The 7th Annual Travel Unity Summit (2021) brought together travel professionals, destination organizations, students, and emerging leaders from around the world to advance diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), and sustainability across the travel industry. Through thought-provoking keynote presentations, interactive discussions, and collaborative networking, participants shared practical strategies for creating a more inclusive, accessible, and resilient future for travel as the industry continued its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Designed as a hybrid experience, the 2021 Summit combined virtual accessibility with the value of in-person collaboration, reducing barriers to participation while strengthening community connections. Returning to its regional roots in New York’s Adirondack Mountains, the event demonstrated how local perspectives and national conversations can work together to drive meaningful change and build a stronger, more equitable travel industry.
The 2021 summit focused on translating pandemic-era DEI commitments into daily operations for hospitality brands, DMOs, and travel chambers. Driven by three pillars—management, workforce development, and community impact—the event provided actionable blueprints emphasizing localized storytelling, youth pipelines, and measurable community value.
The event kicked off with virtual panels in late October focusing on broader accessibility and digital outreach, followed by live workshops and keynote sessions in Lake Placid in early November targeting hands-on, strategic applications of Travel Unity’s operational inclusion standards.
Discussions centered on moving beyond high-level DEI theory to establish tactical, measurable inclusion standards for travel companies and destination marketing. Key panels explored intersectionality in tourism—including vaccine equity—alongside sustainable traveler education, localized storytelling, and creating diverse workforce pipelines for youth.
The in-person portion was hosted at the Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort in Lake Placid, NY. The event was held with local support from the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) for the Adirondacks, supporting their initiative to broaden regional tourism demographics and accessible travel.
The Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort in Lake Placid provided a scenic and welcoming setting for the Travel Unity Summit, with its lakeside location on Mirror Lake offering a peaceful yet inspiring backdrop for meaningful dialogue and connection. Blending Adirondack charm with modern amenities, the resort created an atmosphere that encouraged reflection, collaboration, and community-building.
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TIME
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TOPIC
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SPEAKERS
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10a ET
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How the Travel Industry is Addressing DEI
Building a DEI instrastructure in the tourism industry has received a great deal of attention recently and we have invited Greg DeShields from Tourism Diversity Matters to share his insights about the work that is being done and the work still left to do. This timely conversation will continue with Catherine Prather and Roni Weiss, as they discuss the mission and transformative work being done by the Travel Industry Association DEI Pledge signed by 10+ organizations, including ATTA, NTA, NYSTIA, and SYTA. Finally, representatives from SATW and its DEAI Committee, discuss their association’s initiatives. |
Danny Guerrero - MMGY Global,
Greg DeShields - Tourism Diversity Matters // PHLDiversity,
Catherine Prather - NTA,
Roni Weiss - Travel Unity,
Vickie Ashford-Thompson - Rob Gard, Sylke Neal-Finnegan, Megan Padilla, SATW DEAI Committee
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1030a ET
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DEI in Action Panel
Roadmaps help organizations define strategic goals and the steps needed to reach them. This panel will take you through the thought process needed to create a DEI roadmap that will keep stakeholders and team members aligned and poised for success. |
Portia Conerly - NTA & Arlington Convention and Visitors Service,
Courtney Cacatian - Charlottesville Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau,
Renee Areng - Explore Brookhaven Georgia,
Melissa Cherry - Miles Partnership,
Karen Kuhl - Cayuga County Tourism
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12p ET
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Travel Media, Sustainability, and DEI
Three important keys to constructing healthy communities are economy, ecology and equity. This workshop moderated by writer Lavanya Sunkara features travel media experts from Skift Media, SATW and ITA and will discuss how to leverage storytelling to bridge gaps and foster new perspectives and strategies. |
Lavanya Sunkara - Freelance Writer,
Lebawit Lily Girma - Skift,
Naureen Kazi - TURNER,
Kelley Louise - Impact Travel Alliance // Fora,
George Stone - National Geographic
Moderator: Lavanya Sunkara Featuring: Kelley Louise, Lebawit Lily Girma, Naureen Kazi, and George Stone |
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2p ET
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Tourism and Communities
Communities play an integral role in creating meaningful cultural experiences. How can tourism connect with local residents and tell the stories of underrepresented communities? This panel will discuss ways to involve local communities in the tourism policy and decision making process, as well as, provide a strategy focused on creating programs and initiatives that benefit local stakeholders. |
David Holder - Clarify of Place,
Tony Snell - City of Milwaukee Equal Rights Commission,
Cynthia Eichler - Visit Fort Collins,
Nerissa Okiye - Discover Martin County
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4p ET
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How The Tour Industry is Addressing DEI
Join tour industry professionals as they share the initiatives and programs they have adopted to improve diversity, equity and inclusion in the tour industry. Greg Takehara (Tourism Cares) moderates this important conversation. Featured speakers include Carylann Assante, Portia Conerly and Joan Keddell. |
Portia Conerly - NTA & Arlington Convention and Visitors Service,
Carylann Assante - SYTA,
Joan Keddell - ITMI
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5p ET
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How Tour Operators are Addressing DEI
David Naczycz (North America Tour Hub) leads a dialogue with Mitch Bach (TripSchool), and Stephanie M. Jones (Cultural Heritage Economic Alliance, Inc. (CHEA)) around what is and can being done around DEI by tour operators. |
Mitch Bach - TripSchool,
Stephanie M. Jones - Cultural Heritage Economic Alliance, Inc. (CHEA),
David Naczycz - Board of Advisors, Travel Unity & North America Tour Hub
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6p ET
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Community Impact Dialogue
An open dialogue with attendees about community impact within the travel industry, facilitated by Jaclyn Yost. |
Jaclyn Yost, ecomadic
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TIME
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TOPIC
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SPEAKERS
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10a ET
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DEI Flash Talks
Thought leaders and visionaries from the travel and hospitality industries share innovative DEI initiatives and actionable strategies you can adopt in your business or workplace. Savannah Doviak from ROOST welcomes attendees to next week’s in-person events in Lake Placid, NY. Renee Areng, CDTP discusses how the new destination of Brookhaven, GA is introducing DEI from beginning. Leon Burnette introduces Tourism Pathways, a program to diversify the tour sector. Jason Thurston talks about the work John Dillon Park is doing to be welcoming to both disabled and nondisabled visitors. Penny Peters showcases Akwesasne Tourism – St. Regis Mohawk Tribe’s work to develop their tourism marketing strategy. Finally, Ed Hall III shares how the tourism industry can respectfully collaborate with Tribal nations, opening up the dialogue to attendees. |
Savannah Doviak - ROOST,
Karen Kuhl - Cayuga County Tourism,
Renee Areng - Explore Brookhaven Georgia,
Ed Hall III - Advisor, Travel Unity,
Leon Burnette - Tourism Pathways,
Jason Thurston - John Dillon Park,
Penny Peters - Akwesasne Tourism – St. Regis Mohawk Tribe
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12p ET
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Marketing to Diverse Audiences
The hallmark of good marketing is the ability to craft images and messages that resonate with your audience. This workshop will offer marketers best practices on how to create cross-cultural content that reaches and engages your audience. Moderated by Romey Louangvilay, from Elmntl Media, a global full service marketing and communications agency in NYC. Featuring Olga Luz Tirado from The Bronx Tourism Council (BTC). |
Romey Louangvilay - Board President, Travel Unity,
Olga Luz Tirado - The Bronx Tourism Council (BTC)
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2p ET
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Disability, Tourism, and DEI: Finding Candidates and Welcoming Visitors
October marks National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The theme for 2021 is America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion. This timely workshop will spotlight the pivotal role that people with disabilities could play in the recovery of the tourism and hospitality industries. Part of the conversation will address the market potential of travelers with disabilities in the recovery. |
Stephanie Rothfuss - Marriott Marquis Chicago,
Susan Eisma - LEGOLAND New York,
Kelly Garofalo - I Love NY
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4p ET
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The Diversity of LGBTQ+ Communities
The LGBTQ+ community is not a monolith and how one identifies can be very complex and multi-layered. This workshop will discuss best practices for creating an inclusive community that celebrates and acknowledges all. Moderated by Romey Louangvilay. Featuring Olivia Jaramillo (Equality Utah) and Les Geller (LGBT Center of Raleigh). |
Romey Louangvilay - Board President, Travel Unity,
Les Geller - LGBT Center of Raleigh,
Olivia Jaramillo - Equality Utah
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5p ET
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Management & Workforce Dialogue
An open dialogue with attendees about management and workforce within the travel industry, facilitated by Travel Unity Director Dr. Damien Duchamp. |
Dr. Damien Duchamp, Director, Travel Unity
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Friday, October 29, 2021
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TIME
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TOPIC
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SPEAKERS
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10a ET
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Seeking Understanding, Self-Improvement, and Speaking Up
The Travel Unity Individual Pledge is focused on Seeking Understanding, Self-Improvement, and Speaking Up. Join Dr. Kristin Lamoureux and Sophia Hyder Hock for an exploration of what this means in both your personal and professional lives. |
Dr. Kristin Lamoureux - Director, Travel Unity,
Sophia Hyder Hock - Travel Unity
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11a ET
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The *Other* Baggage We Bring: Trauma and Triggers
Whether as an employer or a visitor-facing organization, you need to be aware of how trauma impacts human beings to be able to craft the best experiences you can for them. |
Lynnette Phillips - Torch,
Roni Weiss - Travel Unity,
Zoe Moore - Board of Advisors, Travel Unity,
Sophia Hyder Hock - Travel Unity
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12p ET
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How Destination Cleveland Leveraged MMGY Global’s Black Traveler Program and Partnership with The Black Travel Alliance to Action Racial Equity & Inclusion
Learn about Destination Cleveland’s Racial Equity & Inclusion Initiative and how they treated racism as a public health issue, working with Black Travel Alliance to achieve tangible change. The speakers will address how community engagement was part of the approach and what DMOs and other visitor-facing organizations can take this case study to apply to various under-represented groups. |
Danny Guerrero - MMGY Global,
Ursula Petula Barzey - Black Travel Alliance,
Hannah Belsito - Destination Cleveland,
Colette Jones - Destination Cleveland
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2p
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Talent in Unexpected Places + Unexpected Fields
Current workforce trends are requiring the tourism industry to rethink their methods for attracting and retaining talent. This workshop will help organizations discover unlikely and unexpected ways to find skilled talent. |
Alessandra Alonso - Women in Travel,
Sefanit Mengiste - Tour Guide,
Klaudija Janzelj - Tour Amigo,
David Naczycz - Board of Advisors, Travel Unity and North America Tour Hub
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4p
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DEI Standards for Special Events & Sports
How are DEI issues reflected in the events and sports spaces? How can events bring DEI in from the very beginning of the planning process? Dr. Kelly Cerialo, Nick Kopka, Chi Lo, Zoe Moore will discuss the current state of DEI in events and sports and where things can go as we move ahead. After the discussion, Roni Weiss and Chi Lo talk about Travel Unity’s commitment to curating DEI Standards for Events & Sports. Learn about where the process is, how you can take part, and how these Standards will be used by conference, sporting event, festival, and other event organizers. |
Zoe Moore - Board of Advisors, Travel Unity,
Nick Kopka - Board of Advisors, Travel Unity,
Roni Weiss - Travel Unity,
Dr. Kelly Cerialo - Paul Smith’s College,
Chi Lo - Travel Unity
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6p
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Visitorship Dialogue
An open dialogue with attendees about welcoming and fulfilling experiences for visitors, facilitated by Nailah Blades Wylie. |
Nailah Blades Wylie - Color Outside
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Thursday. November 4. 2021
5:30 PM – Invite-only roundtable sessions focused on the question “How do we make people feel comfortable in the Adirondacks?”
Discussions will be lead by Jason Thurston of John Dillon Park, Bethany Garretson of Paul Smith’s College, and Leslie Karasin of Northern Forest Center.
Friday. November 5. 2021
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TIME
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TOPIC
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SPEAKERS
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9-9:30 AM
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Welcome from ROOST and Travel Unity
Roni Weiss, Executive Director of Travel Unity, and Mary Jane Lawrence CEO of ROOST welcome participants to Lake Placid and share their goal for this Summit of making DEI real with experienced speakers from many sectors of the travel industry showing how organizations, destinations, attractions and individuals have put DEI into their lives, work, hiring and marketing. |
Roni Weiss - Travel Unity,
Mary Jane Lawrence - ROOST
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9:30-11 AM
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Creating Actionable & Realistic DEI Plans
Everyone is talking about DEI but what does it really mean for the tourism industry? What specific actions can travel companies take now to put DEI into their goals, planning and day-to-day work. Long term benefits including helping to increase visitation, reach new audiences, broaden teams, build productive partnerships and achieve greater tourism success. |
Roni Weiss - Travel Unity
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11:15 AM- 12:30 PM
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DEI in Organizations: Case Studies and Discussion
The NYS tourism industry understands that it needs to increase DEI in its appeal, education, partnerships, marketing and hiring. Leaders from regional destinations will share their DEI journey, discussing the plans and actions that they have taken to implement DEI, share results achieved to date and next steps. Featuring MJ Lawrence from ROOST, Karen Kuhl from Cayuga County Tourism, Hillarie Logan-Dechene from The Wild Center, and Penny Peters from Akwesasne Tourism – St. Regis Mohawk Tribe. |
Nicole Mahoney - Break the Ice Media,
MJ Lawrence - ROOST,
Hillarie Logan-Dechene, MA - The Wild Center,
Karen Kuhl - Cayuga County Tourism,
Penny Peters - Akwesasne Tourism – St. Regis Mohawk Tribe
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12:30 PM- 1:30 PM
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Developing Your Professional DEI Journey
Travel professionals share their personal stories of how DEI has impacted their career paths featuring Savannah Doviak from Roost and Jason Thurston of John Dillon Park. |
Savannah Doviak - ROOST,
Claire Dunlap - Cayuga County Tourism,
Jason Thurston - John Dillon Park,
Tim James - Visit Rochester
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2:30-4 PM
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Marketing To Diverse Audiences
Strategic marketing planning and a wide range of tactics are necessary to reach new and more diverse audiences. This panel will discuss ways to make your marketing welcoming, avoiding offense and insincerity, as well as reach specific DEI audiences. |
Linda Ayares - Member of Board of Advisors, Travel Unity,
Romey Louangvilay - Board President, Travel Unity
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4-5 PM
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Cayuga County Case Study
Learn the nuts and bolts on how Cayuga County is reshaping their marketing strategy to embrace the Harriet Tubman’s connection to the area and become a more welcoming destination to a broader array of visitors. |
Moderator: Nicole Mahoney
Nicole Mahoney - Break the Ice Media,
Karen Kuhl - Cayuga County Tourism
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Saturday. November 6. 2021
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TIME
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TOPIC
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SPEAKERS
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8-9 AM
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Breakfast + Networking Activities Run by Dr. Damien Duchamp
Dr. Damien Duchamp leads activities for attendees to get to know one another more, both personally and professionally. |
Dr. Damien Duchamp - Board of Directors, Travel Unity
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9-9:30 AM
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Introduction and Roundtable Recap
Introduction by Roni Weiss of Travel Unity and Recap of Thursday’s Roundtables on “How do we make people feel comfortable in the Adirondacks?” |
Roni Weiss - Travel Unity
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9:30-11 AM
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How the New York State Travel Industry is Stepping Up to Address DEI
A series of speakers addresses how the travel industry across NYS is stepping up to the challenges of making the travel industry more welcoming to a wider array of visitors and staff, along with maximizing its positive impact on local communities. With Bob Provost (NYSTIA), Nicole Mahoney (Break the Ice Media), and Penny Peters (Akwesasne Tourism – St. Regis Mohawk Tribe), |
Nicole Mahoney - Break the Ice Media,
Penny Peters - Akwesasne Tourism – St. Regis Mohawk Tribe,
Bob Provost - NYSTIA
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11:30 AM- 1:30 PM
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What it Means to be Welcomed and Welcoming
Nicole Hylton-Patterson and Kelly Metzgar reveal how the Adirondacks can continue down a path toward being welcoming to all, sharing their personal experiences. |
Nicole Hylton-Patterson - Adirondack Diversity Initiative,
Kelly Metzgar - Board of Advisors, Travel Unity
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A World Shared by All: Elevating local voices and stories for co-creating inclusive travel, and belonging, and development
When we elevate local voices, including marginalized voices, frustrated voices, wise voices—to collectively learn from each other we gain perspectives and forms and traditions of knowledge that remain otherwise lost and blind to us. This enriches cultural exchanges and learning. It enriches our ability to cultivate spaces of belonging. It enriches our ability to genuinely learn from one another. All of this should be part of any meaningful diversity, equity, and inclusion curriculum for organizations – including indigenous-led tourism. It is also vital for how we are impacting local populations and communities, and our consideration of what is meant by development. Development for whom? In our session we explore systemic issues of oppression. This enables us to name, reflect, and act upon such systems so that decision making, authority, responsibility, and accountability are equally shared by design and from the start. |
Vincie Ho - RISE Travel Institute,
David Epstein-HaLevi - Adirondack Diversity Initiative
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1:30 PM
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Conference Sendoff and Invitation to our March 2022 Summit
Travel Unity Executive Director Roni Weiss wraps up the conference and invites everyone to Travel Unity’s first event outside of New York State, taking place March 2022. |
Roni Weiss - Travel Unity
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The Travel Unity Summit brought together a diverse group of leaders from tourism, media, marketing, and community organizations. These speakers shared their insights on inclusive travel, storytelling, community engagement, and the future of the tourism industry.
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