The 2023 Travel Unity Caribbean Summit was a sold-out event that welcomed more than 50 attendees from many different parts of the world, providing a space for like-minded travel companies to network, absorb actionable ideas, and learn how to implement DEI frameworks and certifications within their own organizations.
Bringing together travel professionals to learn about and from inclusive tourism practices across the Caribbean, with a strong emphasis on community impact, authenticity, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) applications.
“Part of our goal in Travel Unity is to connect leaders in the travel industry who are committed to applied DEI with relevant community stakeholders. By coming together, they can collaborate to make sure that all voices are heard and all faces are seen.”
Focus: Focused on tourism-related community impact in the Caribbean.
Key Topic: Roni Weiss, Executive Director of Travel Unity, and Greg Takehara, CEO of Tourism Cares, co-lead an intimate roundtable covering topics around how the tourism industry in the Caribbean can deepen positive engagement with local communities through community tourism, workforce development, increased local access to tourism products, and more.
Key Contributors: Roni Weiss (Travel Unity), Greg Takehara (Tourism Cares), Claire Dunlap (Tour Cayuga), Carmen Portela (Friends of El Yunque), Mili Maldonado Agusty (Universidad del Sagrado Corazón), Spyridon Kagkas (This is Athens), Harry Alvarez (Offbeat Travel), Jasmine Causey (ASTA), Meg Ten Eyck (EveryQueer), Milka Rodriguez (Globetrotting Dominicana), Laura Ortiz (Sofrito Tours), Joann Diaz (Discover Puerto Rico), Michael Lo Presti (Vamonos Tours)
Focus: Session 1: Case Study: Discover Puerto Rico’s “Live Boricua” Campaign
Key Topic: Representatives from Discover Puerto Rico share the process of creating a campaign focused on authentic depictions of local culture, including how DEI informed the approach.
Key Contributors: Adriana Rivera (Discover Puerto Rico), José E. Arana (Discover Puerto Rico), Glorianna Yamin (Discover Puerto Rico)
Focus: Session 2: Visit Greater Palm Springs DEI Review
Key Topic: Visit Greater Palm Springs is the recipient of the 2023 CalTravel Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Champion Award. Todd Burke of Visit Greater Palm Springs and Kimber Foster of Visit Palm Springs will share the strategy that goes into their applied DEI efforts.
Key Contributors: Todd Burke (Visit Greater Palm Springs), Kimber Foster (Visit Greater Palm Springs)
Focus: Session 3: Inclusive Caribbean Tours: How to Welcome Everyone
Key Topic: Harry Alvarez (Offbeat Travel), Melina Aguilar Colón (Isla Caribe), and Laura Ortiz-Villamil (Sofrito Tours) share their approaches to making sure that people of all backgrounds and abilities can have welcoming and fulfilling experiences on their tours.
Key Contributors: Matt Skallerud (Pink Media), Harry Alvarez (Offbeat Travel), Melina Aguilar Colón (Isla Caribe), Laura Ortiz-Villamil, (Sofrito Tours)
Focus: Session 4: Applied DEI Workshop
Key Topic: Learn about concepts and applications around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), explore concepts around identity and bias, and hear more about how organizations can strategize DEI efforts.
Key Contributor: Vandana Agrawal (Travel Unity)
Discover Puerto Rico served as a central focal point for the destination case study. Their representatives emphasized cultivating “cultural sustainability”—educating visitors on local traditions and cultures, making sure local individuals are inclusively reflected, and ensuring travelers leave the destination better than they found it by treating them like family.
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.
Travel Unity
Tourism Cares
Discover Puerto Rico
Discover Puerto Rico
Discover Puerto Rico
Visit Greater Palm Springs
Visit Greater Palm Springs
Pink Media
Offbeat Travel
Isla Caribe
Sofrito Tours
Travel Unity
oni Weiss is the Executive Director of Travel Unity, a 501(c)(3) focused on increasing diversity in the world of travel through individual and community empowerment.
Through years of world travels, Roni visited 70+ countries, including every country in Europe, six of seven continents, and taught English in Italy, France, Taiwan, and Chile, both to youth and professionals.
He lives in Westchester County, NY with his partner, Lauren, and their four children.
Greg joined Tourism Cares as its CEO, effective May 1, 2019. He served as a Board Member since 2012; acted as its Vice Chair in 2017 – 2018 and its Chairman from December 2018 through April 2019. Greg was previously the President of Trip Mate, Inc., a travel insurance administrator and service provider. He acted in that role from January 1, 2018 through April 2019, after joining the company in November 2014 in a senior management capacity. He was previously in senior management at Aon Affinity/Berkely Travel from 1995 to 2014, specifically responsible for all claims related operations and risk management education for its Travel Agents Professional Liability program. Prior to joining Aon/Berkely, Greg served as General Counsel for The Mark Travel Corporation, a tour operator in Milwaukee, WI.
Greg was on the Board of NTA from 2009 – 2011 and the Board of the IGLTA Foundation from 2015 – 2016. He has also served on SYTA’s Safety Committee and USTOA’s Associate Member Advisory Committee. He maintains his law license in the State of Wisconsin and is a licensed Adjuster, as well as a Life, Accident & Health Agent and Property & Casualty Producer. He is from Chicago, IL and has a Bachelor of Arts Honors degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and a Juris Doctor degree from Washington University in St. Louis.
Todd Burke is the Vice President of Communications at Visit Greater Palm Springs and is an accomplished corporate communications executive with more than 25 years of experience directing public relations for some of the largest companies and brands in the world. He most recently served as the California Communications Director for Tenet Healthcare where he led the media relations and communications efforts across Tenet’s 13 California hospitals.
Burke spent the majority of his career in leadership positions for well-known airlines such as TWA and American, as well as serving as Vice President of Corporate Communications for JetBlue. He took an interesting detour from his airline career when he was recruited to be the Vice President of Corporate Communications for Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen in Atlanta. He still “loves that chicken” from Popeyes.
Prior to moving to the Coachella Valley, Burke lived in Washington, D.C., and served as Senior Vice President of Communications for Airlines for America, the trade association that represents passenger and cargo airlines in the United States. According to Burke, “Once an aviation enthusiast, always an aviation enthusiast,” and this enthusiasm led him to the Palm Springs International Airport, where he currently serves as a Commissioner.
Burke and his partner, along with their corgi, Oliver, are proud to call Greater Palm Springs their forever home.
Kimber Foster, CTE is the Director of Tourism for Visit Greater Palm Springs, where she is responsible for brand strategy, campaign development and media relations. A native Texan, Kimber has spent the last two years amplifying Palm Springs’ all-inclusive brand through the award-winning “How do you Palm Springs?” campaign which features a diverse group of talent of all ages, ethnicities, skin tones, hair textures, sizes, genders, and gender identities.
With 20+ years of branding, marketing and communications experience, Kimber’s love of travel, tourism and community manifested her first job in the destination marketing organization world at Visit El Paso in 2011, followed by the Grapevine, Texas Convention & Visitors Bureau where she developed nationally recognized marketing and public relations campaigns.
In her spare time, Kimber enjoys spending time with her Schnoodle, Ludivine; watching French films; staying in boutique hotels; vintage shopping; and serving as a certified wine ambassador for South Australia’s Barossa Valley.
Matt Skallerud is the President of Pink Media and specializes in LGBTQ+ online marketing, targeting gays & lesbians via content marketing, social media, programmatic ad banners, mobile smartphone apps and more. He also specializes in search engine optimization (SEO), key word / search advertising (PPC) and social media analytics. He’s been in the LGBTQ+ online industry for over 20 years now.
Matt Skallerud began his online career in May 1995 with the launch of GayWired.com, which became one of the top 3 LGBTQ websites worldwide. Having worked with companies, large and small, for more than 20 years to reach the LGBTQ+ online consumer through this site and others, he is now focused on the most cutting-edge global innovations in programmatic ad buying, social networking and Web 2.0 technologies. He empowers his clients to reach the LGBTQ market using the most advanced techniques taking hold in the online marketing world today, including Real-Time Ad Bidding (RTB), Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google Plus, YouTube, blogs and others.
In addition, Skallerud is the former Board Chairman of the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) and has served on the boards Travel Gay Canada (TGC) and the LAGLCC. He is actively involved with key national LGBTQ+ organizations including the NGLCC, Out Professionals and Lambda Legal, just to name a few.
Harry was born in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York and, at the tender age of 6 months, journeyed to his family’s ancestral home in the heart of the Dominican Republic. This early cross-cultural immersion ignited a lifelong connection between these two worlds. With one foot in the Caribbean and the other in the United States, Harry’s identity is interwoven with the cultural tapestry of both nations. With over a decade of experience in the travel industry across the Caribbean and Central America, Harry has cultivated a deep understanding of the region’s unique nuances, its people, and its diverse landscapes.
Having spearheaded and managed transformative programs in Costa Rica, Panama, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba, Harry brings a wealth of expertise to the table. He divides his time between the dynamic cities of Santo Domingo, Havana, and New Orleans. Beyond orchestrating enriching travel experiences, Harry is an avid cook and gardener, often found sharing culinary adventures and nurturing his garden alongside his partner Lauren and their two sons.
In 2023, Harry proudly joined the board of Travel Unity, a poignant milestone that aligns with his unwavering commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). As a person of color navigating the travel industry, these principles are not just professional but deeply personal, guiding his every step as he advocates for equitable and meaningful travel experiences for all.
Melina N. Aguilar Colón is a dynamic individual with a diverse background. Born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in Ponce, Puerto Rico, she holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and Political Science from the Graduate Institute of Geneva and a BA from Wesleyan University. She is an entrepreneur, storyteller, experience designer, and the founder of Isla Caribe, a company focused on sharing Puerto Rico’s history and culture through tours, storytelling, and creative content. Isla Caribe is certified by the Puerto Rico Tourism Company and has received awards for its contributions to arts, culture, and eco-tourism.
Melina is also a certified tour guide, winning accolades as the second-best tour guide globally in 2020. With extensive international experience, including a Fulbright Scholarship in Indonesia and work in various countries, she’s multilingual and passionate about travel, literature, and history. Melina currently hosts the Isla Caribe Podcast and is working on online projects to connect Puerto Ricans with their heritage.
Laura Ortiz-Villamil owns and operates Sofrito Tours. Her company offers one-of-a-kind experiences to tourists visiting Puerto Rico. Sofrito Tours’ goal is to educate tourists about the history and culture of Puerto Rico involving local communities.
With over 8 years of experience in the tourism industry as a tour guide, she holds a BA in Tourism from the University of Puerto Rico, a Master’s Degree in History of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, and currently is seeking to deepen her knowledge as a doctoral student in the same field.
Vandana Agrawal is a growth consultant, specializing in DEI, International Business, and Marketing projects. Creating solutions that improve business outcomes and employee engagement, Vandana’s work focuses on prioritizing strategic goals while balancing operational realities, transforming teams to scale, and addressing complex issues with communication, teamwork, and planning.
Vandana is the former Vice President, International at Highlights for Children, where she also launched the company’s DEI Council, guiding new employee education, recruitment, and marketing review initiatives. Under her leadership, Highlights International went from emerging to established growth, through infrastructure improvements, marketing campaigns and the introduction of a reading edtech platform. Vandana worked with partners in more than 40 countries, with particular experience in Asia, Middle East and Europe.
Vandana lives in Columbus, Ohio where she is a Senior Lecturer in Marketing at The Ohio State University Fisher School of Business. She also was a broadcast journalist, writing and producing for news outlets such as CNN and Fox News in New York. Vandana has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Arts from the University of Missouri and a Master of Business Administration from The Ohio State University.
In 2011, Omar Evans decided to take the plunge and join his mother in her Educational Travel business.
Omar’s driving force is inspiring others to carry out the same legacy – the gift of giving and thanksgiving.
Today, if you happen to call or visit the business and you hear “Hey Mom” it might just be coming from Omar.
This dynamic mother-son team has taken an unconventional path to ownership of their small business. With Maureen’s experience and Omar’s youth both have flourished in the summer service adventure and educational travel market. Now with their natural ability to connect with their customers, they are ready to go further and expand in the Caribbean.
Maureen is a passionate advocate for transformative youth experiences and an accomplished entrepreneur in international education. She’s the visionary behind Jamaica Volunteer Programs and a co-founder of Global Service Adventures, crafting immersive service-learning and educational tour opportunities for students. Armed with a teaching background, Maureen’s dedication to student development spurred her entrepreneurial journey, leading to the ownership of multiple businesses. Her programs are carefully designed to push students out of their comfort zones and provide firsthand insights into different cultures and life abroad.
Today, her legacy thrives through her son, Omar, co-founder of Global Service Adventures. Maureen is wholeheartedly dedicated to collaborating with you and your loved ones, offering transformative experiences that expand horizons and ignite personal growth.
Follow her on LinkedIn.
Brian is a veteran travel journalist, media and content consultant, and award-winning writer and photographer with over 20 years of experience in the travel industry. He is the Managing Editor of Digital Guides and Publications/Caribbean for TravelPulse.com, a leading travel website and trade publication.
Brian has extensive expertise in all aspects of travel journalism, including writing, editing, photography, and videography. He is also a highly sought-after speaker and panelist at industry events.
Brian’s work has appeared in top travel publications around the world, including Afar, Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, and USA Today. He has also won numerous awards for his work, including the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Inner Circle King Award and the Jamaica Tourist Board’s Martha Vickery-Wallace Memorial Award for Excellence in Travel Journalism.
Jessica is a widely-published travel and food content creator. She’s the founder of The Dining Traveler, and the author of the coffee table book, The Dining Traveler Guide to Puerto Rico. Her writing and photography have been featured in publications such as AFAR, Business Insider, Travel and Leisure, among others.
She was raised in Puerto Rico and began traveling as a young Marine twenty-five years ago. From serving as a translator in the Senegalese countryside to interviewing chefs in Peru, she loves learning about cultures, food, and people. She has traveled to over sixty countries and lived in six.
Follow her on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube – @DiningTraveler.
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