This weekend the 5th annual NY Trav Fest will take over New York City with dozens of panels, talks, workshops and think tanks addressing problems and opportunities in tourism both near and far. There’s a ton going on this year so here’s our quick guide on what to expect each day of the event and where to find it.
Day 1: Borough Tourism Summit
Location: NYU Woolworth Building – 15 Barclay St.
Thursday, April 20th, 9:00AM – 5:30PM
This Thursday, the NY Trav Fest kicks off with the first ever Borough Tourism Summit. The day will include networking, high profile speakers like the Staten Island Deputy Borough President Ed Burke, and a deep dive into the relationship between impact and tourism. You’ll even see a bit of offMetro representing the local community on Thursday: our Senior Editor, Allison Tibaldi, will be moderating a panel called “Working with Media” where a team of writers will share their best advice on pitching stories and bringing writers to review your destinations.
Day 2: The Travel Unity Summit
Location: NYU Woolworth Building – 15 Barclay St.
Friday, April 21st, 9:00AM – 5:30PM
On Friday, the NYTF will take a different turn, diving more broadly into diversity in the tourism industry. This day offers talks and panels on marketing, hiring, and international collaborations that include travelers and tourism professionals. Make sure to bring your creative mind as a highlight of the Travel Unity Summit is the breakout session for collage making.
Day 3: NY Trav Fest Day 1
Bohemian National Hall – 321 E. 73rd St.
Saturday, April 22nd, 10:30AM – 5:30PM
On Saturday, the official festival begins at the Bohemian National Hall where the focus will be on travel start-ups and long-term sustainability in the industry. It’s especially timely as this year has been deemed the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development by the United Nations.
Day 4: NY Trav Fest Day 2
HI-NYC – 891 Amsterdam Ave.
Sunday, April 23rd, 10:00AM – 6:30PM
Sunday, the conversation turns more personal with speakers such as Travel Blogger Nomadic Matt and Polar Explorer Jeffrey Donenfeld. The day will include panels such as “Travel As An Act of Resistance” and small group meet-ups on Thought Leadership in the industry. Pending beautiful weather, some of Sunday’s events will take place in the gorgeous backyard of Hostelling International on the Upper West Side.
For full details and registration head to nytravfest.com.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn -based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram