Tickets are now open for the 2025 Travel Unity Awards Dinner
Join us for an inspiring evening celebrating the champions who are making travel more inclusive and welcoming for everyone.
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Travel Unity celebrates the work of groundbreaking organizations and individuals who are passionate about inclusion in travel.
The 2025 Travel Unity Award categories are:
- Inclusion Champion
- The 2025 Inclusion Champion will be decided by popular vote.
- Community Impact
- Judges: Sonya Bradley, Stephanie Sheehy (2024 Community Impact Award winner), and Sven Wiltink
- Outstanding Academic Research
- Judges: Dr. Edwin Gómez and Dr. Juan Madera (2024 Outstanding Academic Research Award winner)
- Outstanding Organizational Initiative
- Judges: Josh Heinz, Romey Louangvilay, Shayna Walker
- Young Professional
- Judges: Noor Ahmad Hamid, Dona Regis-Prosper, Diego Rendon (2024 Youth Award winner)
Meet the Finalists
Inclusion Champion
Oregon Coast Visitors Association
Shebs Alom
As CEO of the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association, Sherry leads the only national association dedicated to Indigenous tourism and launched the first-ever economic impact study of U.S. Indigenous tourism businesses. She was instrumental in passing the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience (NATIVE) Act and serves on multiple national boards advancing Indigenous tourism.
Sherry Rupert
Allie Bahn
Tami Fairweather
Julia Cohen Ribeiro
Jeny Pokharel
John has served over 50,000 customers with disabilities through his three accessible travel companies and partners with 15+ cruise lines representing 87% of the industry’s accessible shore-excursion market. He authored WTTC’s Inclusive and Accessible Travel Guidelines and leads accessibility initiatives for 13 national and global travel organizations.
John Sage
Community Impact
Cory Lee
Tourism Cares
Minja Kovacevic Surlan
The Hybrid Tours
Lunfarda Travel
American Bus Association
Destination Asia
Outstanding Academic Research
Dr. Sweety Jamgade
Siqi (Emily) Lu
Dr. Bella Vongvisitsin
Anna Abelson and Dr. Olena Ciftci
Dr Brielle Gillovic and Professor Alison McIntosh
Outstanding Organizational Initiative
Global Glimpse
Richmond Region Tourism Foundation
Orange 142
The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group
ITC HOTELS LIMITED
Young Professional
Amine Gabbouj
Joe Jamison
Nicolas Scott
Puneet Singh Singhal
Akshay Tyagi
Meet the Judges
Community Impact
Stephanie Sheehy
Owner, IL VIAGGIO Travel
Sonya Bradley
Chief Inclusion and Community Engagement Officer, Visit Sacramento
Sven Wiltink
Global Senior Director of Sustainability, Radisson Hotel Group
Outstanding Academic Research
Dr. Juan Madera
Curtis L. Carlson Endowed Professor, Conrad N. Hilton College, University of Houston
Dr. Edwin Gómez
Professor, Department of Recreation Sciences, East Carolina University
Outstanding Organizational Initiative
Josh Heinz
Community Engagement Manager, Visit Greater Palm Springs
Romey Louangvilay
Co-Founder, VP & Head of Communications, ELMNTL
Shayna Walker
Global Head of ED+I, Tripadvisor
Young Professional
Diego Rendon
President & CEO of Associated Students Incorporated, CSUMB
Noor Ahmad Hamid
CEO, Pacific Asia Travel Association
Dona Regis-Prosper
Secretary General & CEO, Caribbean Tourism Organization
Sponsors
2024 Award Winners
| Dr. Juan Madera 2024 Outstanding Academic Research Award “for his research focusing on DEI in the hospitality and tourism section” | Stephanie Sheehy 2024 Community Impact Award “promotes DEI in the travel and fashion industries” | Tonya Fitzpatrick 2024 Applied DEI Champion Award “advocates for marginalized communities in travel“ |
| Visit Greater Palm Springs 2024 Outstanding Organizational Initiative Award “promotes inclusive tourism, ensuring the industry benefits all community members” | Diego Rendon 2024 Youth Award “advocates for inclusivity in travel, impacting his university and beyond” | Ethan Gelber 2024 Director Appreciation Award “for his role in founding Travel Unity and his years of dedicated service to its mission“ |