Reset & Rebuild: Advancing Travel Together
October 19-23, 2020
Missed some of this year’s sessions? Catch up!
For more videos and other exclusive content, join the Travel Unity Alliance.
Silver Sponsors
“Our participation with Travel Unity demonstrates our commitment to improve our communications to potential travelers, avoid past mistakes and create more opportunities for our ethnically diverse citizens.”
Charinya Kiatlapnachai, Director of Tourism Authority of Thailand’s New York Office
Tripadvisor is proud to support the 2020 Virtual Travel Unity Summit. As a company we are committed to using our portfolio of brands, scale as a platform, and our global influence to better serve and lift the diverse voices of travelers and diners everywhere. We are excited to partner with Travel Unity in the movement to reset and rebuild – advancing travel together!
Tony Martin, Equity, Diversity+Inclusion Program Manager at Tripadvisor
Sponsors and Partners
Testimonials from the 2019 Travel Unity Summit
“Thank you once again for selecting an excellent group of people. The Summit was brilliant!”
Elizabeth McAndrew
Marketing for New York State Canal Corporation
“Excellent content at the Travel Unity Summit. Informative, motivational, moving.”
Greg Marshall
Former Sr. Vice President/Director of Marketing Visit Rochester
SCHEDULE SUMMARY
Mon. Oct. 19
12:00 – 2:00 PM ET – DEI and Visitorship in NYS
2:00 – 4:00 PM ET – Accessibility, Vocational Rehabilitation, and Tourism
Tues. Oct 20
2:00 – 4:00 PM ET – LGBTQ Lives: Talks & Tales (in partnership with Equality Florida)
4:00 – 6:00 PM ET – Kickoff Networking Session (for speakers and pass-holders)
Wed. Oct 21
10:30 AM ET – DEI Flash Talks and ‘Belonging’ Panel
12:30 PM ET – Preparing Communities to Host Destination Sports Events
BREAKOUT TRACK #1
BREAKOUT TRACK #2
2:00 PM
Integrating DEI in the Tourism Supply Chain
2:00 PM
Empowering Employees to Bring Their Best Selves to Work
3:30 PM
Sustainability in a Mid & Post-Covid World
3:30 PM
Women in the Outdoors
5:00 PM
Building Bridges Not Barriers: Including Marginalized Communities in Tourism
5:00 PM
How to Bring DEI Dialogues into the Workspace
Thurs. Oct 22
10:00 AM ET – A Conversation between Steve Johnson-Stevenson (Tourism Authority of Thailand) and Romey Louangvilay (Travel Unity)
10:30 AM ET – Reset & Rebuild: The Business Case for DEI
12:30 PM ET – Advocating for Visitors
2:00 PM ET – Resetting and Rebuilding Hospitality
3:00 PM ET – The Age of Authenticity in Marketing
4:00 PM ET – How Business Owners Should Address LGBTQ+ Travelers
5:00 PM ET – The Power of Inclusive Storytelling: What the Travel Media Needs to Know
6:00 PM ET – The Power of Influence – What’s The ROI and Does Race Play a Role in #Sponsored Posts?
Fri. Oct 23
10:00 AM ET – Travel Inspiration, Youth, and Career and Technical Education Track
2:00 PM ET – Encouraging Youth toward Careers in Sports Management (in partnership with Ohio University’s Center for Sports Administration)
SCHEDULE DETAILS
Mon. Oct. 19
Nicky Hylton-Patterson
Adirondack Diversity Initiative
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET
DEI and Visitorship in New York State
A welcome from I LOVE New York, followed by featured speakers from NYS Parks, NYS Division of Human Rights, NYS DEC, and NYSTIA, followed by a dialogue with attendees moderated by Adirondack Diversity Initiative Director Nicky Hylton-Patterson.
Invite-only session
Email [email protected] to request an invitation.
Mon. Oct. 19
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM ET
Accessibility, Vocational Rehabilition, and Tourism
Free session
Learn about NET, the national network of the 78 public Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) programs from across all of the United States, and their work connecting businesses with qualified applicants and support services.
NET – National Employment Team and Hands On at the Hyatt
John Ficca, Director, Hands On Education
Mark Havard, Area Director of Human Resources
Andrew Basch, Chef, The Current Hotel, Tampa, FL – former Hands On Trainee
VR – State Level NET Members
California – Alia Kuraishi, Business Engagement Manager
Connecticut – Jonathan Richmond, VR Counselor Coordinator
Iowa – Michelle Krefft, Director of Business Relations
Nevada – Ken Pierson, Business Services Manager
Flash Talks
Aliza Greenberg, Project Leader of Supporting Transitions, Museum, Arts, & Culture Access Consortium
Arturo Gaona, Head of Partnerships & Founding Team, Wheel the World
Xian Horn, Journalist, Disability/Beauty Advocate, and Teacher
MC: Ernest White II
Learn more about:
- Cultural competency in the areas of LGBTQ issues as it relates to on-the-job
- An understanding of those issues which fall into the category of ‘not knowing what you don’t know’ about being LGBTQ at work and in the world
- An understanding of those same issues for customers/visitors/travelers who are LGBTQ
- The challenges faced by LGBTQ youth in the schools
- Awareness of Equality Florida’s customized training programs available to companies around the country
The Economic Case for LGBTQ Equality in the Workplace
Rene Cantu of Equality Florida shares reliable stats on why workplace protections are good for a company/business, including analysis on HRC’s A Workplace Divided survey, which focuses on workplace attitudes of both LGBT and non-LGBT respondents.
The Dynamics of Transitioning in the Workplace
Gina Duncan gives an aerial view of some of the issues that need to be addressed by communities and workplaces that seek to be supportive of someone transitioning.
Safe and Healthy Schools
Ian Siljestrom from Equality Florida shares the tools necessary to be good allies to LGBTQ youth.
Traveling While Gay
Matt Skallerud, President of Pink Media, shares thoughts on how gay culture transcends boundaries, allowing the LGBTQ community to tap into social bonds and learn about the world through shared and personal priorities and values.
Traveling While Trans
Laugh and smile as Kelly Metzgar, Executive Director of Adirondack North Country Gender Alliance, shares her stories about traveling while trans.
DevOUT: The Journey of LGBTQ+ People of Faith
Rev. Brandan Robertson will give insight into the experience of LGBT+ people of faith and special considerations and challenges they may experience traveling- especially on religiously themed vacations or pilgrimage.
Wed. October 21
Travel Unity
Executive Director
Envirosell
Director of Data & Methodology
The Travel Foundation
CEO
Travel Unity’s Executive Director, Roni Weiss, will give a presentation on the process and ideas behind the organization’s publicly available DEI Standards for Travel & Tourism.
Then, Larissa Hunt of Envirosell, a market research firm with 30+ years of experience, will talk about research the company will be conducting in partnership with Travel Unity and the global travel industry.
Finally, Jeremy Sampson of The Travel Foundation will introduce the audience to the Future of Tourism Coalition, explaining how it is approaching DEI.
Kameelah Benjamin-Fuller
former Director of ED + I
at TripAdvisor
Kameelah Benjamin-Fuller, former Director of Equity, Diversity + Inclusion at Tripadvisor, facilitates flash talks of DEI bright spots in the world of travel and tourism.
I Love NY
Director of Tourism Policy Initiatives
Sara Emmert from I Love NY will discuss the integration of diversity, equity and inclusion in I Love NY marketing and programming, specifically as it pertains to the Division of Tourism’s newest program: Accessible NY.
Sensory City
Executive Director
GuestBox
CEO and Founder
Founder
Global Himalayan Expedition
#unitecloud
Executive Director
Living Hyphen
Founder & Editor
Kameelah Benjamin-Fuller, former Director of Equity, Diversity + Inclusion at Tripadvisor, facilitates flash talks of DEI bright spots in the world of travel and tourism.
Kameelah Benjamin-Fuller
former Director of ED + I
at TripAdvisor
What can the travel industry, its thousands of companies, and its millions of members do to make travel welcoming to people of all backgrounds and abilities?
The moderator, Kameelah Benjamin-Fuller, and global panelists will share their passions and journeys in travel and DEI, along with how we can work together to make post-pandemic travel more inclusive than ever before.
Planet Abled
Founder
MMGY Global
VP, North America Strategy
Co-Chair, Diversity, Equality & Inclusion Council
North America Tour Hub
Co-Founder
IGLTA
President/CEO
former President and CEO
at Tennis Canada
Adirondack Diversity Initiative
Director
Clinical Assistant Professor at NYU
and four-time Olympian
Sports Events and Tourism Association
CEO & President
A session aimed at those who want to bring destination sporting events to their locale in a manner that supports and uplifts local communities, as well as the participating athletes and their families.
BREAKOUT TRACK #1: Intersection of Sustainability and DEI – 2:00 PM ET
Integrating DEI in the Tourism Supply Chain
A discussion about how various types of travel and hospitality businesses can utilize and influence their supply chains to create a more holistically sustainable, inclusive, and equitable tourism space.
Key takeaways:
- What responsible sourcing means and why it is important; managing DEI in a changing environment
- How supplier diversity is linked to sustainability
- Case studies and ideas for best practices in implementing DEI initiatives in a tourism/hospitality business
BREAKOUT TRACK #2: DEI in the Workplace – 2:00 PM ET
Sophia Hyder Hock
Papilia
Founder/CEO
Empowering Employees to Bring Their Best Selves to Work
Positive employee experiences can create a tremendous impact on your organization.
Higher retention rates, innovation, and an overall increase in revenue are just a few examples of how your company can benefit from placing a high value on your employees. Our panelists will discuss how this can be done in a way that champions diverse and inclusive practices.
Learn:
- How to develop a growth mindset that encourages authentic self-expression
- Practical ways to promote inclusive practices in the workplace
- How to harness empathy as a tool for empowering staff from a wide variety of backgrounds
Adirondack North Country Gender Alliance
Executive Director
Yelp
Senior Field Marketing Manager
BREAKOUT TRACK #1: Intersection of Sustainability and DEI – 3:30 PM ET
Impact Travel Alliance
Sustainability in a Mid & Post-Covid World
BIPOC communities are disproportionately affected by economic and environmental issues – the very problems sustainability-focused professionals are trying to mend. Sustainability is intrinsically linked to diversity and inclusion efforts. And yet, far too often, underrepresented communities are left out of the conversation on building a stronger, more sustainable industry.
Join Impact Travel Alliance’s founder for an introduction on the intersection of sustainability, DEI, and tourism, followed by case studies from leading tourism professionals pushing for a more sustainable industry through the lens of social justice, followed by flash talks from experts from across the world of sustainable travel.
BREAKOUT TRACK #2: DEI in the Workplace – 3:30 PM ET
Beth Santos
Women in the Outdoors
While women make up 46% of people participating in the outdoors, they’re poorly represented in the outdoor industry’s marketing, strategy, and leadership.
In this eye-opening panel moderated by Wanderful Founder and CEO Beth Santos we’ll talk with three experts who have spent years in different segments of the outdoor industry. Attendees can expect to get a better understanding of the real problems at hand and what our responsibilities are as members of the travel and outdoor worlds to do something about it.
What We’ll Discuss:
- Why women are underrepresented in the outdoors even though they make up such a large part of the industry
- How destinations and travel marketers can adjust their messaging and offerings to be more inclusive
- What we can do to build better representation for women in the outdoors
BREAKOUT TRACK #1: Intersection of Sustainability and DEI – 5:00 PM ET
Dr. Kristin Lamoureux
Building Bridges Not Barriers: Including Marginalized Communities in Tourism
Historically marginalized populations have often been overlooked or ignored in the tourism process. Much has been said about how communities must prepare for tourism but much less about how tourism must work not only to include traditionally marginalized populations but more importantly, how these communities may opt-in (or out) of tourism in their communities.
As COVID-19, and the measures being implemented to contain it, are deeply affecting our social and economic global situation, it is time to reconsider how marginalized populations are included in the recovery of the tourism sector.
Our panel of experts will share their experiences and thoughts on how tourism cam recover in a more equitable fashion so that those voices that are often overlooked may be included, if not lead, the tourism process in their own communities.
BREAKOUT TRACK #2: DEI in the Workplace – 5:00 PM ET
Tony Martin
How to Bring DEI Dialogues into the Workspace
Tony Martin, Tripadvisor’s Equity, Diversity + Inclusion Program Manager, leads a session around how companies of all sizes can create climates where DEI can be addressed, with input from representatives from Intrepid Travel, Ma Cher, Tourism Cares, and Lucy Cevallos, Tripadvisor’s Latinx ERG Co-lead.
Director of Diversity & Belonging
Tripadvisor
Product Manager | Latinx ERG Co-lead
MaCher
Sustainability and Operations
Tourism Cares
Director of Global Impact
Intrepid Travel
Global Social Media Manager
Thurs. October 22
Tourism Authority of Thailand
New York Office Marketing Manager
Travel Unity
Board President
With more mainstream news outlets covering the importance of DEI, more DMOs and hospitality brands are taking note, especially as social injustices have been brought to light by people.
In this discussion hosted by TU’s board president, Romey Louangvilay, he’ll be joined by the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s NY Marketing Manager, Steve Johnson-Stevenson, to have an honest discussion around discrimination within the travel industry, incidents in Thailand that encouraged the tourism board to apply for certification, and how destinations can be more inclusive for all travelers, especially as we try to navigate a post-COVID tourism world.
Editor at Large
National Geographic Travel Media
CEO
Tourism Cares
World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC)
Vice President of Policy
President & CEO
Destination DC
Accessible Travel Solutions
President
While many people see the personal side of inclusion, it is also good business. This panel will discuss the many reasons that DEI is not just the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do.
The travel industry bears a responsibility to the people it encourages to visit. How can travel companies think beyond their front desks and property lines, making sure that they are advocating for further aspects of how people experience places?
A hotel stay can provide much more than just a bed, allowing people to depart an accommodation feeling energized and recognized. This panel of travel professionals will discuss why now is the time to toss the throw pillows, expose the brick walls, and settle into storytelling.
Questions the session will address:
- Why is now the right time to change how hotels are operated and marketed?
- How can independent hoteliers leverage storytelling as the travel and hospitality industries are reset and rebuilt?
- What can hotels do to become true community partners?
People say data drives business decisions, but how does that relate to diversity? This hands-on, interactive workshop is for brands that want to create and maintain an authentic connection to diverse audiences.
The following questions will be addressed:
- What influences how brands decide what diverse means?
- How does a brand effectively and authentically market to multiple audiences?
- What does a multicultural marketing strategy look like?
4:00 PM ET
How Business Owners Should Address LGBTQ+ Travelers
When you think of the word LGBTQ+, gay is usually the first thing that comes to mind. However, the LGBTQ+ community is much bigger than that. Jason Marsden, EVP of the Matthew Shepard Foundation, will present about the hospitality and visitorship to people outside of the community with an emphasis on variety within the LGBTQ+ community. The conversation will address what many business owners commonly default to thinking in terms of gay, meanwhile other identities such as male bisexuality, non-binary and trans often go unseen. This discussion will address the addition of multiple letters into the LGBTQ+ acronym and the intention behind asking pronouns.
5:00 PM ET
To change the world, we must begin by acknowledging the disparities that exist and taking action to improve them where we can. Much has been discussed about the lack of
representation in the travel media. This interactive panel of travel storytellers will discuss:
- Why is inclusive storytelling important?
- What needs to be done to improve representation within the travel media?
- How do we encourage the next generation of storytellers?
- What role will technology play in the future of travel media?
- How can we challenge brands and DMOs to include more diverse voices?
6:00 PM ET
Romey Louangvilay
This panel will feature a conversation about the role influencers play in travel, as well as finding common ground around the question – should we have to pay influencers and what’s the ROI?, and dive deep into the disparity between the opportunities white influencers receive over BIPOC influencers.
The conversation will be between Romey Louangvilay, TU’s President of the Board of Director and Head of Communications for ELMNTL (Overseeing clients such as Tourism Authority of Thailand, ASEAN Tourism, and more) who will discuss when (And if) brands should pay for influencers, what influencers need to know to get hired, and if ethnicity and race play a role in that hiring.
Kinya Claiborne of Style and Society would provide insight into working with brands, how to measure ROI, and how you can change the narrative so you’re getting the same opportunities as your white counterparts. Valerie Wilson of Trusted Travel Girl will provide the other perspective on how white influencers can be better allies in helping change the narrative.
Fri. October 23
Friday’s sessions are free to all.
Educators and community groups can contact [email protected] to arrange for multiple participants.
10:00 AM ET
Welcome from Travel Unity
10:15 AM ET
Travel Unity Youth Advisory Council (TUYAC) Presentation
11:00 AM ET
Travel Paths Presentations
Chi Lo
Kate McCulley
Justa Lujwangana
Lauren K. Clark
Laurita Tellado
Micah B. Lewis
Martinique Lewis
12:00 PM ET
Career Readiness Session (including Mock Interviews and Resume Feedback in small online breakout rooms)
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82169294327
Must pre-register for this session.
Use code ‘WBL’ or click here to sign up.
2:00 PM ET
Encouraging Youth toward Careers in Sports Management (in partnership with Ohio University’s Center for Sports Administration)
A session focused on bridging sports and tourism, and how we can encourage career opportunities within, especially for youth.
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89870489911
Bob Boland
Penn State University Athletics Integrity Officer
Danny Mendoza
Richmond Hill High School
Class of 2021
Featuring:
Dr. Heather Lawrence-Benedict
Ohio University
Professor, Sports Administration
Jose Duverge
The Players’ Tribune
Director, Brand Partnerships
