Juan Albarran Marquez, co-founder of Ocean & River Sailings and host of The Jet Set en Español, accepted his TravelPulse 40 Under 40 honor at the Travvy Awards in Fort Lauderdale.
Juan Albarran Marquez began his travel career in Venezuela in 2011, helping clients navigate visa applications and plan trips. Fifteen years later, the Ocean & River Sailings co-founder and host of The Jet Set en Español took the stage Thursday night at the 12th annual Travvy Awards gala to accept his place in TravelPulse’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2026.
TravelPulse’s annual 40 Under 40 program recognizes emerging leaders from across the travel industry. Travel professionals can apply or be nominated by others in the industry. From that pool, the TravelPulse team selects 20 travel advisors and 20 professionals from travel supplier organizations, all under the age of 40. The 2026 class brings together independent advisors and professionals from cruise lines, tour operators, destination organizations and travel technology companies. Albarran Marquez is one of the 20 honorees selected for his work as a travel advisor.
In its profile of Albarran Marquez, TravelPulse highlighted his efforts to introduce more Spanish-speaking travelers to cruising. His work reaches travelers in two ways. At Ocean & River Sailings, he advises clients in English and Spanish and stays involved as their plans take shape. On The Jet Set en Español, he uses television to answer travel questions and introduce viewers to trips they may never have considered. Albarran Marquez told TravelPulse he sees the honor as a responsibility to keep advocating for innovation, strong industry partnerships and the value travel advisors bring to their clients.
“What stands out most to me is Juan’s commitment to his clients,” Nikki Noya, co-host of The Jet Set and a JetSetGO travel advisor, told TravelPulse. Noya recalled hearing him take extra time on calls to explain details, reassure travelers and work through problems. She also pointed to the way he uses his television platform to reach Spanish-speaking audiences that the industry has historically underserved.
“He doesn’t just book a trip and disappear,” one of Albarran Marquez’s clients, told TravelPulse. They added that he stays involved after booking, answering questions and offering advice and pointed to a detail that sums up their experience with him. He calls the people he works with his guests. Read Juan’s TravelPulse profile.
After moving to the United States in 2017, Albarran Marquez joined The Jet Set as a Spanish-language correspondent in 2019 and became host of The Jet Set en Español in 2021. That same year, he co-founded JetSetGO, the parent company of Ocean & River Sailings. TravelPulse also cited his previous recognition from the Travel Weekly Magellan Awards for sales innovation and from the Communicator Awards for his work reaching and educating Spanish-speaking travelers.
The Jet Set & JetSetGO/Ocean & River Sailings congratulates Albarran Marquez and his fellow honorees on their selection to the Class of 2026.