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NAPLES, Fla., Dec. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Big thinking and big fun is promised for 500-plus guests attending the NaplesNEXT Ideas Festival from March 17-19, 2019 at the Naples Grande Beach Resort.

Former First Lady Laura Bush will be the Festival's closing keynote speaker. She will join leading innovators, cultural provocateurs and policy experts across a myriad of fields. Panels, roundtables and Q&A sessions will address subjects of global and national importance, and will integrate with culinary experiences directed by the James Beard Foundation.

Thought provoking discussion leaders include:

• Christine Brennan, sports columnist for USA Today and best-selling author of seven books; contributor to ABC News, PBS NewsHour and National Public Radio.
• John Brennan, CIA Director (2013–2017), senior national security and intelligence analyst for NBC News and MSNBC.
• Eric Eikenberg, CEO, The Everglades Foundation.
• Denis McDonough, White House chief of staff (2013-2017).
• William Nelson, M.D., professor and director of oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University.
• Reince Priebus, White House chief of staff (2017); chairman of Republican National Committee (2011–2017).
• David Rubenstein, financier and philanthropist, co-founder of The Carlyle Group and chairman of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Smithsonian Institution.

Additional appearances include: Renowned celebrity chef Gregory Gourdet, a James Beard House-featured chef and Top Chef star; Tiffany Barriere, acclaimed James Beard House-featured mixologist; top sommeliers and leading Southwest Florida chefs.

A lavish opening reception, live entertainment, "Bracket Genius" interactive lunch to kick off March Madness, and a Mac Stone photography showcase are other elements of big fun.

The three-day experience is $3,000 per person.

For information, visit NaplesNEXT.com.

About NaplesNEXT and Intersport

The NaplesNEXT Ideas Festival is produced by the Thought Leadership Division of Intersport, a 20-time Emmy Award-winning innovator and event producer. The Festival is partly inspired by the Aspen Ideas Festival, the Nantucket Project, Ted Talks, and likeminded conferences.

To learn more about Intersport, visit Intersportnet.com.

SOURCE Intersport