The Cultural Heritage Economic Alliance (CHEA) is launching a virtual event to support Black travel and tourism firms and cultural institutions to survive COVID-19 and thrive beyond the pandemic.
The non-profit virtual webinar will address levelling the playing field and advance Black travel and tourism stakeholders in the US and global tourism Industry. CHEA, in partnership with Cultural Heritage Alliance for Tourism, Black Meetings & Tourism and Visit Tampa Bay are leading this effort with support from members of the National Black Travel & Tourism Ecosystem Collaborative.
LEVELLING THE PLAYING FIELD
Entitled The Economics of the Black Travel & Tourism Ecosystem: Dollars & Sense Webinar Series addresses levelling the playing field and advancing Black travel and tourism stakeholders in the US and global tourism industry. The event is scheduled to take place on Thursday, June 11, 2020 at 1pm EDT via Zoom, and moderated by Solomon Herbert, Publisher & Editor-in-chief, Black Meetings & Tourism.
Confirmed panelists include Elliott Ferguson, President, Destination DC & board chair, US Travel Association; Dr Erinn Tucker, Co-founder, DMV Black Restaurant Week; Jason Dunn, Sr, Chairman, National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals (NCBMP) and GVP, Cincinnati USA CVB; and Betty Jones, Founder, Travel Professionals of Color (TPOC).
Commenting on the event, Stephanie M Jones, Founder & CEO, Cultural Heritage Economic Alliance, stated: “Lack of broad collaboration among local, state and national Black travel and tourism organisations and influencers has limited economic equality, sustainability and opportunities for Black travel and tourism businesses and cultural institutions within the tourism industry both nationally and globally. Advancing economic equity, diversity and inclusion in the industry is now even more imperative as our nation is compelled to address disparities and racial injustices across the board.”
DE&I IN TRAVEL & TOURISM
The collaborative consists of Black travel and tourism thought leaders, business owners, association founders and CEOs, destination marketing executives, Black travel media, educators and others who support or influence Black travel and tourism working collaboratively to level the playing field and create broader diversity, inclusion and equity (DE&I) in the travel and tourism industry.
“This collaborative is all about people working together to leverage their collective power and influence for the common purpose of strengthening and broadening the economic impact of the Black travel and tourism ecosystem,” added Solomon Herbert, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Black Meetings & Tourism.
Visit Tampa Bay said it is “proud to be part of this collaborative and a presenting partner” for The Economics of the Black Travel & Tourism Ecosystem: Dollars and Sense Webinar Series. “Considering the impact of COVID-19 on the tourism industry and on Black travel and tourism businesses and cultural institution, the timing could not be better to bring Black travel and tourism stakeholder together,” added Sherri Brown, VP of multicultural business development, Visit Tampa Bay.
Corporations, organisations, nonprofits, and other entities whose work supports or influences Black travel and tourism in the US and Caribbean on local, state and national levels are encouraged to join the National Black Travel & Tourism Ecosystem Collaborative.
Click here to register or find out more.
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