Black Travel Summit Announces 2nd Annual Edition with New Industry Partners and High-Profile Lineup

The second annual gathering of the Black travel community, organized by the Black Travel Summit, will be held Oct. 20-22, 2023, at the Hyatt Centric Brickell Miami. The highly anticipated three-day event will feature an exceptional speaker lineup, an innovative collaboration with the Black Travel Alliance (BTA) and strong support from Hyatt.

Photo by blacktravelsummit.com

The summit aims to promote and grow the booming, $160 billion global black travel industry by empowering participants. Professionals and enthusiasts from all walks of life are invited to attend a weekend in Miami filled with opportunities for growth and networking. Attendees can look forward to an exciting program of inspirational speakers, interactive workshops, meaningful community service and additional experiences such as a luxurious brunch on a yacht.

"We’re excited about the program for our second annual summit because it illustrates the ever-growing visibility, innovation, and economic power of the Black traveler and travel professional,” said Anita Francois, the visionary founder and CEO of Black Travel Summit. “We're honored to elevate our movement this year and highlight the leaders of our community by joining forces with the Black Travel Alliance."

“We understand that while diversity may look different around the world, inclusion is felt universally,” said Tyronne Stoudemire, global vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion, Hyatt. “In 2020, we announced Change Starts Here as a call upon ourselves to do better and be better and take bold steps to accelerate our DE&I efforts through actionable commitments around who we employ and develop, who we support, and who we buy from and work with. We are proud to continue our support and collaboration with Black Travel Summit, in an effort to help create inclusive travel spaces where people feel they belong.”

“The Hyatt and Black Travel Summit collaboration sparked from an organic conversation years ago with BTS’ very own Anita and Sherry,” says Tristan Dowell, global vice president, global sales. “From that conversation, we learned that not only does the Black Travel Summit share Hyatt’s purpose of caring for people so they can be their best, but they’ve also played a crucial role in further educating us about the Black traveler experience. We are proud to be a part of the Black Travel Summit and to continue to celebrate and empower travel professionals as well as those aspiring to enter the industry and collaborate together in this changing World.”

Photo by blacktravelsummit.com

In advance of the summit, on October 19, Black Travel Alliance presents Wavelength Hybrid, an exclusive networking event for brands and creatives. This event offers brands the opportunity to network with black creatives and collaborate on dynamic campaigns that specifically target black travelers. Brands interested in attending Wavelength can register by Sept. 20. The summit officially kicks off on Friday, Oct. 20, with an exciting BlackAF (and Flossy) Tour that will take attendees on a journey through Miami's vibrant black food, history and heritage. The day will conclude with a media presentation and welcome reception where attendees can enjoy delicious appetizers and refreshing cocktails.

On Saturday, October 21, the main event will be held at the Hyatt Centric Brickell Miami. The day will kick off with an inspirational keynote address by Martinique Lewis, president of the Black Travel Alliance. Respected speakers such as travel photographer and inventor Karl Shakur, Approved Jets co-founder Aaron Wilson, and Cultural Heritage Economic Alliance founder Stephanie Jones will take the stage for exciting panel discussions. In the evening, the prestigious Black Travel Awards Gala will recognize outstanding achievements in black travel. Attendees will have the opportunity to witness the presentation of the prestigious VICtor Awards and the highly anticipated Distinct 20 Awards from the Black Travel Alliance.

The VICtor Awards highlight the achievements of a diverse group of black trailblazers in the travel industry. The awards, which include categories such as brands, journalists, filmmakers and now travel filmmakers with the Best Travel Short Film award, are curated by a distinguished panel of judges. This panel of judges includes esteemed travel journalist Travis Levius, travel expert Connie Kinnard and travel filmmaker Rick Southers. Entrants can submit their entries for the VICtor Awards through August 25. Nominees will be announced Sept. 8.

In addition, the Black Travel Alliance will announce the BTA Distinct 20 at the Black Travel Awards Gala. This prestigious award honors 20 individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the black travel community. The BTA Distinct 20 honorees will receive a lifetime membership in the Black Travel Alliance in recognition of their lasting impact on the community.

The Black Travel Summit culminates on Sunday, Oct. 22, with an exhibition and pop-up store featuring Black-owned travel businesses and amenities for travelers. This event provides a platform to showcase and support these businesses. In addition, nine workshops will be offered that day on a variety of topics, such as how to become a travel influencer and how to use different marketing strategies to appeal to Black travelers.

The summit will conclude with an afternoon industry meeting, followed by a wonderful pool party and lavish brunch where you can eat it all. These activities provide attendees the opportunity to network, relax and enjoy delicious food while enjoying the beautiful surroundings.

Pricing for Participating in Black Travel Summit 2023

The Black Travel Summit offers a variety of ticket options tailored to individual preferences and needs. Prices range from $25 for an Expo Pass to $1,500 for an All-Access Corporate Pass, which provides access to all sessions and additional events. In addition, separate tickets for additional events are available starting at $105.

To view a comprehensive schedule, purchase tickets and get more information about the Black Travel Summit, please visit the official website at blacktravelsummit.com.

Introducing Black Travel Summit

Black Travel Summit, established in 2019 by Anita Francois, is a dedicated advocate for the Black travel community, actively supporting, empowering, and creating opportunities within it. With a strong focus on entertainment, transformative events, and the vibrant tapestry of Black travel culture, the Black Travel Summit has cultivated a thriving ecosystem. Their ultimate aim is to bridge connections between Black travel businesses, professionals in careers and entrepreneurship, influencers, and every aspect of the tourism supply chain.

Driven by a genuine passion for knowledge-sharing on destinations, cultures, trends, and inclusive travel products and services for people of color, the Black Travel Summit strives to provide a platform where diverse perspectives are not only heard but celebrated and uplifted. Through their efforts, the Black Travel Summit has successfully organized over 40 virtual and in-person events, collaborating with more than 190 speakers, partners, and sponsors. These initiatives have reached and connected with over 9,000 travel enthusiasts, while also facilitating meaningful connections between underrepresented brands and entities, thus working towards closing the wealth gap in the Black community.