NEW YORK, March 23, 2015 – Join us for the third annual New York Travel Festival, featuring workshops, panel discussions and presentations focusing on hot-button and trending travel topics. The two-day festival takes place on April 18 and April 19, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at two locations on the Upper West Side of Manhattan – W83 and Hostelling International. Admission is $20 to $150 depending on travel package. Visit www.nytravfest.com to order tickets.

Industry professionals, startups, media and savvy travelers will gather to share wisdom about a host of community-prompted subjects from tourism targeting people of color, people with disabilities, and the LGBT market, to issues surrounding ethical, sustainable and local/regional travel. There will also be expert-led sessions and consultations about taking a sabbatical or pursuing a career in the travel industry and demos of the latest virtual-reality technology and experience.

The festival provides a full weekend of interaction for people who see travel as a means of engaging with the world – not escaping from it.

DISCOVERY AND DIALOGUE Saturday, April 18 – W83 (150 West 83rd Street, New York, NY)

Day 1 provides opportunities for travelers and travel professionals to enhance their knowledge of travel trends and niche groups.

Offerings include:

• Travel Unity Summit: A focus on how to bring under-represented groups further into tourism as industry and consumers
•  Industry Tracks: Speakers, panels and workshops highlighting topics of use to members of the travel industry and media
• Traveler Track: Influential speakers presenting their ideas for immersive travelers
• Travel 2.0 @#NYTF: A chance to learn about the latest travel startups and new travel businesses
• Experts' Corner: One-on-one pre-scheduled meetings with experts from the world of travel.

EXPLORATION AND EVOLUTION Sunday, April 19 – Hostelling International (891 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY)

Day 2 brings together lifelong travelers and people in career transitions to learn more about how to keep travel as an integral part of their lives.

Highlights include:

• Workshops: Sessions on careers in the travel industry, becoming a (better) travel content creator, and career-break travel
•  Inspiring Speakers: Stories from folks who travel in ways you've never thought of, to places you never knew you wanted to go.
• Pathfinder Consults: One-on-one meetings with representatives from a variety of companies, for people looking for a career change into or within travel.

For more information, visit http://nytravfest.com

About New York Travel Festival: Produced by RW Social, the New York Travel Festival (NYTF) reinvents the concept of the consumer travel show. Designed for tech-savvy, immersive travelers, NYTF 2015 will feature two days of valuable content: Saturday, April 18 at W83 and Sunday, April 19 at Hostelling International New York. Visit http://nytravfest.com