Support Travel Industry Anti-Racism
What can you do to help end racism within the travel industry? You can start by supporting destinations management organizations and travel brands who are actively taking steps to be more inclusive. This means more diverse employees in their key staff, inclusive representation in their marketing campaigns, fair treatment of minorities patronizing their establishments, and equal opportunity for minorities to experience “luxury” service. The Black Travel Alliance is an organization committed to collecting KPI’s from companies as part of their #pullupfortravel campaign. Join the BTA (Black Travel Alliance) and be up to date with which companies have pulled up for travel and which have not. Support the brands committed to change and hold them accountable to their action plans. Also, DO NOT spend your dollers with travel brands who have not reported to BTA. The most effective way to get companies to become anti-racist, is to effect their bottom line.
Support Black owned businesses and actively seek Black owned businesses when traveling to new places. Building a itinerary before you travel can help you find these Black owned brands and services. You can spend a few days searching for things like Black owned restaurants, shops, tourist attractions, excursions, and Black cultural events. The app Eat Okra is a great resource for identifying Black owned restaurants in various parts of the United States. Book your trips with the help of Black owned travel consultants like The Go Generation and Black Girls On the Go. Another great resource for finding Black oriented services when on vacation is Passport Required. Choosing to spend your money in support of Black owned businesses will help to level the playing field and also encourage non-Black owned companies to become more diverse and inclusive in their offerings.
