Chris Ryall

Discover, learn and experience. This is my life's purpose both personally and professionally. I embrace diversity in all forms. Every person and place has a story to tell.

I've traveled to more than 90 countries around the world on six continents. I cherish interactions with locals while engaging in cultural and soft adventure activities. I especially enjoy lesser-known and quirkier attractions and off-the-beaten track-type tours.

My career began in television news and evolved freelancing as a writer, producer, and director in various types of TV and video production (e.g. music, corporate, lifestyle and travel productions).

My entry into the travel industry began while working with the Australian Tourist Commission and continued working with a variety of foreign tourism boards before setting up my own tourism marketing/PR company, Travel Marketing Experts Inc. in the 90s. My clients ranged from tourism boards both in North America and around the world, tour operators, resorts, airlines, and a variety of travel companies. I handled their tourism marketing and promotion in Canada. This provided me with a wealth of international tourism experience and knowledge.

After running the company successfully for many years I yearned to get back to the creative side and began exploring the world again as a travel journalist.

I have written for numerous publications including The Globe & Mail, The Toronto Star, Travel Life Magazine, Vacayou.com, Ensemble Vacations Magazine, Bon Vivant Magazine, Extraordinary Experiences Magazine, Ultimate Family Vacations Magazine, Dreamscapes Magazine, WestJet Magazine, Spa Inc., Spa Life Magazine, Vacay.ca, TravelZoo, Flying Blue, Canadian Traveller, Travelweek, UltimateOntario.com, Chic Magazine, Seniors Today, Where Muskoka Magazine, NUVO Magazine, Horizons Magazine, TravelIndustryToday.com, Wings Magazine, Yahoo.com, and Wander Magazine.

I was a Columnist for nine years for a national travel trade publication, TravelIndustryToday.com with two columns, The Ryall Report and The Spa Scene. Contributing Editor/Features Writer for Sunwing Airlines inflight magazine Wings for 5 years. Celebrity Travel Corner columnist for 6 years for Dreamscapes Magazine. Columnist and features writer for Travel Life Magazine (still writing for them) for more than 10 years. Columnist since 2014. Wellness and travel writer for UltimateOntario.com and regular contributor to Spa Inc. (Canada's national spa magazine). Contributor to vacayou.com Magazine (U.S. based wellness travel publication). Contributor to Ensemble Vacations (now Range). Currently spa columnist and travel feature writer for U.S. based Travel Ticket Magazine.

Specialize in travel, spa/wellness and personality profiles. Open to individual and group press trips.

Experienced public speaker and have given presentations at U.S. Governor's Conferences of Tourism in Arizona (many times), New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Colorado on the Canadian market/trends/characteristics. Have also conducted workshops on media, media relations, press trips, etc. at TMAC and SATW media conferences. Open to speaking engagements or being on panel discussions.

Media Appearances - have appeared on TV, radio and quoted in print and online for following topics - Canadian travel market, travel issues, trends, spa trends, spa destinations, spas and men, various destinations, family travel and wellness travel.

Spa/wellness Related - Currently on Judge's panel for the Canadian Spa Awards. (Have judged awards since 2015). Previously judged for AsiaSpa Awards and the SpaFinder 360 Wellness Travel Awards. Graduate of Algonquin College's Spa/Wellness Operations Management program. Have visited spas and received a variety of treatments in more than 90 countries. Passionate about the spa/wellness industry and love speaking about it. Currently serve on the Board of Directors for the Leading Spas of Canada organization.

Able to provide tourism/PR consulting services, editorial content, speak on travel and spa/wellness industries, and trends and issues.