Please join us at the RISE Travel Institute Annual Conference on Thursday, June 11th, 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.
 

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

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Date: Thursday, June 11th, 2026

Time: 12 noon - 4:30 pm EDT

Format: Virtual

Registration: Link

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Program:

12:00-12:15pm   Opening Remarks + RISE Impact Report

12:15-12:35pm   Keynote by John Sutherland, Senior Director of Community Impact, Tourism Cares

12:35-1:35pm     RISE Capstone Showcase: Part I

1:35-2:15pm       Expert Panel 1: Travel, Justice, and Peace: Expanding the Circle of Responsibility

2:15-3:15pm       RISE Capstone Showcase: Part II

3:15-3:45pm       Transformational Travel Council Capstone Feature

3:45-4:25pm       Expert Panel 2: Beyond Destination Marketing: Story, Stewardship, and the Responsibility to Place

4:25-4:30pm       Announcements+Closing Remarks​

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The full Conference Program will be shared here and on our social media shortly.