Erik Hastings
Host, Travel Show Live
CEO, Scripted Improv Media Inc.

Travel expert Erik Hastings is an excellent public speaker. From a very young age, Erik felt most comfortable in front of an audience. His messaging is sincere and his speeches well-received by audiences. Erik will motivate and inform your group while making them chuckle with his razor-sharp wit.

Erik's positive travel platform was realized in the last three years as he made promoting travel a full time commitment.  Today, he is on a mission to get more people traveling more often and experiencing the life-changing positive power of travel. He seeks the biggest microphone and camera to motivate people to “make travel happen" because he believes travel is GOOD for people.

In October of 2006, Erik was tapped by WABC New York, to host The Travel Show, the first travel show ever for WABC – the nation’s largest news-talk radio station. As the programming director for WABC put it, “Erik’s passion for travel is fueled by his mission to get people traveling more often. Travel Show Live's success is a direct result of Erik’s passion. You can’t fake it.” In 2008, the show was launched nationally with the Talk Radio Network. Today, the show is heard by well over a quarter of a million people coast to coast.

In addition to hosting the 2-hour weekly radio program and weekly video webcast, Erik’s production company, Scripted Improv Media Inc. is dedicated to championing the the DMO cause. With innovative video products, promotions and partnership programs, Erik is situated at the crossroads of tourism bureaus, consumers and travel product suppliers (airlines, OTA's etc).

His positive travel mission combined with his ability to motivate travelers is a is a powerful combination. He's not afraid to "be real" and "tell it like it is" to any audience.

2010/2011 Speaking Topic Ideas:

"Getting The Media To Tap Dance"

• How To Attract Media Attention
• How To Reach Media
• How To Use the Media

“Using Humor to Hook Visitors”

• How to create humorous content
• Humor = Viral
• What is ‘funny”; it’s relative

“The POSITIVE POWER of Travel”

• Motivating travelers when budget dollars are tight
• There’s no shortcut to “being there”
• Travel is a life-changing experience

“Big Message . . .Little Screen”

• Are kids with gadgets your customers?
• Media consumption and convergence
• Fish where the fish are

Length: 30 to 45 minutes (optional Q&A of 15 to 30 minutes)

Role: keynote speaker, panelist, and workshop host

Fee: $2,500-$15,000, depending on location, duration of event, and scope of engagement

Availability:

• Priority scheduling with 90-day advance booking in U.S.
• 2-week notice for Northeast Corridor (Boston to Washington DC)

Speaking Engagements:

• Panelist, Travel Media Speakers Series-NYU 2010
• Keynote Speaker, Louisiana State Tourism Summit
• Speaker, South Jersey Tourism Corporation Annual Meeting
• Keynote Speaker, Nevada Governors Conference On Tourism
• Keynote Speaker, Valley Forge, PA Annual Meeting
• Panelist, Norfolk, VA Annual Marketing Meeting
• Keynote Speaker, Michigan Lodging and Tourism Association “Driving Tourism 2008”
• Keynote Speaker, Empire State Bed & Breakfast Association Annual Meeting
• Panelist, Travel Industry Association of America, Educational Seminar, Minneapolis, MN
• Panelist, New York Governor’s Conference on Tourism
• Speaker, eTourism Summit, Las Vegas, NV
• Panelist, Radio & Records Magazine, Talk Radio Seminar, Los Angeles, CA
• Conference Speaker, Geller Media International, New York, NY
• Speaker, Disney Owned & Operated ABC Radio Affiliates, General Sales Managers Meeting, Dallas, TX

For more information, references, and scheduling, contact Harry Watson Jr.