Largest Travel Show in the West Features 450 Global Destinations

Robert Doyle READ TIME: 3 MIN.

LONG BEACH, CA - The 7th Annual Los Angeles Travel & Adventure ShowTM, the largest travel show in the West, will take place January 14th and 15th, 2012 at the Long Beach Convention Center. The event will make Long Beach the ultimate destination for those passionate about jet-set vacations, epic journeys and rejuvenating road trips.

The weekend event will feature talks from beloved Travel Channel personalities Samantha Brown and Andrew Zimmern, valuable insider tips from industry experts, hands-on activities, cultural performances, and access to domestic and international exhibitors offering show-only specials. The complete program schedule is now available at www.latravelshow.com .

Brown, Zimmern, Peter Greenberg, Pauline Frommer, Mark DeCarlo, and Patricia Schultz will headline the Travel & Adventure Theatre and professional photographer Ralph Velasco will hold a series of demonstrations on how to capture the best travel memories, in stills and video.

Panel discussions and destination workshops will also bring together experts from around the world to share their insights on where to find the best deals and how to get the most value out of a vacation. "The Travel & Adventure Shows are truly a gateway to the world, all in your backyard", said Samantha Brown.

Attendees can participate in a variety of activities including the new 3D Travel ExperienceTM, scuba lessons from Beadiver.com, climbing on a 25' rock wall provided by Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite, infamous zip line riding high above the show floor, special children's activities area and the new Culinary Stage will showcase culinary experiences through unique cuisine from different destinations around the globe.

The Global Beats StageTM, sponsored by the World Heritage Cultural Center, will showcase music and dance from Spain, India, Ireland, Taiwan, Mexico, Egypt, the Middle East and Brazil. Highlights include Bollywood step dance, belly dancing and Flamenco.

The five-acre show floor will be packed with exhibitors providing expert advice on visiting destinations as near as Palm Springs and as far as Taiwan. Tour operators and travel experts representing locations around the globe, various modes of transportation and recreation, and related products and services will be on hand all weekend, offering information and show specials for consumers. Popular destinations that will be featured at the show include Germany, Tanzania, Indonesia, Maui, Costa Rica and more.

"Our attendees come year after year not only to hear our world-class travel personalities, but because they know that there is no other show or place in Southern California where they will be able to explore as many destinations as at the Travel & Adventure Show", said John Golicz, CEO of Unicomm, the nation's longest running and leading series of travel events. "The ability for consumers to speak face to face with travel experts from around the globe to customize their vacation is invaluable."

The 2012 Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show'sTM Presenting Sponsor is the Taiwan Tourism Bureau. Supporting Sponsors include Air Berlin/Visit Berlin, Guam Visitors Bureau, Indonesia Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Turkish Culture and Tourism Office. Los Angeles Magazine, NBC4 LA, Los Angeles Consortium of Online Travel (LACOT), KABC-AM and KLOS-FM are the flagship Media Sponsors.

The event, produced by Unicomm, LLC, will take place at the Long Beach Convention Center Saturday, January 14th and Sunday, January 15th, 2012, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; travel trade may enter the show on Saturday, January 14th at 9:30am for an advance preview or attend during regular show hours.

Tickets are $10 at the door or $7 online in advance with Promo Code: LAPR; children age 16 and below admitted free with paid adult.

Ticket purchase information, a current schedule of speakers and more details are available at www.latravelshow.com


by Robert Doyle

Long-term New Yorkers, Mark and Robert have also lived in San Francisco, Boston, Provincetown, D.C., Miami Beach and the south of France. The recipient of fellowships at MacDowell, Yaddo, and Blue Mountain Center, Mark is a PhD in American history and literature, as well as the author of the novels Wolfchild and My Hawaiian Penthouse. Robert is the producer of the documentary We Are All Children of God. Their work has appeared in numerous publications, as well as at : www.mrny.com.

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