Leading Travel Safety Experts

I’ve spent over seven years at Yonder Travel Insurance mastering the 'fine print' so travelers don't have to. My expertise lies in deconstructing complex policy language into clear, actionable advice, whether I’m recommending the ideal plan for a unique itinerary or guiding a client through the intricacies of the claims process. By maintaining key partnerships with top insurance providers, I stay at the forefront of industry trends to provide unbiased, expert insights that help travelers maximize their benefits and navigate the unexpected with confidence. I use this experience to craft insightful responses on behalf of Yonder to further educate the public on travel insurance, which you can explore in my featured articles section.

For the past six years, my family and I have lived and traveled continuously around the world, visiting every continent in a 13-month span and documenting the experience as full-time travel creators. Along the way, our YouTube channels have grown to more than 700,000 subscribers, drawn not to glossy brochure travel, but to the real version: the logistics, the decisions, the tradeoffs, and the moments that don’t fit neatly into an Instagram square. After decades spent running digital marketing agencies, I co-founded ABC Trips, a luxury and adventure travel agency focused on high-touch, experience-driven travel—polar expeditions, African safaris, expedition cruising, private yachts, and deeply cultural itineraries designed for solos, couples, groups, and families. The work sits at the intersection of brokerage, storytelling, and logistics, with a strong bias toward knowing what’s genuinely worth the splurge—and what’s just good marketing. Along the way, I’ve served as a quoted travel industry source for major publications, appeared on network news segments and podcasts, and collaborated closely with leading travel brands, lodges, and expedition operators worldwide. My commentary often focuses on luxury and expedition travel, family and multigenerational travel, travel trends, and what it actually takes to design a location-flexible life that works long-term. These days, my time is split between: - Advising clients on exceptional luxury and adventure travel through ABC Trips - Serving as a media source and collaborator for journalists and brands - Continuing to explore the world with my family—still learning, still curious I’m not especially interested in chasing trends or shouting into the void. I value thoughtful questions, smart conversations, and people who care about doing things well—and enjoying the ride while they’re at it. If our paths cross, there’s a good chance we’ll have something interesting to talk about.

Founder of TRAVI World, a comprehensive travel guide platform covering 17+ destinations worldwide. With expertise in global tourism trends, destination insights, and travel industry analysis, I provide in-depth knowledge on hotels, attractions, and experiences across Dubai, UAE, Bali, and other popular destinations. Passionate about helping travelers discover authentic experiences and make informed travel decisions.

I’m a security consultant and the founder of North Star Group, where I help individuals, organizations, and communities strengthen their overall safety and preparedness. With over 20 years of experience across military and private-sector security, my work focuses on physical security assessments, threat and vulnerability analysis, CPTED principles, workplace violence prevention, and expert witness consulting. I’ve supported clients across a wide range of sectors—including education, government, business, healthcare, critical infrastructure, and houses of worship—by providing practical, real-world guidance rooted in proactive risk management. Whether it’s improving day-to-day security, planning for emergencies, or helping legal teams understand foreseeability and duty of care, I bring a layered and strategic approach to every situation. If you're looking for expert insight on how to build safer environments and reduce risk, I'm always open to contributing. *If any portion of my response is used, I’d appreciate attribution as follows: Daniel Loo, CPP®, PSS, SRMP — Principal Consultant at North Star Group, a Houston-based security and risk management firm.

Philip Farina is one of the most highly respected and recognized security and safety professionals. He is the Chief Advisor/Consultant for Risky Business, that provides management consulting services to hotels, hospitality organizations and corporations, commercial real estate and private individuals. Philip also provides expert witness litigation support to hotels and law firms. He is the Lead CPTED Practitioner for assessments and training to support the State of Florida State Statute 768.0706 (HB 837). A U.S. Military and Federal Law Enforcement Veteran, he has been proudly featured in Fox News, NBC News, CBS News Money Watch, CNN, ABC News, U.S. News Money & World Report, MSNBC, USA Today, The Washington Post, Reader's Digest, Chicago Sun-Times, Hotel Executive, American Express, Meetings and Conventions, Security Management Magazine, Chief Security Officer CSO Magazine, Police Magazine, Cosmopolitan, Private Wealth, Business Travel Executive, and SecurityInfoWatch. Philip has been recognized as a pioneer in all facets of security, safety and risk management. He began his career while serving in the United States Naval Intelligence Community, where he held top security clearances and gained expertise in antiterrorism and protective services. He participated in U.S. military special operations, amphibious, law enforcement and lifesaving campaigns throughout the Middle East, Latin America, Europe and Africa. A nuclear tactical security officer (under the U.S. Department of Energy), he protected radioactive fuels, nuclear facilities and sensitive structures from the threat of terrorism and sabotage. He also conducted government-level risk assessments. During tenure as a federal law enforcement training officer with the U.S. Department of Defense, he was tasked with conducting penetration tests and leading “Red Team” exercises against military installations to analyze existing protection and security measures. While in this capacity, he also wrote the training curriculum for police and maritime security personnel for a new patrol boat concept for the U.S. Dept of Homeland Security. Philip was the Vice President of Loss Control/Loss Prevention for the combined Aimbridge Hospitality/Interstate Hotels portfolios. He was responsible for leading all global enterprise security management, safety and loss/fraud prevention services to protect 90,000+ employees, company operations, guests and assets for over 1800+ hospitality locations in 23+ countries.

I’m the founder of Limitless Morocco Tours and a Morocco travel expert with hands-on experience designing private tours, desert adventures, and cultural journeys across Morocco. I specialize in helping travelers experience authentic Morocco through customized itineraries, local guides, and immersive desert experiences in places like Marrakech and Merzouga. I regularly share expert insights on Morocco travel, safety, itineraries, and best practices for first-time visitors.

I’m founder of Terra Voyage Pro Club — the first and only Europe-focused B2B travel platform that combines professional training, white-label itineraries, and visa expertise for travel advisors and agencies. My career in global travel and hospitality spans over 25 years. I’ve represented luxury hotel chains across Europe — including Leading Hotels of the World and Small Luxury Hotels — and promoted boutique properties to top tour operators. I’ve built direct partnerships with hoteliers and DMCs in Italy, France, Spain, and Switzerland, and represented the partner of Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises in Europe and the US. Today, through Terra Voyage Pro Club, I help travel professionals sell Europe with structure, confidence, and storytelling — turning expertise and clarity into their strongest business advantage.

Maurice Smith, CTIE, is a hospitality strategist, luxury travel expert, regenerative tourism advocate, and founder of Eugene Toriko, a luxury travel agency built around purposeful, responsible, and highly personalized travel experiences. His work sits at the intersection of elevated guest experience, sustainability, cultural storytelling, and place-based hospitality. Through Eugene Toriko, Maurice has focused on boutique hotels, culturally rooted itineraries, sustainability-minded partners, and experiences that connect travelers more thoughtfully to people, place, and environment. Maurice was recognized on the Travel + Leisure A-List in 2022 and 2023 and has been featured by Robb Report among top Black travel specialists. His expertise has been sought by publications including Bloomberg, The Washington Post, USA Today, Business Insider, and Money.com, where he has contributed perspective on travel trends, destination value, and evolving traveler expectations. His industry recognition includes a 2023 Gold Magellan Award for Eugene Toriko’s giving-back initiative, a 2024 Silver Magellan Award for ATL & Co On the Go with Eugene Toriko, and recognition from TravelAge West for marketing efforts connected to the same media platform. Maurice was also selected for Tripadvisor’s RECO program and is a signatory of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism. Today, Maurice’s work spans hospitality strategy, media, public speaking, regenerative tourism, environmental stewardship, and the future of more intentional guest experiences. He is also connected to Amka Terra, a stewardship, ecological learning, and regenerative tourism platform focused on environmental education, biodiversity, youth learning, community partnership, and place-based restoration.

Augustin Ndikuriyo has 20+ years in premium travel, helping luxury brands—cruises, safari lodges, boutique resorts, and hotels—turn stories into content that inspires, engages, and converts. Founder of The Digital Travel Expert Hub, he’s worked with Celebrity Cruises, Dream Yacht Worldwide, Orlando Vacations, SentientJet, TEFL Org, and Mardi Gras New Orleans, combining storytelling, AI SEO, and digital growth to build trust, authority, and high-value bookings.

Christina Gales is a luxury travel advisor and founder of Christina Gales Travel, a boutique travel consultancy specializing in European itineraries, Caribbean escapes, elevated family travel, milestone celebrations, and luxury ocean and river cruises. A Fora and Virtuoso-affiliated advisor based outside Chicago, Christina has planned hundreds of trips across 20+ countries and serves over 100 clients nationwide. With extensive destination training across Europe, the Caribbean, Iceland, Hawaii, and Mexico—plus specialist certifications in luxury travel, cruise planning, and ecotourism—she brings both breadth and depth to every journey. Her preferred status with 8,500+ hotels, resorts, and cruise lines globally allows her to secure exclusive perks and VIP experiences for clients. As both a travel professional and mother of five, Christina is frequently sought after for her expertise in family travel strategy, multi-generational trip design, and making luxury travel approachable for real families. She speaks regularly on European travel planning, destination trends, the psychology of travel, and the shift toward meaningful, purpose-driven travel experiences. Her itineraries favor local culture, boutique hospitality, and personalized experiences over mass-market tourism. Known for her warm, collaborative approach and concierge-level support, Christina helps travelers feel confident, connected, and inspired—from dream to departure to memories that last a lifetime

Terence Harris is a UK workplace safety and operational leadership expert with more than 20 years’ experience across healthcare, emergency response, logistics and high-risk operational environments. Starting his career working twilight shifts in A&E while studying Environmental Health at university, Terence progressed from frontline healthcare roles into senior leadership positions responsible for large-scale health and safety operations across the UK. Today, he leads health and safety strategy within one of the world’s most operationally demanding environments, overseeing safety performance, leadership culture and operational risk across major logistics networks. Terence specialises in workplace safety culture, leadership under pressure, human behaviour in high-performance environments, operational fatigue, mental health in frontline industries, and how organisations balance productivity with employee wellbeing. What makes his perspective different is his ability to explain complex safety and leadership challenges in plain English, grounded in real operational experience rather than theory alone. He is also currently writing a leadership book focused on resilience, imposter syndrome, personal growth and the realities of leading people in modern workplaces.

Hello, I’m Steven Callas, founder of Gilded Travels. As an independent travel agent based in Chicago, I cut the stress out of DIY booking by being your human advocate. Someone who knows your itinerary inside out and can fix problems before you even know they exist. Before I started designing trips for couples, families, and close friend groups who travel together, I spent years managing complex film productions across multiple countries. Moving crew and equipment through unfamiliar cities on a tight schedule requires absolute precision and reliable local contacts. When things go wrong, you need a plan that holds. That skill set carried over when I left Hollywood. Today it’s what goes into your bespoke vacations. An algorithm can’t tell you that the ocean-view suite actually overlooks a cargo port. It can’t reroute your family of five when a ferry strike shuts down the Greek islands. And it can’t call the concierge at your hotel in Kyoto to confirm that the room is ready before you land. Close the browser tabs. Stop negotiating with a chatbot. Let’s plan your trip with someone you can actually build a relationship with.

Behavioral threat assessment and workplace violence prevention expert with 35+ years in public safety, consulting, and criminal justice education.

Sheila Hayes is a family travel expert and content creator behind SheMamaMaps, a platform dedicated to helping families travel smarter and stress-free. She specializes in real-world travel with teens, budget-friendly strategies, and maximizing points and miles. Sheila has created content across destinations including the Caribbean, Central America, Japan and the U.S., with videos reaching over 3.8 million views. Her insights focus on practical planning, family-friendly accommodations, and making travel accessible for everyday families.

I’m a workplace health and safety expert with 15+ years of experience across New Zealand, Australia, and the Middle East. As Director of Safety Space, I develop technology that helps companies simplify compliance and improve safety outcomes. I also serve as Group HSQE Manager for Traffitech Group, where I lead ISO 45001, 14001, and 9001 certified systems across seven companies. My background includes safety leadership in construction and infrastructure projects with Hawkins, Parsons, and PBS&J International. I hold a Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Management from Massey University and a BHSc in Public Health from the University of Auckland. I specialize in occupational safety management, risk systems, and technology-driven safety solutions, and I’ve advised on everything from major infrastructure builds to small business compliance.

Paul is an aviation travel expert and travel writer and the founder of MrPlaneGuy.com, a blog focused on airport lounges, airline loyalty programmes, and helping travellers unlock luxury travel for less. Before becoming a travel writer, Paul worked behind the scenes in the aviation industry, including roles as long-haul cabin crew, a flight dispatcher, and a delay manager at a major London airport. This operational experience gives him a unique insider perspective on how airlines and airports really work, from flight disruptions and scheduling to the passenger experience. Through his writing, Paul shares practical insights on airport lounges, airline upgrades, Avios and frequent-flyer programmes, and how travellers can access premium travel experiences without paying business class prices. His work focuses on helping everyday travellers fly smarter, avoid common airport pitfalls, and get more value from their journeys.

David Santiago (@DavidSecurity) is a Certified Security Professional with over 15 years of operational experience in security management, risk assessment, and physical protection. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, David’s background includes securing U.S. embassies abroad and leading campus-wide security operations at a State Department-sponsored international school in Tunis, Tunisia, during the Arab Spring. Today, David works as a security consultant helping physical security integrators, SaaS platforms, and risk management firms improve their content marketing, thought leadership, and client engagement strategies. He specializes in creating industry-specific content—such as case studies, technical guides, and white papers—that informs decision-makers and drives growth. Based in Orlando, Florida, David actively follows the latest trends in physical security. He advises clients, contributes to leading industry publications, and regularly participates in conferences as a writer and subject matter expert.

A leading expert on motorhome holidays in New Zealand. Offering practical tips, hidden-gem itineraries, and commentary on travel trends for your story, with a focus on sustainable travel. With 20 years of experience helping thousands of people explore New Zealand on the ultimate road trip. Our focus is on high-quality, sustainable travel. Available to provide expert commentary, tips, or full quotes on: New Zealand travel trends, the best self-drive itineraries (both North & South Island), tips for first-time motorhome travellers, sustainable tourism and travel in NZ, the New Zealand tourism industry

My name is Robert Kaiser, founder of The Women's Safety Institute and a gender-based violence expert, specialising in criminology-informed strategies to prevent intimate partner violence (IPV) and homicide, integrating insights from sociology and behavioural psychology. With three decades of experience in violence prevention (especially physical and sexual violence against women), threat assessment, and protective strategy, I’ve dedicated my professional life to understanding the dynamics of intimate partner violence (IPV) and supporting those affected by it. My work is grounded in direct collaboration with survivors, detailed analysis of violent behaviour, and a deep commitment to empowering women through trauma-informed, evidence-based guidance. I frequently write about coercive control, DARVO, GPS Tagging and Proximity Alerts, Non-Fatal Strangulation (NFS), stalking, and economic abuse, offering insights that combine lived experience with professional expertise. I also support media, researchers, and organisations seeking credible commentary or strategic input on intomate partner violence and violence prevention.

Warren Pulley brings 40 years of threat assessment and crisis management expertise across military, law enforcement, diplomatic, corporate, and educational environments. As founder of CrisisWire, he provides professional threat assessment services to organizations throughout Hawaii, Nationally and Internationally. Credentials: BTAM (Behavioral Threat Assessment & Management) trained - University of Hawaii West Oahu 20+ FEMA certifications (IS-906, IS-907, IS-915, complete ICS/NIMS) Former LAPD Veteran Police Officer (12 years) 6+ years U.S. Embassy Baghdad security operations (zero incidents under daily threat) Former Director of Campus Safety, Chaminade University Former California Private Investigator 7 years U.S. Air Force (nuclear security & paralegal) Published Authority: Author of five books on threat assessment: The Prepared Leader, Threat Assessment Handbook, Campus Under Siege, Locked Down: The Access Control Playbook, and Uniformed Silence. Published researcher with 9+ peer-reviewed papers on threat assessment, workplace violence, and crisis management. Media-Ready Expertise: Available for expert commentary on threat assessment, school safety, workplace violence prevention, crisis management, executive protection, insider threats, and emergency preparedness. Find CrisisWire online at https://rypulmedia.wixsite.com/crisiswire