THE MAGELLAN PRIZE JUDGES
Richard bangs
Bangs is a pioneer in travel, digital media, e-commerce and other frontiers. He produced the first travel website (www.mtsobek.com), the first travel CD ROM (The Adventure Disc) and the first virtual expeditions (www.terra-quest.com). His list of contributions to the world of travel and the media includes the publication of more than 1000 articles, 19 books, the production of numerous documentaries and lectures in remarkable places. He is the host and executive producer of Richard Bangs Quests for PBS.
Jean-Claude Baumgarten
An influential leader in global tourism for over 50 years, Baumgarten has held leadership positions at Air France and the World Travel & Tourism Council, where he was CEO and Vice-President. Baumgarten created CREWE Associates in 2011, where he is currently President and CEO. The company provides consulting services to private companies and governments.
Bruce beckham
Bruce Beckham is a travel and tourism industry consultant specializing in travel industry philanthropy and corporate social responsibility. He is the Executive Advisor and the former Executive Director and CEO of the award-winning travel industry non-profit, Tourism Cares. He is a certified tourism professional, the former owner of a travel agency and tour company, and a former chairman of the NTA.
Bill Carroll, PhD
Carroll is the CEO of Marketing Economics, a consulting firm specializing in marketing, pricing, distribution and revenue management for the travel industry. Its clients include Expedia, Vail Resorts, Leading Hotels of the World, LVMH, Hilton International Hotels, Wyndham Hotel Group, Priceline and TripAdvisor. As a retired professor, Carroll continues to offer online courses through e-Cornell, is the author of numerous articles and reports, and has held various leadership positions in the travel industry.
Harry dalgaard
Dalgaard has 40 years of experience in different areas of the travel industry including airlines, retail travel agencies and tour operators. He is the founder and president of international tour operator Avanti Destinations, Inc. He has held several positions with the USTOA, where he is currently vice president. He was also a member of the advisory boards of the German National Tourist Board and Atout France for many years.
Peter Greenberg
Award-winning reporter and producer Peter Greenberg is Travel Editor for CBS News and host of CBS’s national show “Eye on Travel”? radio show, broadcast from a different location in the world each week. He hosts the public television show “The Travel Detective with Peter Greenberg”,? a series of over 40 half-hour episodes featuring travel news, must-see information and insider tips.
Heather Greenwood Davis
Davis is a contributing writer and on-air storyteller for National geography, a feature film writer for AFAR, Travel + Leisure, The Globe and Mail and other national and international publications. She’s the resident travel expert on “The Social”? – a national daily show – and co-host of “Get Set, Go!” on CHCH. Davis has spoken at trade events hosted by TravMedia, US Travel Association, Destination Canada, SATW and has been featured in Magazine at NPR.
Johnny jet
John E. DiScala, aka Johnny Jet, has traveled more than 100,000 miles per year since launching his newsletter in 1995 and has visited nearly 100 countries. He and his site JohnnyJet.com have been mentioned in major publications, including United States today and The Los Angeles Times and he appeared on the TV network. He was named one of the Forbes Top 10 travel influencers and writes about everything that travels.
Rob Kwortnik, PhD
Kwortnik is Associate Professor of Service Marketing at the Cornell School of Hotel Administration. He published in the Marketing Research Journal, Service Research Journal, The International Journal of Marketing Research, The Travel Research Journal, Tourism management and the Cornell Hospitality Quarterly. He has been honored nine times as Professor of the Year at Cornell and is a recognized expert in the leisure cruise industry.
Bob lambert
Lambert spent more than 30 years with Avis Budget Group and its predecessors, where he held several leadership positions, both in the field and at the headquarters level. He is currently the Managing Director in the Scottsdale, Arizona office of executive search firm Harvard Group International (HGI), focusing on multiple industries including nonprofits, travel and transportation, sports and entertainment.
Rudy Maxa
Maxa is the host and executive producer of “Rudy Maxa’s World” ,? the Emmy Award-winning public television travel series. Its 95 television episodes are broadcast on public television channels nationwide and in 121 countries in 22 different languages on Travel Channel International. The voice of National Geographic Traveler’s “The walks of a lifetime”? podcasts, he also hosts the weekly travel radio show “RM World Travel with Rudy Maxa and Robert & Mary Carey”.
Kathy misunas
Misunas is currently an advisor and director of various public and private companies, and acts as a director of Essential Ideas, a consulting firm specializing in the fields of global travel and tourism, technology and online retail. . Previously, she was CEO of SABER, CIO of American Airlines and CEO of Reed Travel Group. Misunas is co-author of the publication Multichannel distribution: the essential guide.
Norie Quintos
Quintos is a consultant for the travel industry on communications strategy, media relations, personalized content and messaging. An award-winning journalist, she is editor-in-chief for National Geographic Travel Media. She is the former editor-in-chief of National Geographic traveler and was editor-in-chief at American News and World Report and Travel and life in the Caribbean. She is a member of the board of directors of the Adventure Travel Conservation Fund.
Brian robb
Robb is a travel industry consultant and chairman of the board of the Travel Institute. He began his long travel career in sales and sales management, representing an international airline and a hotel group. He then held positions at Carlson Companies, including that of Global Vice President of Marketing. Most recently, he has focused on corporate and product strategies at La Macchia Enterprises.
Ned walker
John E. “Ned” ?? Walker was Senior Vice President and Director of Communications for Delta Air Lines Inc. from 2008 until his retirement in 2019. Walker joined Delta after working at Continental Airlines Inc., where he was for 21 years the one of the main communications strategists. He retired from Continental in 2008 as a member of the airline’s board of directors and senior vice president of global corporate communications.
Wayne wielgus
A hospitality industry veteran for over 30 years, Wielgus is the founder of the International Advisor Group, a consulting firm for the hospitality industry. Previously, he was Senior Vice President of Marketing for Celebrity Cruises and Azamara and Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Choice Hotels International.
