Please join us, RISE Travel Institute on Thursday, November 19, 2026

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In a time of intersecting global crises, how can the travel and tourism sector come together in a visible, values-driven way?

 

Join RISE Travel Institute and a global coalition of more than 20 leading travel organizations, academic institutions, and media partners for a special-edition industry dialogue. This collective conversation features peace activists and tourism leaders Aziz Abu Sarah and Maoz Inon, authors of the recent New York Times Bestseller, The Future is Peace.

 

Rather than a typical book club event, this virtual gathering serves as a collaborative platform for the tourism ecosystem to explore how travel can shape narratives, build relationships across differences, bridge divides, and actively pave pathways toward justice, peace, and reconciliation. Together, we will dive into the authors' inspiring vision of achieving a peace resolution in the Holy Land by 2030.

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Date: Thursday, November 19, 2026

Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM UTC

Format: Virtual

Registration: $10

 

Why Attend?

• Engage with Global Leaders: Hear directly from authors Aziz Abu Sarah and Maoz Inon during their global book tour.

• Industry-Wide Dialogue: Connect with hundreds of travel professionals, educators, and creators who are passionate about conscious travel and systemic change.

• Interactive Q&A: Participate in real-time discussions, share your perspectives, and ask questions directly to the speakers.

• Support a Cause: In alignment with Giving Tuesday, this event will raise funds for two 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations:

  • (1) InterAct, to directly advance their vital, on-the-ground peacebuilding work

  • (2) RISE Travel Institute, to support our mission to bringing more justice travel education resources and events to travelers and the travel industry​
     

Speakers:​
 

Aziz Abu Sarah

Aziz is a Palestinian peacebuilder, entrepreneur, National Geographic Explorer, TED Fellow, and renowned speaker on conflict resolution and responsible travel. He is the co-executive director of InterAct International, a nonprofit dedicated to Middle East peace. He is co-founder of MEJDI Tours, a travel company on a mission to transform tourism into a global force of citizen diplomacy. He has won numerous awards, including from the United Nations, Institute of International Education, and The Explorers Club. Aziz is consistently named one of the world’s 500 most influential Muslims by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre in Jordan. He has written opinion pieces for The New York Times, The Washington Post, Al-Quds, and Haaretz. He has spoken before the U.S. Congress, the European Parliament, and international forums around the world. He is the co-author of the book, The Future is Peace.

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Maoz Inon

An Israeli peace activist and entrepreneur, Maoz is the multi-award-winning founder of numerous peace-focused tourism initiatives in Israel and the Middle East, including the Jesus Trail, the Fauzi Azar Inn, and Abraham Hostel & Tours. He is the co-executive director of InterAct International, a nonprofit dedicated to Middle East peace. Maoz has been honored with the prestigious Franco-German Human Rights Prize and the Champions of Shared Society from Abraham Initiatives. He has spoken on Capitol Hill, in European Parliaments, and at universities around the world. Maoz is frequently interviewed on international broadcast media, and has written pieces for The Washington Post, Al Jazeera, Independent UK, Vatican News, and Haaretz. He is the co-author of the book, The Future is Peace.​​​​​​​​​​