Twenty (20) local area high school students studying hospitality and tourism from Ballou Senior High School and Maya Angelou Public Charter High School had the chance to listen to the career journeys taken by industry elite at Black Meetings & Tourism Magazine presents: "Building Diversity in the Travel Industry" Mentoring Program Kick Off at the Washington Plaza Hotel on Friday, September 14, 2018 held during the 48th Annual Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Conference.
Blended travel - combing business and leisure trips with the family has gained momentum in recent years. According to one survey, 77 percent took family or a significant other on their last business trip, and 47 percent do it a majority of the time. The numbers are even high in the African-American market segment, where travel with families to everything from conference to family reunions has been a mainstay.
Karin Aaron was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey and recalls growing up years after the 1960s rebellion. Her family owned a thriving business in the city but quickly watched how neighborhoods deteriorated, property values fell and many began moving out of the city. And although she and her three siblings moved away, her parents refused to leave as they continued to work, volunteer and commit to Newark for the long haul - that Newark will rise again.
WAKE UP and welcome to the year 2019 where Diversity and Inclusion are no longer the exception, but are in fact the RULE. As long time advocates for representation of Women, LGBT persons, people of color and all ethnic groups, at BM&T we applaud the "Me Too" movement and the growing demands of all groups to have a "seat at The Equal Opportunity table." Progressive leaders in our industry are now understanding the importance of recognizing the varied and unique markets that make up our traveling public. The next time you get on a plane look around at the different faces you see.
