About Our Founder
Lisa Federico
Founder, Entrepreneur & Travel Industry Leader
Academy Travel began with a folding table, two young children, a telephone, a fax machine, a new computer and an idea.
In 1996, Lisa Federico began building a travel business that would allow her to combine her love of travel with something equally important: the ability to build a career while raising her children. What started in a corner of her living room would eventually grow into Academy Travel, a nationally recognized travel company supporting thousands of independent travel advisors across the United States.
Lisa recognized early that specializing mattered. Her passion for Disney and belief in destination expertise helped make Disney travel an important part of Academy Travel’s foundation. Over nearly three decades, that specialization grew into an extraordinary relationship with Disney Destinations, with Academy Travel ultimately achieving Diamond Level Authorized Disney Vacation Planner status, the highest current recognition level within Disney’s EarMarked program.
Lisa’s Disney industry leadership also includes serving on the Walt Disney Travel Company EarMarked Travel Agency Council (EMTAC), giving her the opportunity to contribute the perspective of Academy Travel and the professional travel advisor community.
But Lisa’s vision for Academy Travel became much larger than the business she originally set out to build.
Building More Than a Travel Company
As Academy Travel grew, Lisa discovered that one of the most meaningful parts of entrepreneurship was creating opportunities for other people.
Through Academy Travel’s training, education and advisor development programs, Lisa has helped train and support tens of thousands of travel advisors as they learned how to build travel businesses of their own.
Some came to Academy Travel with no previous travel industry experience. Others joined as established professionals looking for greater opportunities and support. Many went on to become successful advisors, business owners, leaders and mentors themselves.
That ripple effect has become an important part of Lisa’s definition of success.
“Success isn’t only about what you build for yourself. It’s about what you make possible for others.”
One Idea Became Many
Lisa’s entrepreneurial journey did not stop with Academy Travel. What began as one travel business has grown into a collection of travel, media, destination and consumer brands.
In addition to Academy Travel, Lisa’s companies and brands include Academy Travel Worldwide Destinations, expanding the company’s expertise into cruises, Europe, luxury travel and destinations around the world; The Kingdom Insider, a travel media and content brand; DCL Cruise Club, focused on the Disney Cruise Line community; Theme Park Moms, centered on theme park and family travel; and LBI Summer, a lifestyle and destination brand celebrating Long Beach Island, New Jersey.
Her portfolio has also included MickeyVacations.com, an important legacy brand in the history and growth of her travel businesses.
Each grew from the same entrepreneurial philosophy that helped build Academy Travel: recognize an opportunity, create something valuable, surround yourself with talented people and continue evolving.
Awards, Accolades & Industry Recognition
Over nearly three decades, Lisa and the companies she has built have received recognition across the travel, business, marketing and media industries.
Lisa’s personal industry leadership includes her service on the Walt Disney Travel Company EarMarked Travel Agency Council and recognition among the Top 100 Women Entrepreneur.
Under Lisa’s leadership, Academy Travel has achieved Diamond Level Authorized Disney Vacation Planner status and Universal U Preferred Diamond recognition. Academy Travel has also been recognized on the Travel Weekly Power List and was included among NJBIZ’s 2026 Top Women Owned Businesses.
Lisa Federico and Academy Travel received a 2023 Travel Weekly Magellan Award for Top Marketing for Travel, while Academy Travel and The Kingdom Insider received a 2025 Travel Weekly Magellan Award for Travel Advisor Organizations, Overall, Training Program.
Lisa and Academy Travel have also been featured, interviewed, quoted or recognized by travel and media outlets including Travel Weekly, Recommend, Modern Agent, Agent at Home, ABC, South Jersey Moms, NJ Family and other industry and business publications.
Together, these honors represent more than awards. They reflect decades of growth, innovation, education, industry relationships and a commitment to building a travel company designed to serve both travelers and travel professionals.
Nearly 30 Years Later, She's Still Building
Today, Lisa continues to lead Academy Travel while developing new technology, education, advisor programs, media brands and worldwide travel opportunities.
Academy Travel has grown far beyond the folding table where it began, but Lisa’s philosophy remains remarkably similar.
Invest in people. Create opportunities. Take care of relationships. Keep learning. Never be afraid to build what comes next.
Nearly 30 years later, Lisa’s greatest accomplishment is not simply the company she built. It is the opportunities that company has helped create for thousands of other people.
And she is still building.
