2022 Travel Unity Summit Northeast

9 AM ET - Welcome

Mayor Mike Quill of the City of Auburn, NY welcomes attendees to the 2022 Travel Unity Summit Northeast.

9:05 AM ET - Keynote Session

Hilina D. Ajakaiye, Executive Vice President of the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau (GBCVB), dives into the deliberate work that goes into the All Inclusive Boston campaign and more around GBCVB’s DEI work.

Keynote session sponsored by Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau.

9:30 AM ET - Panel: DEI Approaches from Across the Northeast

A deep dive from visitor-facing organizations of multiple sizes from across the NE, touching on their efforts to diversify storytelling, grow industry workforce, and engage with their communities.



Moderated by Rachel Vandenberg of Accelerate Women Leaders in Travel.

10:50 AM ET - Access, Accessibility, and Outdoor Experiences

Laura DiBetta of NYS DEC discusses initiatives to make outdoor spaces more welcoming to people of all backgrounds and abilities.

Then, a series of brief presentations:

Katy O’Reilly of Open Doors Organization gives practical advice on how visitor-facing organizations can be more accessible to travelers with disabilities.

Loren Penman from the Autism Nature Trail at Letchworth State Park shares the path to their success.

Connor McGough of ARISE shares his thoughts as a traveler who uses a wheelchair, an adaptive tools professional, and a Syracusan passionate about making the outdoors welcoming to everyone.

11:50 AM ET - Understanding Overlapping Identities

We all navigate the world with multiple identities. Dr. Rhoda Overstreet Wilson leads dialogues with our thoughtful and open speakers, then invites attendees to participate in an exercise to learn more about how they see themselves in the world.

2 PM ET - DEI Case Studies

Karen Kuhl of Tour Cayuga shares the process of leaning into Cayuga County as the chosen home of Harriet Tubman.

Evan B. Hill and Olivia Khristan of the Corning Museum of Glass discuss CMOG’s work with schools, teachers, and communities to create a welcoming, educational, and inclusive space for visitors.

3 PM ET - Fostering Enduring Equality in Visitor-Facing Organizations

Carol Watson, the General Manager of Kimpton Hotel Palomar Philadelphia, will dive into how to integrate DEI practices across an organization with a focus on recruitment, representation in marketing, and partner accountability creating a system of enduring equality in an organization.

3:20 PM ET - Workshop: Integrating DEI into Your Organizational Foundation

This workshop will offer participants the opportunity to take what they have learned today and apply it to their own organizations. Participants will go through a process of thinking about their organizations and how DEI is currently reflected and what more needs to happen to embed DEI into the foundations of the organization.

Vandana Agrawal and David Naczycz will provide insights, tools and ideas for participants on how they can effectively integrate DEI into their organization.

4:45 PM ET – NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center Visit

After the day’s sessions, participants are invited to take a 5-minute walk to the NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center for an exclusive after-hours visit.

The Taste NY Market will remain open for participants, as well, for those looking to purchase an array of products grown, produced, or processed in New York State.

7 PM ET – Dinner Reception at Prison City North

Don’t miss a special networking dinner event at Prison City North (251 North St, Auburn, NY 13021). If you like craft beer, you will love Prison City.

Delight yourself to 5 tasting menus, think “5 mini dinners”, each paired with a different brew while you network with your peers.

The setting will be within Prison City’s tap room and brewing facility, so you will get a special behind-the-scenes look!

Shuttles will transport attendees to and from the event. It will run in a loop from 5:30 PM until 9:30 PM.

9 AM ET - Keynote Session: DEI and Destination Stewardship

Carrie Simmons from Go Stowe (Stowe Area Association) shares the organization’s work on DEI through their destination stewardship strategy.

9:30 AM ET - Panel: Authentic Representation: How to Avoid Performative DEI Marketing

What separates authentically communicating with diverse groups from performative marketing? The panel will dive head-first into this crucial topic.

Featuring Olga Luz Tirado and Nikita Jankowski.

Moderated by Nicole Mahoney

10:50 AM ET - Workforce Development & Education

The travel industry is struggling to attract and retain quality staff. Discover strategies and initiatives around recruitment, development, and retention from a diverse group of speakers.

Moderated by Helen Horsham-Bertels.

11:50 AM ET - Community Engagement

How do you go from broadcasting to communities to having dialogue and collaboration? How do you make sure that communities have the opportunities to take part in their storytelling? How do we address the unique needs of specific groups within communities?

The panel will share their insights that will help travel industry professionals toward authentic, sustained relationships with diverse communities.

Moderated by Dr. Juhanna Rogers.

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