Jim’s uniquely global experiences, and his passion for helping destinations all over the world have their stories told and in support of their incredibly diverse industries of small businesses, make him uniquely qualified and frequently in demand as a consultant, advisor, educator, presenter and panelist across the globe. Previously, Jim developed one of the first travel content websites ever created,, founded the family travel effort at, and established and managed the DMO programs for TripAdvisor, and Travelzoo. He brings with him over 20 years of experience working with DMO’s all over the world, first in broadcasting and then in the digital marketing environment (and over 25 years of experience in media as a whole). Jim Brody is the President and CDN (Chief DMO Nerd) of Sense of Place, a company dedicated to helping destination marketing organizations navigate the digital landscape, and digital media understand and work better with DMO’s as the centerpiece of the travel industry within their respective destinations. She has been a panelist for Millennial Travel at the Soho House, is a matchmaker/love guru with Tawkify and has been on a Bravo Television show.
Olivia left Corporate America early on to pursue “the story.” She is Oh The People You Meet’s Deputy Editor, a platform created by Michaela Guzy to showcase authentic local connection around the world, and has written for a wide variety of consumer and trade publications including Paste Magazine, Insider Travel Report, AFAR, Canadian World Traveler, TravelPulse,, Elite Daily, Yahoo Travel and various airplane magazines. Olivia has “Liv’ed”with a shaman in the Amazon, traversed the Arctic on Northern Lights expeditions, spent weeks on safari promoting conservation efforts in southern Africa, walked and skied from Kyoto to Tokyo, and has traversed nearly the entire European continent by bike (to name just a few of the adventures!). Why? A Manhattanite and wanderluster, Olivia has fallen in love with the world and recognizes that each day should be “Liv’ed” to its fullest.
Olivia Balsinger is endearingly nicknamed “Oh-Liv-It-Up” by her family and friends. Over a nine-year period, through the implementation of award-winning public relations and innovative marketing programs, the brand generated 45 million customers traveling to over 100 cities and changed the way American consumers utilize bus transportation. Partnership could be Michael’s middle name working closely with over forty NYC attractions, land, sea, and air tour companies, hotel, cultural institutions, media and tourism organizations to create many cooperative promotional and cross-sales programs.Īs Coach USA Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Public Relations in 2006 he directed marketing and public relations initiatives for the introduction of a new, unique intercity bus brand:. Michael Alvich’s extensive career in business-to-consumer and business-to-business Tourism and Transportation spans successful sales and marketing assignments in airline, transit, tourism, and motor coach industries.Michael Alvich’s extensive career in business-to-consumer and business-to-business Tourism and Transportation spans successful sales and marketing assignments in airline, transit, tourism, and motor coach industries.
Jennifer and her company assists DMO’s and individual tourism businesses to work effectively with the travel-trade, and as a result, ALON is a recognized resource for global travel buyers who call ALON frequently to assist with product, destination, and itinerary develop. Her company, ALON Marketing Group, is a well-respected tourism sales, marketing, and educational consulting company whose focus is B2B (business-to-business) relationships between travel-trade and travel-supplier companies. Jennifer’s distinctions include an unparalleled assimilation into the domestic and international buyer/seller travel-trade relationship, which results in a high level of successful strategic tourism business development for clients. With industry experience working with all tourism supplier categories, Jennifer has an excellent understanding of tourism and the visitor dynamic. Jennifer Ackerson, President of ALON Marketing Group, is a 20+ year veteran of the Travel & Tourism industry.