Maria ODonnell
Maria ODonnell
Membership Type
Travel Advisor -Signature Individual
Meet the Board: Jenn Lee
Jenn Lee, Travel Planners International’s VP of Industry Engagement and Support, isn’t shy about her obsession for guiding and leading today’s entrepreneurial-minded travel advisor community. So, it was a natural fit for her to join the board o
Continue Reading Story
Meet the Board: Stephanie Lee
Stephanie Lee is the founder of Host Agency Reviews (HAR), a website that connects over 70k visitors a month to travel industry resources. HAR helps people looking to join the travel industry the roadmap to successfully start and grow their travel ag
Continue Reading Story
Meet the Board: Tamara Gruber
A former marketing executive, Tamara Gruber launched We3Travel.com in 2013 to share her passion for family travel. Now a travel writer and podcaster based in New England, Gruber works to make it easier for others to plan vacations by providing de
Continue Reading Story
Trends in the Family Market Recap
Recently, the Family Travel Association presented an hour-long Lunch & Learn webinar covering the latest Trends in the Family Market, hosted by three experts in the industry. Here are just a few key highlights from the full discussion, which is a
Continue Reading Story
Meet the Board: Karlene Angus-Smith
Karlene Angus-Smith has been with Sandals’ Unique Vacations since September 2002, working her way up over the years to her current role as Associate Director of Industry Affairs. Her new position allows her to work along with the Director of Indust
Continue Reading Story
FTA Member Spotlight: Family Travels and Adventures
Kristin Luz has been traveling her entire adult life, so it only made sense to help others do the same. From trekking the Inca Trail to sailing on a 50-foot yacht in Greece and visiting village markets in Morocco, Luz and her family have done and see
Continue Reading Story
2023 US Family Travel Survey Results
The 2023 Family Travel Association annual family travel survey highlights post-pandemic trends, positive attitudes and opportunities for growth. Today, the Family Travel Association released findings from its 2023 U.S. Family Travel Survey on family
Continue Reading Story
Why Cruise Lines Make For the Perfect Family Trip
There are a lot of benefits to working with the largest cruise line in the world, especially for families. As of May 2023, Carnival Cruise Line operates a fleet of 25 ships, with another in the works, across 15 different home ports spread across the
Continue Reading Story
FTA Member Spotlight: Il Viaggio Travel
Sustainability, accessibility, education—Il Viaggio Travel does it all. While based in Costa Rica, “Il Viaggio” is actually Italian for “travel,” inspired by co-founder Stephanie Sheehy’s family and heritage. The initial hope was to draw
Continue Reading Story
Welcome to the Family: Discover DeKalb
Just outside of Atlanta, Georgia lies a haven for family travel. North of the downtown area, Discover DeKalb—a new FTA member—represents a group of cities and towns with a hugely diverse selection of travel offerings. Michael Vescio, Director of
Continue Reading Story
Lunch & Learn Recap: Cowboy-Cations
Every few weeks, the Family Travel Association is hosting a 30-minute virtual Lunch & Learn with suppliers, industry experts and panel discussions. Being an FTA member, you can not just attend these webinars, but also access the recordings at any
Continue Reading Story
safetravelRX: 24/7 Peace of Mind
Would you know how to call for an emergency responder in Italy? Could you find a pharmacist in Egypt that speaks English? What about the latest health guidelines in Costa Rica? Even if you’re a seasoned traveler, you can’t account for every situa
Continue Reading Story