Black Meetings & Tourism - BLACKS IN TRAVEL & TOURISM DOLLARS & SENSE WEBINAR SERIES ATTRACTS DIVERSE AUDIENCE TO HEAR PERSPECTIVES ON DIVERSITY & INCLUS

Industry Briefs
BLACKS IN TRAVEL & TOURISM DOLLARS & SENSE WEBINAR SERIES ATTRACTS DIVERSE AUDIENCE TO HEAR PERSPECTIVES ON DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
The first of several virtual conversations featuring Black travel and tourism thought leaders was held on Thursday, June 11, 2020 via a Zoom webinar. More than 300 travel and tourism industry professionals and small businesses attended the high demand webinar. Webinar panelists included Elliott Ferguson, president, Destination DC & board chair, U.S. 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). Solomon Herbert, publisher & editor-in-chief, Black Meetings & Tourism, moderated the conversation. The Economics of the Black Travel & Tourism Ecosystem: Dollars and Sense Webinar Series is presented by the Cultural Heritage Economic Alliance, Inc. (CHEA) in partnership with Black Meetings & Tourism and Visit Tampa Bay. Stephanie M. Jones, Founder & CEO, CHEA, says “It is vital to ensure there are diverse voices and faces representing the travel industry in the U.S., especially as our country is faced with confronting social and racial injustices. We look forward to bringing more Black travel and tourism voices forward to address the lack of diversity, inclusion and advancement of Blacks in the industry.” Elliott Ferguson, president of Destination DC and national chair of the U.S. Travel Association, said that U.S. Travel is having some “uncomfortable” discussions with the industry “in terms of what’s expected and the fact that Black people are angry.” Ferguson said he sees opportunity for real change. Ferguson also said that the discussion on how Blacks have been treated in corporate America must continue. “We need to make sure that we have the White CEOs in those corporations that are in power and that employ us make sure they understand the importance of this conversation continuing.” Register for the Blacks in Travel & Tourism Webinar Series at www.blacksintourism.org.

Industry Briefs

BLACKS IN TRAVEL & TOURISM DOLLARS & SENSE WEBINAR SERIES ATTRACTS DIVERSE AUDIENCE TO HEAR PERSPECTIVES ON DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

The first of several virtual conversations featuring Black travel and tourism thought leaders was held on Thursday, June 11, 2020 via a Zoom webinar. More than 300 travel and tourism industry professionals and small businesses attended the high demand webinar. Webinar panelists included Elliott Ferguson, president, Destination DC & board chair, U.S. 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). Solomon Herbert, publisher & editor-in-chief, Black Meetings & Tourism, moderated the conversation.

The Economics of the Black Travel & Tourism Ecosystem: Dollars and Sense Webinar Series is presented by the Cultural Heritage Economic Alliance, Inc. (CHEA) in partnership with Black Meetings & Tourism and Visit Tampa Bay.

Stephanie M. Jones, Founder & CEO, CHEA, says “It is vital to ensure there are diverse voices and faces representing the travel industry in the U.S., especially as our country is faced with confronting social and racial injustices. We look forward to bringing more Black travel and tourism voices forward to address the lack of diversity, inclusion and advancement of Blacks in the industry.”

Elliott Ferguson, president of Destination DC and national chair of the U.S. Travel Association, said that U.S. Travel is having some “uncomfortable” discussions with the industry “in terms of what’s expected and the fact that Black people are angry.” Ferguson said he sees opportunity for real change.

Ferguson also said that the discussion on how Blacks have been treated in corporate America must continue. “We need to make sure that we have the White CEOs in those corporations that are in power and that employ us make sure they understand the importance of this conversation continuing.”