mammal that survives exclusively by hunting while others evolved to live on a diet strictly of leaves? Brad will share his vast knowledge about these fascinating animals that strike such a deep chord for so many of us.

African Safaris 2.0 – Post Covid 19
2020-05-14 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
Click to Register
You are invited to join Liz Crookston of Bush and Beyond to learn what she thinks our clients will expect from safaris after our time of self isolation & social distancing. We are living in challenging times and particularly for the travel industry, however, Liz believes there will be pent up demand for travel in the future. However, our clients will have different needs & wants and we will need to adapt & prepare for them.
During our webinar you’ll learn about:
– What our clients will expect when it is safe to travel
– How safaris will meet these expectations or change to do so
– The things you should be asking your suppliers now
This webinar will be full of information that will help you prepare for the future of travel. Plus, Liz will show you how African Safaris 2.0 are perfectly adapted for the post Covid 19 traveler.

Three Perspectives on Alaska
2020-05-14 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Click to Register
Wilderness comes in many forms in Alaska: rain-forested coastlines where huge tidewater glaciers calve icebergs into the sea; the highest peaks in North America, cloaked in perpetual snow; and the open tundra expanse of the Arctic plain, so vast you could fit entire states into it. In this webinar, Alaska Expedition Leaders Annie Van Dinther, Mike Hillman and Rachel Sullivan-Lorde take an ecosystem approach to showcasing the wonders and diversity of America’s largest state, drawing from their many years of guiding people through life-changing experiences with Alaska’s bears, birds and backcountry.

Bison of Yellowstone: The Wild History of America's National Mammal
2020-05-15 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Click to Register
The story of bison in Yellowstone National Park offers insight into the prehistory and early settlement of the American West, our evolving attitudes to wildlife management in national parks, and the current relationship between national park wildlife and neighboring towns. It’s a compelling story about how we view wildlife, what is, in fact, ‘wild,’ and how much the West has changed since Yellowstone became America’s first national park in 1872. Expedition Leader Sophie Mazowita uses bison as an entry point to discuss broad themes of wildlife management and conservation throughout the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and introduces other wild characters that bring that ecosystem to life.

Botswana: Kalahari, the Delta & Beyond
2020-05-18 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
Click to Register
Find out what makes a southern summer safari in Botswana so special during this presentation with award-winning Nat Hab Expedition Leader Thuto Moutloatse, named “Best Safari Guide on the Planet” by Outside magazine. While summer brings fewer visitors to Botswana than the drier winter season, it’s full of surprises for safari-goers. This is Botswana’s most productive time of year, when light rains bring fresh grass to the Kalahari Desert, and new animal births fill the plains. More clouds in the sky mean dramatic backdrops and sunsets for photographers, too. Thuto will share personal stories and images of his homeland with a special emphasis on the Linyanti Wildlife Reserve in the Okavango Delta, sustaining some of Africa’s most dramatic populations of big game. Its tree-dotted plains are home to lion, leopard, spotted hyena and African wild dog, as well as enormous elephant herds. Join Thuto to discover all that makes Botswana’s green season so entrancing!

Hungary - Hidden Traditions, Culinary and Nature Gems
2020-05-19 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Click to Register
Presented by TravelResearchOnline.
As you prepare for future travel, Hungary is committed to providing you exceptional unforgettable experiences, wide open spaces, delicious cuisine.
Hidden in the centre of Europe is a country where you can always find something historic or modern that touches your soul, and the atmosphere is vibrant and relaxing at the same time. Where the ”aszú” grape berries are harvested during autumn, from which beautifully balanced “gold wine” is produced. Where on hilltops, deep in the valleys and on endless plains, you find the hustle of small, centuries-old villages, charming towns, luxurious castles.
There are various exciting ways to discover Hungary’s most beautiful sceneries: while hiking or riding a bicycle, on horseback, by boat or even from the air. No matter which way you choose you will discover a different side of nature each time. Exciting hiking trails, narrow-gauge train rides, parks, majestic lakes with bike paths around them, – these are only some of the unforgettable adventures.
Hungary is a land where people’s hospitality and love of food make eating an enjoyable experience for everyone. Creative recipes, quality ingredients creating a vivid fusion of authentic and modern meals.
We are taking you for a virtual journey to discover some of our hidden gems. Join us to learn what our country can offer, how accessible we are and what is reachable within short distance but seldom visited areas outside of Budapest.

TAP into The Three States of TennesSEE
2020-05-19 14:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York)
Click to Register
Come along and SEE what lies between the Mighty Mississippi and the Smoky Mountains of Appalachia in the beautiful state of TennesSEE. History, music, fun and adventure around every corner and along every trail. New places to explore along with the ones you just can’t get enough of. Come with us and SEE yourself in TennesSEE . Ya’ll don’t forget to wear your mask!!
