Lisa Niver's Blog: We Said Go Travel, page 114

Thank you ATT Shape 2019 & The Scully Effect

This year I went to my 3rd AT&T SHAPE conference!

Conference Exploring 5G & the Future of Entertainment To Be Held June 22-23, 2019 at Warner Bros. Studio in Los Angeles

It is an “immersive two-day event exploring 5G and the future of entertainment through interactive exhibits and thought- provoking speakers. Participants include Elizabeth Banks, Tyra Banks, Mayim Bialik, Laverne Cox, Geena Davis, Niecy Nash, shallou, Sherri Shepherd, Adam Silver, Rony Abovitz and many more. 5G SHAPE exhibitors include HBO, Samsung, Magic Leap, Airstream, NOKIA, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, Ericsson and more.”

BURBANK, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 22: (L-R) Dr. Erin Macdonald, Geena Davis and Mayim Bialik speak onstage during ‘The Scully Effect – I Want to Believe in STEM’ panel at AT&T SHAPE at Warner Bros. Studios on June 22, 2019 in Burbank, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for AT&T)

My favorite thing this year was this presentation:

The Scully Effect – I Want to Believe in STEM

o Who:

Geena Davis (Actress), Mayim Bialik (Actress), Dr. Erin Macdonald (PhD, Astrophysics)

o Date/Time: Saturday, June22, 4:15pm–5:00pm

o Thanks to a recent study conducted by the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, the “Scully Effect” posited by fans of The X-Files has now been proven. The survey results showed that the character of Agent Dana Scully was an inspiration and a trailblazer—63% of women surveyed said that Scully gave them the confidence to believe that they too could succeed in a field that was male- dominated—demonstrating that gender parity in media can result in social change.

I wrote about it for Ms. Magazine: The Scully Effect and the Feminist Future of STEM

BURBANK, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 22: (L-R) Geena Davis and Mayim Bialik speak onstage during ‘The Scully Effect – I Want to Believe in STEM’ panel at AT&T SHAPE at Warner Bros. Studios on June 22, 2019 in Burbank, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for AT&T)
BURBANK, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 22: (L-R) Mayim Bialik, Geena Davis and Dr. Erin Macdonald pose backstage during ‘The Scully Effect – I Want to Believe in STEM’ panel at AT&T SHAPE at Warner Bros. Studios on June 22, 2019 in Burbank, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for AT&T)

Lisa Niver and Carmen Rios ATT SHAPE 2019
Lisa Niver and Carmen Rios ATT SHAPE 2019
Lisa Niver and Dashaun Gasque ATT SHAPE 2019

Past ATT SHAPE EVENTS I have attended

2018: Welcome to the Future at AT&T SHAPE 2018

video:  ATT SHAPE 2018

2017: What happened at AT&T SHAPE: Technology and Entertainment Expo?

Video: AT&T Shape 2017: How Direct-to-Consumer Technology is Transforming Celebrity

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A Whirlwind Day in Prague, Czech Republic

I ventured to Eastern Europe for the first time ever this summer, looking to see where my relatives originated. My first stop was Prague, formerly in the country of Czechoslovakia and now the capitol of the Czech Republic. I quickly found myself glancing at the locals to see if I bared any resemblance.   As I soon learned on my trip, centuries ago Kings and Queens from various areas of Western and Eastern Europe often married to expand their family’s ruling land, and so when someone says they are from the Czech Republic, they really could be descended from a melding of families from several countries, or from a family that moved there in search of a better life.

Rich in historical museums, and famous for their fine glassware and beautiful gardens, the Czech Republic did not disappoint. Rumor had it that the legendary designer Louis Vuitton was staying in our hotel when we were there. Our driver was thrilled to share the news about an upcoming prestigious annual summer Karlovy Vary Film Festival in Prague, where Julianne Moore was arriving the day after we were leaving to receive an award and promote her upcoming film called “After the Wedding”.

My day in Prague started with a visit to the Prague Castle, and a highlight for me was the Waldstein Garden, with gorgeous fountains, sculptures, and rare albino male and female peacocks. I visited when there was a hot spell, so I had to search under the bushes in the shade to find them. The Czech Republic Senate building is adjacent to the gardens, and the streets are lined with a local favorite tree called Linden tree, which is beautifully fragrant and used to create many perfumes.

Afterwards, we headed off to find local crafts in other areas of the city. Famous for its artisan glass, be sure and see was the Artel store where there was an interesting mix of horse images etched into scotch glasses and the Prague skyline etched into drinking cups. Artwork of dogs and cats in regal outfits and poses graced the walls. Not to be missed, right next door was a puppet and marionette store called Marionety where Don Quixote, friendly teddy bears, dragons, and wooded children faces dangled from the ceiling. Hand puppets lined the store front window.

                     

For a fun mid-day break, stop in and try Monastery beer at Pivovar Strahov, which is known for its “Antidepressant”, an Autumn Dark Lager. I would recommend the Klaster Monastery beer pub or the Bellavista restaurant, which has one of the best city views. Sign up for the Prague Monasteries Breweries Walking Tour, a four-hour tour of two monasteries where we learned the history of Czech beer and brewing. Beer tastings, food, and fun.

In the afternoon, we visited the original old city of Prague. The Old Jewish District was in the heart of the city, with a tower clock with Hebrew letters on it. Lined with cobblestone streets, six synagogues, and the Old Jewish Cemetery, be sure and visit the Old-New Synagogue, built in 1270, which is the oldest active synagogue in Europe. Visit its gift shop for an assortment of Judaica items, including beautifully embroidered yarmulkes. The neighborhood is a mix of old and new, as right across the street from the Old Jewish District was some of the finest shopping including a Red Valentino store, Brunello Cucinelli, and several antique stores.

The Museum of Decorative Arts has an exhibit by fashion designer Zika Asher, who was friends with and created fabrics in collaboration with Matisse, Picasso, the fashion line Balenciaga, and was worn by celebrities including Princess Diana. During WWII, many of Asher’s outfits had to be created out of parachutes because that was the only material available that he could use. On a separate floor was a vast display of glass artwork by artists including Pankova, Hlava, and Fisar. On another level was a display of European Design furniture, with many edgy and chic pieces from the 1930’s-1980’s, including curved benches, modern room dividers, candlesticks, and juice makers.

Prague offers a lot to see and do for everyone, and I cannot wait to go back again.

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Ms. Magazine: Lilly Singh’s Late-Night Milestone is Just Her Latest Bawse Move

Thank you to Ms. Magazine for publishing my article: “Lilly Singh’s Late-Night Milestone is Just Her Latest Bawse Move“

Lilly Singh will mark a major milestone Monday. A Little Late with Lilly Singh, premiering September 16 on NBC, will be the only current late-night show hosted by an openly queer woman of color.

I wanted to learn more about Singh’s trajectory when I heard the news—and started by reading her best-selling book How to Be a Bawse: A Guide to Conquering Life, which chronicles the Indian-Canadian YouTube star’s 27-city world tour in 2016, which she also recorded in the documentary A Trip to Unicorn Island.

It’s official. Ya girl is getting her own @nbc late night show… A Little Late with Lilly Singh. Thank you so much for being here. I am truly so grateful.

Thank you @jimmyfallon @sethmeyers pic.twitter.com/h44HoPRtel

— Lilly Singh // #LateWithLilly (@Lilly) March 15, 2019

“A Bawse is like a boss, but so epic that I had to change the spelling,” Singh explains to readers. “Unlike a boss, who is defined as such only within the workplace, a Bawse is someone who excels in both personal and professional settings… A Bawse exudes confidence, turns heads, gets hurt efficiently, communicates effectively and hustles relentlessly. ”

Singh, of course, embodies Bawsiness. She wants the best for herself, and has indeed hustled relentlessly to achieve it. Her YouTube channel, iiSuperwomanii, which she began in 2010, now has over 14 million subscribers, and her videos have been viewed over 3 billion times.

But Singh also wants the best for everyone else. While some of her videos are comedic, others are personal glimpses into Punjabi culture and her struggles to overcome depression. Her social media movement, #GirlLove, has urged countless girls to be kinder to their peers.

“My hope is that this book will unleash your inner Bawse and give you the tools necessary to not only survive life, but conquer it,” she urges. “I want you to know that I’ve been through some tough challenges, and that the lessons I’m sharing with you in this book were not easily learned. I’m not writing about mythical, fairy-tale stuff. I’m telling you what has actually worked in my life, the things that pulled me out of a place of deep depression into a life filled with the kind of success I couldn’t have ever imagined. I want to be a positive light in this world.”

Singh began her YouTube channel because she was deeply depressed, and she wanted to change her life. “If you’re drowning, keep your life jacket on and fight,” she explains. “But once you’re able to swim, don’t convince yourself you forgot how to. Take your life jacket off, front-crawl your way to the shore, walk off that beach and set your GPS to the top of a hill, because you WILL conquer the climb.”

It’s a climb Singh knows intimately. “There is no escalator to success,” she declares. “You have to take the stairs. It’s absolutely exhausting to climb the stairs, especially because you can’t always see the top of the staircase.”

It’s one I know intimately, too—there have been so many times when I have been ready to give up, especially when I was leaving my marriage and during my divorce. But I set small goals, climbed up the next stair and recently marked my own milestone: my YouTube channel passed one million views.

“You are revolutionary,” Singh writes to her readers. “You have amazing ideas. You have the ability to create, to change, to solve, and to influence. Don’t sell yourself short by not spending your time, energy, and money on creating the best version of yourself.”

Singh’s book urges women to investigate and interrogate the things they want—and pursue them. We might not all have investigations that end up with billions of views, or careers that land us our own late night TV shows, but Singh is determined to prove that we can change our own lives and find our own rainbows, one step forward at a time, if we take the time and effort to become comfortable with ourselves and the ambitious pursuit of our own goals.

I hope some day to have my own show about travel, and I am inspired by Singh’s success. As she premieres her show, I’m still mulling over one of the questions in How to Be a Bawse: “What will my future self thank me for doing today?”

I’m certain of Monday’s answer: Turning on NBC to watch Lilly Singh.

The post Ms. Magazine: Lilly Singh’s Late-Night Milestone is Just Her Latest Bawse Move appeared first on We Said Go Travel.

#IPW19 with The Beach Boys and Star Wars!

Thank you to IPW 2019 in Anaheim!

At our travel conference, we had a concert with THE BEACH BOYS and we went to opening weekend of Star Wars at Disneyland!

Please enjoy my videos and photos from both events.

VIDEO: THE BEACH BOYS

“The Beach Boys  are an American rock band formed in Hawthorne, California in 1961. The group’s original lineup consisted of brothers Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and their friend Al Jardine. Distinguished by their vocal harmonies and early surf songs, they are one of the most influential acts of the rock era.[1] The band drew on the music of jazz-based vocal groups, 1950s rock and roll, and black R&B to create their unique sound, and with Brian as composer, arranger, producer, and de facto leader, they often incorporated classical elements and unconventional recording techniques in innovative ways.”


Read about my adventures at
Star Wars on TODAY.com

 

VIDEO: Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge,

an All-New Land, Now Open!
Live Your Star Wars Adventure 
in a Galaxy Far, Far Away!





“Take Control of the Fastest Ship in the Galaxy

Ride in the famous cockpit of the Millennium Falcon on a daring flight—and whether you’re a pilot, engineer or gunner, every role is crucial.

The engines rumble as the Millennium Falcon blasts off, pushing you and your crew back into your seats when you jump into hyperspace towards adventure. Along the way you’ll face danger at every turn.

Will your mission succeed or fail? It’s up to you—find out if you have what it takes to outmaneuver the odds aboard the Millennium Falcon.

Get ready to punch it!

On-the-Job Training Provided

Never flown a starship before? Hondo Ohnaka is looking for discreet flight crews to deliver a backlog of hard-to-find items to particular clientele—no experience necessary!



Know Before You Go

Learn important information about planning your visit to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.”

To see all of my IPW meeting moments, please see my other post about IPW 2019.

See all of my IPW videos:

Read my story about our adventures at Star Wars in Today.com!

Thank you to US Travel Association and Brand USA for IPW in Anaheim, California! There were more than 1,300 exhibitor booths, showcasing U.S. travel product and destinations to more than 6,000 attendees, including 1,300 international and domestic travel buyers, and 500 journalists representing more than 70 countries.

The post #IPW19 with The Beach Boys and Star Wars! appeared first on We Said Go Travel.

How Muslim Refugees in Berlin Helped Amir Kashfi Celebrate Yamim Noraim

Thank you to Amir Kashfi for sharing his story about being an IsraAID intern in Berlin. He reflects on the Jewish High Holy Days while volunteering with asylum-seekers in refugee camps. This article was first published on Times of Israel.

Abed nearly died several times while making the perilous journey from Iran to Berlin. Like many asylum seekers fleeing discrimination or violence in the Middle East, Abed (who’s been given an alias for this piece) abandoned his home and family in pursuit of a safer life in Europe.

Abed’s family fled from Afghanistan to Iran before he was born to escape the repressive rule of the Taliban. In Iran, state-sponsored discrimination and harassment of the Afghan minority made life increasingly difficult. Worsening economic conditions and a lack of hope finally compelled him to leave in 2016. A smuggler led Abed to the mountainous pass between Iran and Turkey, falsely presenting a multi-day journey as a three hour walk.

“If I had known that was the path, I would not have tried it. When I looked back on those mountains, I was surprised I survived.”

After crossing the border, and almost getting shot by Iranian border guards who patrol the mountains, Abed crossed through Turkey and arrived at the Mediterranean Sea, where smugglers again make a hefty profit organizing boats of refugees to Greece.

“They put 75 of us in a raft made for 20 people. Our engine failed halfway through the journey and we thought we would drown. One of the other three boats flipped over and 75 people died in front of us.”

After landing at the nearest Greek island, non-governmental organizations and European Union officials placed Abed in an emergency camp with hundreds of other refugees who survived similar journeys.  From there, they were shipped around Europe until Abed was assigned a refugee camp in Berlin. 2 years later, he is still awaiting final asylum approval. He has learned German, goes to school, and has worked a few jobs. He still lives in his camp but hopes to find an apartment soon. At 27 years old, he has high hopes to overcome both the psychosocial trauma he carries and the social barriers to integration in German life.

I asked him if he misses his family.

“I haven’t talked to them in eight months. The Iranian government can track our communications and they are listening.”

A Unique Humanitarian Crisis

In 2015, more than one million asylum seekers fled the worn torn Middle East seeking safety in Germany, which has been the most generous European country in accepting refugees and granting them citizenship or asylum. Today there are approximately 1.5 million refugees living in Germany. Most of them are from Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan, with smaller numbers from Iran, Ethiopia, and Eritrea. They speak a cacophony of different languages and carry the various traumas and scars of the trials they faced back home.

This humanitarian crisis is unlike many others. There is no natural disaster, search and rescue, or serious physical trauma for the refugees in the camps. Instead, these refugees carry profound psychological, emotional, social trauma that hinders their assimilation into German society and must be addressed. They must also learn a new language and adopt a new culture that contradicts their own in many ways. Integrating them into German society has been an epic challenge for the German government.

This is where IsraAID comes in. IsraAID, an Israeli humanitarian relief organization that responds to crises around the globe, has been responding to the migration crisis in Germany since 2015. While many non-governmental organizations supplemented the German government’s work early in the migration crisis, fewer have remained to see the work through.

IsraAID’s psychosocial support and therapy programs, community building initiatives, and social integration efforts have filled key gaps in the process of integrating refugees into German society. A new leadership initiative called “Kompass” (German for compass) cultivates leaders in the refugee community and empowers them to build their own relief projects for their peers. Abed, who participated in the first cohort of Kompass, expressed tremendous personal growth from the program and now volunteers with IsraAID to lead recruitment efforts for the second cohort. 10 other Kompass alumni also work with IsraAID and play a unique, meaningful role in social work as refugees committed to the betterment of their communities. In 2019, IsraAID aims to train enough refugees through Kompass to establish the first fully self-sustaining and self-governing refugee camp in Germany. It’s a daunting goal that both speaks to the quality of IsraAID’s training, and the true potential of refugees to proactively improve their situation.

IsraAID is also particularly concerned with addressing trauma and integration in refugee youth. 80% of refugees in Germany are under 35 years old, and 20% of refugees are children. It is estimated that over 60,000 refugees came to Germany as unaccompanied minors. To help address the needs of young people as a key demographic, IsraAID has developed a “Kompass Youth” track to promote leadership development in young people.

The People in the Camps

IsraAID’s programming often takes place in refugee camps, which vary in size and shape. The camp I worked in most was an organized community of metal bungalows. Each bungalow fits a few roommates or a small family, and the government provides basic services like security or a post office to the camp community. Larger camps housing a few hundred refugees may have a health clinic or other facilities, but these services are generally being externalized as refugees move out of their camps and integrate more fully into normal society.

While walking back to their bungalow following a Kompass session, I asked a couple of the Iranian refugees if they regret trading their lives in Iran for their lives in Germany.

“We were hopeless in Iran”, one of them responds.

I didn’t see much hope going around in the camp either though.

“What’s better about living in this camp for the last three years than living in Iran?” I pushed back.

“Freedom” says one.

“Democracy”, adds the other.

I can’t argue with that. They have both been granted German citizenship and proudly show me their new passports. One of them fled Iran to avoid being drafted into the army, and the other fled after being sentenced to 88 lashes on the back for being caught in his home with his girlfriend. They are more educated than most refugees in the camp. One studied biology in Iran and now works in a nearby hospital. The other studied engineering and is looking for work. Like many refugees, they are young, middle-class, educated people with little choice but to flee their homelands. They don’t fit the stereotype of the poor, destitute refugee we often conjure up. Their cartoonish tattoos, coupled with their full beards, present a living mishmash of Iranian and western culture. They have plenty of questions about life in America, which we discuss in Farsi. Both speak Farsi, German, and English well. They are also close with the IsraAID staff, who have been supporting them since their arrival in 2015. Hard times create deep friendships, and the refugees are grateful to those who helped them in their most vulnerable moments.

After that encounter, I asked Abed if refugees are ever reluctant to work with, or to take help from, IsraAID. Afterall, many of them are from societies where Israel is presented in a negative light.

“There has never been a problem. IsraAID is doing important work and everyone is grateful.”

I also didn’t notice any problems, but not all refugees are as open-minded as the ones IsraAID works with, and anti-Semitic stereotypes do exist in some refugee communities. While IsraAID doesn’t do its work to promote Israel or to shape refugees’ perceptions of Israel, IsraAID’s professional humanitarian work does create the opportunity to build bridges with non-typical friends. In this refugee camp, there’s no room for political charades, just good humanitarians doing important work.

I also have more in common with these refugees than I realize at first. My family fled from Iran to Los Angeles during the 1979 Islamic revolution and, like these refugees, they too adopted a new language and a new culture. I am proud to be an American, and I am also grateful that I can level with refugees who share the same language and culture that my parents taught me in our home on the other side of the globe. During a time of greater introspection and self-awareness in the Jewish calendar, I could not have found better teachers to bring me closer to my roots.

Days of Awe

During one of our many conversations, Abed and I turned to the subject of religion. He tells me he has some questions he would ask a Jewish person if he could.

“Man Yahoodi hastam. Har soali dari, bepors. Khejalat nakesh. [I’m Jewish. Ask me any question you have. Don’t be embarrassed.]”

Abed was surprised and happy. I don’t know how many other Jews he’s met, but it’s probably not many. Abed and I talked about faith, prophets, and the High Holy Days that were upon us.

I spent most of Yom Kippur volunteering in a camp and went to synagogue in the evening. Volunteering throughout the High Holy Days, and then praying with the Jewish community in a city where all the Jews were murdered not long ago for observing the same millennia-old traditions, was a deeply moving and spiritual experience.

I’ve always appreciated that Jewish culture and texts place a strong emphasis on the merits of our deeds, and not just our beliefs. Pirkei Avot teaches us, “It is not your responsibility to finish the work [of perfecting the world], but you are not free to desist from it either” (2:16). It is in this spirit that I came to Berlin during the Days of Awe, to work with refugees who recently made their exodus into a strange new land, and to spend the new year doing some meaningful Tikun Olam.

Gmar Tov.

Article by Amir Kashfi, a graduate of UCLA and a Beverly Hills native. A descendant of Iranian-Jewish refugees who immigrated to the U.S. in 1979, he is passionate about engaging other young people in pro-Israel activism.

Amir Kashfi speaking at Stephen Wise Temple about IsraAID, September 2019

The post How Muslim Refugees in Berlin Helped Amir Kashfi Celebrate Yamim Noraim appeared first on We Said Go Travel.

It’s official. Ya girl is getting her own @nbc late nigh...

It’s official. Ya girl is getting her own @nbc late night show… A Little Late with Lilly Singh. Thank you so much for being here. I am truly so grateful.

Thank you @jimmyfallon @sethmeyers pic.twitter.com/h44HoPRtel

— Lilly Singh // #LateWithLilly (@Lilly) March 15, 2019

The post appeared first on We Said Go Travel.

Happy New Year 5780! We Said Go Travel News 2019

September News  2019 with We Said Go Travel:



Happy New Year!



Enjoy Rosh Hashannah and these 10 days of Awe. Where did you adventure in the last year? What do you want to build in the next year. I was honored to represent Ms. Magazine at the United Nations Conference this month. I loved being at The Gates Foundation Goalskeepers 2019. Look for more information from my time in NYC in my upcoming stories!







Thank you to Carmen Rios and Ms. Magazine for publishing my article: “Lilly Singh’s Late-Night Milestone is Just Her Latest Bawse Move” Have you seen her new show on NBC?







Thank you to Phil La Duke for interviewing me
for Authority Magazine about
“From Avocation To Vocation:
How I Turned My Hobby Into A Career” 







I am so excited to share my South Pacific travels with you! I was in Fiji and Vanuatu! You can see my videos at this link: https://wesaidgotravel.com/vanuatu









Thank you to The Wandering RV for including me in their “The Best Places to Travel in 2019 article.” I recommended AFRICA and my trip last year to Tanzania and Kenya with Abercrombie and Kent.






Thank you to everyone who entered our 2018 Travel Photo Award. Please congratulate our winners: Pranab Basak, Eduardo Armas and Alex Gill! You can see the 24 finalists and their photos: Part one and Part two
Thank you to our judges: Eve Boissonnault, Gary Arndt, Jeana Marie and Matt Payne:

Matt and I traveled together in Tanzania and Kenya where he took this photo of me and the school children. He is recently back from Uganda and shared his photos and video in this article, “The Real Power of Travel Photography: A Photo Essay from Uganda” on We Said Go Travel.

Enkereri school children in Maasai Mara. Photo by Matt Payne
WHERE CAN YOU FIND MY TRAVEL VIDEOS?

Here is the link to my video channel on YouTube where I have over one million views on YouTube! (Exact count: 1,049,075 views)

Thank you for your support! Are you one of my 2390 subscribers? I hope you will join me and subscribe!

Enjoy my project about Fall Travel for Orbitz

 

Recent videos from speaking at Metro Women’s Leadership Summit, IPW Anaheim 2019  and my trip to Miami for the LE MIAMI conference.

To see more We Said Go Travel articles, TV segments, videos
and social media: CLICK HERE







Thank you for watching my videos, reading my stories, following along on social media and asking me about booking your travels!
Have you seen all of my KTLA TV news segments?
Click here to watch them.

My fortune cookies said:

“The key to happiness is reasonable expectations!”

and

“You shall attain great wisdom with each passing year.”

I hope that 5780 is the year that your dreams come true!
Thank you for your all of your support. Lisa

Discover more on my social media accounts:  Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, and at LisaNiver.com. My social media following is now over 160,000 and I am verified on both Twitter and Facebook.

 
I now have over
ONE MILLION VIEWS on my YouTube channel!

Please visit my channel and
subscribe, like and comment about my We Said Go Travel videos!

Want to watch some of my videos?

Here  is a post about my most watched/top 10 travel videos from 10 different countries.

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Thank you IPW Anaheim 2019! #travel #IPW19

Thank you to US Travel Association and Brand USA for IPW in Anaheim, California! There were more than 1,300 exhibitor booths, showcasing U.S. travel product and destinations to more than 6,000 attendees, including 1,300 international and domestic travel buyers, and 500 journalists representing more than 70 countries.

VIDEO: DREAM BIG at California Plaza for IPW 2019

Exploring CALIFORNIA PLAZA for IPW 2019, we learned about many destinations in our great state. I was able to pet a lemur, a snake, an alligator, a porcupine and plan my next road trip across California.

Did you know THE BIG BANG Theory set is going to be at Warner Brothers Studio Tour! Have you seen the lot yet?

Welcome to IPW 2019 by Lisa Niver

Where will you go next? I want to see the Padres at Petco Park!

There were tasty treats from all over our state and places to sit and relax.

Thank you to Lisa and Irine from Hilton and Margot and Ruksana for exploring the plaza with me!

DREAM BIG!

Lisa Niver at IPW 2019

“Brand USA, the destination marketing organization for the United States, was IPW’s premier sponsor. Brand USA’s mission is to increase international visitation for the U.S., fuel the nation’s economy, and enhance the image of the U.S. worldwide. Through their spending, the millions of international visitors who come to this country create millions of American jobs.” Thank you to Roger Dow, President & CEO, U.S. Travel Association and Chris Thompson, President & CEO, Brand USA.

IPW gathers travel professionals—including U.S. destinations, hotels, attractions, sports teams and transportation companies, and international tour operators, buyers and wholesalers from around the world—to meet in one place to help bring the world to America.

VIDEO: Who can you meet at IPW Media Marketplace?

For media marketplace, I met with

Lisa Cole from Hilton, Hilton Hotels are 100 years old! Happy Birthday! 100 years of hospitality!

I loved seeing all my journalism friends like Jason Frye, David Lang, Andrew Nelson, Ruksana Hussain, Margot Black, Nancy Trejos and Melody Pittman!

Find 120 properties at Ocean Properties Hotels and Resorts! Which one should I stay at first?

I am going to Michigan for the very 1st time! My nephew will be a freshman at UofM!

IPW Media Meetings 2019

Albuquerque, New Mexico! Have you been? I have only been once and I cannot wait to go back.

PURSUIT in Canada and Alaska with Tanya. Want to go to wilderness lodge? I do! I spent 3 summers in Alaska with Princess Cruises but I have not been to Denali yet.

In Flagstaff, Arizona you can walk like an astronaut and it is the 50th anniversary of the moon landing.

Visit Palm Beach—there are 39 cities and towns to discover in Florida.

I want to go to Fresno and I want to hug the giant trees at Sequoia National Park!

Have you been to Torrance? Meet me at the bakery where they make King’s Hawaiian rolls in California.

I have never ever been to the Everglades. I want to see the sites and then photos by Clyde Butcher who is the Ansel Adams of the Everglades and it is also a  UNESCO site! Let’s go!

I lived in Colorado at Copper Mountain but I have yet to see Colorado Springs. I want to see the purple mountain majesty which inspired the song America The Beautiful. Catherine Lee Bates went to Pikes Peak and wrote the poem, America the Beautiful.

Have you been to Georgia? I lived at Fort Benning Military Base when I was two and my sister was born there while my dad served during the Vietnam War. I have yet to visit Atlanta and I really want to see it.

Where did surfing get its start? Dana Point has a surf heritage and cultural center and first hobie cat was invented there. There is so much surfing history and we even saw the BEACH BOYS perform at lunch! SURF USA!

Come to the stock yard and see me crack a bull whip in Fort Worth. There is a twice daily cattle drive and I am going to learn to be a cowgirl!

Inside IPW Media Marketplace by Lisa Niver

I want to Visit Portland! Do you? Let’s go! There is a forested park and many female entrepreneurs especially at Freeland Spirits!

Anaheim was the host of the conference this year and it is full of uncommon characters! I loved exploring more of my home state!

Charlotte has the Levine Museum of the New South! Do you know the history? Let’s go learn!

When you visit El Paso—you get three cities, two countries and one heart!

Texas, Southern New Mexico and Mexico and of course El Paso!

Six Flags have flown over Texas: The United States, the Republic of Texas, the confederacy, Mexico, Spain and France. There is so much exciting history in Texas.

Chicago has more than 250 theaters! It is the year of theater! Which show do you want to see first?

VIDEO: Who can you meet at the Marvelous Marketplace at IPW?

Welcome to Anaheim–it’s the 51st year of IPW!

I am so excited to explore all of the incredible destinations.

Where do you want to travel?Las Vegas?

Hawaii?

Puerto Rico?

Stay with Hilton Hotels on their 100th birthday? I saw my friends from Arizona, Sonoma County and from Niagara Falls USA! You can go, it doesn’t have to be your honeymoon!

I cannot wait for my next adventure!

See you at IPW 2020 May 30 to June 3 in Las Vegas!

Thank you IPW 2019!

The U.S. Travel Association’s IPW is the leading international inbound travel trade show, with over 110,000 prescheduled business appointments between suppliers and buyers driving $5.5 billion in future travel to the United States. It is a national showcase of America, where U.S. travel exhibitors connect with travel buyers and media from more than 70 countries to promote their product, negotiate future business and build relationships. IPW secures America’s position as a foremost global travel destination by increasing international visitation and showing the world the best of what the U.S. has to offer.

This is the 10th time IPW has been held in California and the second time it has been held in Anaheim since the city last hosted in 2007.

See all of my IPW videos:

Read my story about our adventures at Star Wars in Today.com!



U.S. Travel Association is the national, non-profit organization representing all components of the travel industry that generates $2.5 trillion in economic output and supports 15.7 million jobs. U.S. Travel’s mission is to increase travel to and within the United States. Visit ustravel.org.

DREAM BIG with Visit California, photo by Lisa Niver

The post Thank you IPW Anaheim 2019! #travel #IPW19 appeared first on We Said Go Travel.

Authority Magazine: The Future Of Travel: Searching for Travel with Meaning

The Future Of Travel: “Consumers are searching for travel with meaning.” with Lisa Niver and Candice Georgiadis

Candice Georgiadis

Consumers are searching for travel with meaning. Tour companies will continue to offer trips with connections to local people and ways to learn about life in the destination.

As part of my series about “exciting developments in the travel industry over the next five years”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Lisa Ellen Niver, M.A. Education. Lisa is a television host, travel journalist as well as a passionate artist, educator and writer who has explored 101 countries, 6 continents and sailed on cruise ships for seven years on the high seas and backpacked for three years in Asia. She is the founder of We Said Go Travel which was read in 212 countries in 2018 and named #3 on the top 1000 Travel Blogs. Find her talking travel at KTLA TV and in her We Said Go Travel videos with over 900,000 views on her YouTube channel. She has hosted Facebook Live for USA Today 10best, is verified on both Twitter and Facebook, has over 150,000 followers across social media and ran fifteen travel competitions publishing over 2500 writers and photographers from 75 countries. She has been a finalist for five Southern California Journalism Awards in the past two years and won an award for her Jewish Journal article. Niver has written for AARP, American Airways, Delta Sky, En Route (Air Canada), Hemispheres (United Airlines), Jewish Journal, Luxury Magazine, Ms. Magazine, Myanmar Times, National Geographic, POPSUGAR, Robb Report, Saturday Evening Post, Scuba Diver Life, Sierra Club, Ski Utah, Smithsonian, Trivago, USA Today 10best, Wharton Magazine and Yahoo. She is writing a book, “Brave Rebel: 50 Adventures Before 50,” about her most recent travels and challenges. Look for her underwater SCUBA diving, in her art studio making ceramics or helping people find their next dream trip.  https://wesaidgotravel.com/

Thank you so much for joining us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

After college, I moved to San Francisco for graduate school and decided to take a year leave. During that time, I took two classes that changed my life. I enrolled in ceramics as well as scuba diving. Decades later, creating pottery and looking for creatures underwater are still two of my most favorite things. I have always loved to travel but teaching preschool I could not afford to scuba dive which led me to take a job at Club Med. From Club Med, I worked on cruise ships for seven years which has all been an amazing adventure and led me to my current career in journalism.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?

I have always wanted to share good stories. Lately, I have been talking travel on KTLA Television in Los Angeles. For President’s Day, I was live on the news talking about our Founding Fathers, George Washington and our Founding Mothers, Betsy Ross. If you have not been to Philadelphia lately, I highly recommend visiting The Betsy Ross House, National Constitution Museum and Museum of the American Revolution. I went to college at PENN and I have always loved Philadelphia. We had over 5.8 million impressions on Twitter about the segment. I feel fortunate to be able to educate people about our country and our world.

KTLA Philadelphia segment:  https://ktla.com/2019/02/18/travel-expert-lisa-niver-talks-about-a-philadelphia-getaway/

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

Once when I went to a magazine conference in Arizona, I received an email from SouthWest Airlines about my flight from Burbank to Phoenix. I looked at the computer in shock — I was already in Phoenix. I needed a flight from Phoenix to Burbank. What had I done? I realized when I was searching for flights that I found a cheaper flight and booked it but I booked both legs of my flight from Burbank to Phoenix instead of one each way.

That day I thought that making travel plans are challenging. There are many details to wrangle and keep track of. One lesson I learned is to slow down and do one thing at a time. I also often think of what a carpenter taught me, “Measure twice and cut once.” It is important to double check my work and make sure I do the best I can.

What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?

For my 50th birthday, I challenged myself to do 50 new things. I was so scared of most of the adventures but I was able to do them all with help. I still cannot believe some of the things I was willing to try. I have written articles about many of them and am working on a book, “Brave Rebel: 50 Adventures Before 50.” I love hearing from readers about how they have been inspired to try new things themselves.

I have to say that if my 50 year old self called my 49 year old self to explain what was going to happen, I would have hung up in disbelief. I would never have believed that I would mountain bike, jump out of an airplane and travel on safari but I did!

Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”? Can you share a story about that?

In order to thrive, we all need time to rest and play. For my stories, I am working in places where most people are on vacation. I look for a balance and make time for restorative choices. I pick trips where I will do something I love like SCUBA diving or visit a new location which renews me. I schedule time each day to exercise and make sure I eat well and make plans with supportive friends. For me, it is crucial to get enough sleep. I say no to many invitations so that I can focus on my writing and video editing at home. Finding balance is a constant process.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?

I am very grateful to Maren Rudolph of Travel Classics Magazine Conferences. She invited me to come to her conference and I was able to have one on one meetings with many incredible editors which led to print stories in Luxury Magazine, Delta Sky, American Airways, Hemispheres (United Airlines) and EnRoute (Air Canada). I also was able to place stories in many online publications from my meetings at Travel Classics.

Let’s jump to the core of our discussion. Can you share with our readers about the innovations that you are bringing to the travel and hospitality industries? Which “pain point” are you trying to address by introducing this innovation? How do you envision that this might disrupt the status quo?

I have been creating travel videos and sharing stories in my “This is What it is Like Style.” When I first worked in travel for Club Med, I was impressed that in each village you could find the place where they took the brochure photos. I felt like they accurately represented what the village would look like when you arrived.

Lately with all of the photoshopping and photo editing, consumers often feel misled with the advertising versus the reality. With video, you can see where I went and exactly what it is like. I have had many comments from readers about my adventures. They say that they want to walk with polar bears or dive with sharks and experience something new.

I have been sharing my video links on my social media and many people are then discovering their next favorite vacation.

Can you share 5 examples of how travel and hospitality companies will be adjusting over the next five years to the new ways that consumers like to travel?

Consumers are searching for travel with meaning. Tour companies will continue to offer trips with connections to local people and ways to learn about life in the destination.

I believe more people will travel with a group in order to learn a new skill. I have been asked to lead a travel group and share about how to start a travel blog and create a travel article. It is a chance to learn something from taking a surfing lesson to building a website.

In order to make sure they will love their holiday, more people are using travel advisors who specialize in creating the ultimate experience.

Traveling with family whether a multi-generational experience or “skip-gen,” where grandparents take the grandchildren without the parents, will continue to rise as people want to spend time with the people who are important to them and have top experiences together.

Many people need to disconnect and will continue to use holidays as a respite from technology and demands on their time. Consumers are overwhelmed by their responsibilities and travel is a perfect way to reconnect with personal goals and start anew.

You are a “travel insider”. How would you describe your “perfect vacation experience”?

My perfect vacation experience is to go somewhere new! After seven years sailing on cruise ships and three years living in Asia, I have been to 101 countries. Right now my wish list includes Greenland, Papua New Guinea, Bhutan, Antarctica, Galapagos, Iceland and Brazil among others! There is so much to see in this world and I love to learn about new cultures and places.

Can you share with our readers how have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?

By sharing stories, I feel I am bringing more goodness to our world. I wrote about a women’s economic development project for Ms. Magazine and I published Enock Masaki’s story of how he was a refugee in Africa and migrated to the United States.

https://wesaidgotravel.com/a-child-of-the-universe-by-enock-makasi/

https://wesaidgotravel.com/can-bicycles-change-the-world-ms-magazine/

I hope to share many more stories and inspire many more readers.

You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.