Signing from the Black Travel Alliance two years later as a board member and chair of the research committee

Hey, did you know that two years ago I was a co-founder, board member and chair of a research committee? Is a non-profit organization. [501(c)(3)] Its core members include black travel content creators like me, who support diversity and inclusion in the travel industry, especially in the areas of employment, conference, marketing and media.

After two strong and successful years, I am still an active member of the organization, but I am writing that I must resign. As a co-founder who still believes in reason, this was a very difficult decision. Still, I felt it was important to balance my life and focus on my digital consultant. Moksha Shopping And this travel blog Caribbean and Company.

Here are some of the things I am proud of for my two years as the co-founder, board member and chair of the Black Travel Association, during my two years in office.

• Writing his first press release with the Black Travel Alliance, co-founder David Walf-Vanderjeeje.
• To chair a research committee and lead the team on various projects: Black Travel Study, Black Travel Gift Program, Black Travel History, etc.
• To be the Co-Chair of the Coordinating Committee Black traveler’s insights, opportunities, and priorities Study with MGG Global, the National Coalition of Black Professionals (NMP) and the National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators and Developers (NABHOOD).
• Compiling, analyzing and writing long-term reports for the #PullUpForTravel campaign with co-founder David Walf-Vanderjee.
• Design the Black Travel Agency Grant and Black Travel Content Gift Programs, which distributed $ 70,000 in grants in partnership with MMG Global and the National Coalition of Black Professionals (NMPP).
• Working with an extended research committee team and tourism RESET professors at the beginning of Black Travel History.
• He successfully managed the participation of the research committee. Destination Cleveland Race Equality and Inclusion Board Task Force The project, which monitors listening lessons and creates a study of racial fairness, provides valuable insights for them Map of racial equality and inclusion Currently in action.
• Participate in more than a dozen virtual panels related to black travel, including the ones highlighted below:
  => “MMGY Global Presents The Black Traveler: Insights, Opportunities & Priorities, Premiere Webinar (US Market)” MMGY Global. January 19, 2021
  => “Incorporate how the sleep industry can better reflect the nature of travel.” Future Conference. February 24, 2021.
  => “Black Travel Experience.” Travel and Tourism Research Association. March 29, 2021
  => “MMGY Global Presents The Black Traveler: Insights, Opportunities & Priorities, Premiere Webinar (UK Market)” MMGY Global. May 26, 2021
  => “How Cleveland has benefited from MDG Global’s Black Travel Program and its partnership with the Black Travel Alliance on racial equity and inclusion.” Travel Unity Virtual Summit. October 29, 2021
  => “What, what, what now?” Tripadvisor. February 22, 2022
  => Houseman, Glenn “9.7 MMGY Global is helping to make a difference in hospitality.” No vacancies. September 7, 2021

With the above achievements, I am very proud to know that the Research Committee has led the hard work and outcomes of the Black Travel Alliance over the past two years. This work has opened up many opportunities for the Black Travel Union as well as other black travel organizations and black travel professionals. And despite the collective effort, I am especially proud to be a proponent of most activities. I am sure everyone agrees with this statement if not on the research committee!

That being said, while I, as Chair / Project Manager, was keeping our word, I would say that none of these projects would have been completed without the participation of other unusual Black Travel Cooperation Research Committee members. My co-founders are Donna-Kay Delahaye, Gabi Beckford, Kerwin McKenzie, Patricia King and Martinique Lewis. We can also include her in all the documents and press releases published by our team, including David Walf-Vanderjeeje, former chair of the Communications Committee and honorary member of the research committee.

In the first year, the research committee met every Thursday because my presentation was completely transparent of all opportunities and projects. Then there were other meetings with potential partners and finally partners MMGY Global and Tourism RESET. Apart from this, most of us had other committee responsibilities, myself in the Partnership Committee and the Conflict of Interest Committee. Too many meetings at the committee level and then at the board level. Those meetings were held weekly during the first year. In the second year, we changed the committee and board meetings to two months, but the activity was much less. So for an organization run entirely by volunteers!

If you want to read more about the above projects, check out my blog posts on Moksha Marketing website. I have published them there because diversity and inclusion are important not only for improving tourism in the Caribbean, but also in the extensive travel and tourism industry. All articles published last month include the following:

Also, below is a selection of articles that mention my name in connection with the above projects. I did not know some of them until I started writing this article.

So every time I see an article on social media or in a major newspaper or magazine, it quotes numbers. Black traveler’s insights, opportunities, and priorities Study with MMG Global, Black Travel Alliance, I smile no matter what my name is – I was mentioned in a press release about the start of the study.

I am pleased to know that our collaborative work on this project is helping to make a difference. Many access management organizations have purchased the study and are actively working to improve diversity and inclusion in their organizations and marketing campaigns. Heck, the Black Travel Alliance has created opportunities for many black travel content creators in general partnership and wavelength, as well as speed network event events for DMO executives and content creators.

Of course, we are too far away for black people and other minorities to make a difference and to be included in the travel industry. So I know the rest of the co-founders and other board members and the various committees will continue to advocate. I will continue with my regular work. Moksha Shopping And Caribbean and Company.

Diversity and addition, of course, are not excluded from traditional travel marketing. To be truly successful, it must be part of a destination management organization or travel brand overall strategy. If we are talking about luxury travel, adventure travel, sports trip, cultural trip, etc., it is part of the strategy. It can’t be just a side project that works around awareness months like Black History Month. So, I look forward to seeing how the Black Travel Alliance moves the conversation.

Press releases

Black Travel Union Launcher + PullUpForTravel ፡-

• Beauregard, Natalie. “The Black Travel Alliance will hold travel brands accountable for a new campaign.” AFAR. June 17, 2020
• Barati, Lauri. “The Black Travel Alliance report exposes the diversity of the travel industry.” TravelPulse. October 26, 2020
• Diakite, Parker. “The Black Travel Alliance campaign shows a lack of diversity in the travel industry.” Travel Noir. October 26, 2020
• Wilson, Kimberly. “The Black Travel Union is blaming the travel industry for its lack of diversity.” Identity June 18, 2020
• Waller, Rebekah: “Interview with Ursula Petula Barz of the Black Travel Alliance.” Travindi December 17, 2020

Black traveler’s insights, opportunities, and priorities

• Bench. “A new international study shows that American black travelers are more affected by marketing concerns about safety and representation than European black travelers.” International Luxury Hotel Association. July 16, 2021
• Bisida, Jamie. “The Black Travel Union survey has prepared the ground for change.” Weekly trip. October 23, 2020
• Bisida, Jamie. Financial disputes for different customer bases. Weekly trip. December 17, 2020
• Brady, Sasha 2020. “A new study of how new research works to highlight black noises and travel experiences.” September 18, 2020
• Chamberlain, Ellen “How the Travel Industry (Finally) Learns to Serve Black Travelers.” Fodors Travel Guide. January 11, 2022
• Endo, Nicole. “Black travelers on the road to discovery travel every week.” Weekly trip. March 2, 2022
• Majestic, Lily. “Here is the top-down pluralism that U.S. tourism desperately needs.” Skift February 3, 2021
• Majestic, Lily. “The travel entrepreneurship economy will resume for the next boom.” Skift June 28, 2021
• “Black American travelers make decisions based on safety and representation,” Jill said. Focus on January 18, 2021
• Rosenfeld, Kelly. “Representation and security are key to our black travelers’ decision.” Travel time West. January 14, 2021
  Turner, Matt. “Statistics show that US black travelers have a significant impact on security, representation.” Travel Agent Central. January 14, 2021

Black Travel Agency Gift and Black Travel Content Creator Gift

History of the Black Journey

PS Below is a photo with the 18 founders of the Black Travel Association! We are a diverse group representing the Nizhny Novgorod region in the travel industry.