Led by Travel Unity’s CEO Roni Weiss, the regional summit serves as a collaborative, candid platform for travel industry professionals to evaluate systemic DEI efforts. The summit structures its programming around dedicated pathways, including a Leadership Conference for building comprehensive DEI plans, specialized economic development tracks, and dedicated strategic marketing panels.
The event marked Travel Unity’s first regional summit in the Southeastern U.S., focusing heavily on providing tourism professionals, economic development stakeholders, and marketers with actionable frameworks to seamlessly integrate diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion (DEAI) into their operational strategies.
“Travel Unity is a scrappy nonprofit that believes travel only can be more diverse when there is diversity in those that make up the industry—including those in the executive level. And it pushes a somewhat recalcitrant industry to walk the talk.”
Strategizing how to position diversity and inclusion not just as social goals, but as core elements of regional tourism business plans.
Shifting tourism marketing, imagery, and influencer choices away from superficial trends and toward long-term trust-building.
Ensuring multi-perspective representation within executive C-suites and creating workplace cultures where diverse teams feel safe vocalizing contrasting viewpoints.
Analyzing how different visitor backgrounds create varying levels of physical and economic access, requiring DMOs to avoid a "one-size-fits-all" mentality.
The summit was hosted in partnership with Explore Brookhaven. Brookhaven’s local tourism leadership partnered with the non-profit to model how Southeastern destinations can combine traditional regional hospitality with modern, community-first inclusivity practices. The event was held on-site at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta Perimeter at Villa Christina.
The summit was structured around multiple distinct pathways tailored to different sectors of the travel industry:
Leadership Track: Focused on executives and board members building internal and external DEI strategic plans.
Marketing & Visitor Facing Track: Dedicated to content creators, DMO marketers, and hospitality staff.
Economic Development Track: Geared toward stakeholders analyzing the financial impact of inclusive tourism.
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TIME
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TOPIC
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Morning/Afternoon:
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Pre-Summit Activities.
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Evening
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Opening Welcome Reception and Networking hosted by Explore Brookhaven at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta Perimeter.
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Wednesday, March 23, 2022
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TIME
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TOPIC
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Opening Remarks:
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Roni Weiss, Executive Director, Travel Unity.
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Keynote Session
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"Southern Hospitality in the Modern Era: A Case for Inclusive Tourism."
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Afternoon (Concurrent Track Sessions)
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Marketing Track
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Understanding the Diverse Traveler: Strategies to identify and represent underrepresented travel groups.
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Leadership Track
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C-Suite Representation: Creating safe spaces for contrasting viewpoints at the executive level.
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TIME
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TOPIC
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Morning
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General Session and Panel: Authentic vs. Performative Representation.
Discussing long-term trust-building vs. superficial trends in tourism imagery. |
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Afternoon
(Concurrent Track Sessions) |
Workforce Track
Structural Barriers to Access: How physical and economic backgrounds impact visitor experiences. |
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Workshop
"What’s Your Reaction?" Interactive empathy workshop hosted by HospitableMe. |
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Evening
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Networking Event and Cultural Presentation.
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TIME
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TOPIC
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Morning
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Workshop Conclusion: Building Your Comprehensive DEI Plan.
A hands-on final session to consolidate takeaways into an actionable blueprint for DMOs. Closing Remarks and "Next Steps" commitment ceremony. |
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11:00 AM EDT
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Summit Adjourns.
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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.
Tourism Diversity Matters
Director, Mayor’s Division of LGBTQ Affairs
Office of Mayor Andre Dickens – City of Atlanta
Miles Partnership
Director – City of Atlanta / Office of the Mayor / Film & Entertainment
The Culturist Group
Alabama Tourism Department
Louisiana Travel Association
Share More Stories + JMI
Roni 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.
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.
Malik Brown is an LGBTQ advocate and political strategist, a first-generation American, and a lifelong Atlantan. He has been featured in prestigious outlets like “CNN”, “NBC News”, and “The Hill”. His writing has been featured in national publications like “Cosmopolitan”, “them.”, and “Out Magazine.”
Appointed as the City of Atlanta’s Director of LGBTQ Affairs by Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Brown is the first full-time official in the Southeastern United States to focus on better connecting the LGBTQ community with municipal government. In this role, he advises Mayor Andre Dickens on policies, programs, and initiatives affecting the LGBTQ community. Brown is a founding member of the Mayor’s Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, and serves as a member of the Senior Leadership Team. Additionally, Brown is one of the Administration’s key advisors on human rights.
During the 2020 Presidential Race, Malik was appointed to the Biden campaign’s Out for Biden LGBTQ+ Leadership Council, a national advisory coalition of LGBTQ+ leaders committed to electing Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. During the 2021 Georgia runoff election, Brown was recruited by the historic U.S. Senate campaign of Reverend Raphael Warnock to serve as the Special Advisor on LGBTQ+ Engagement. In this role, Brown helped the campaign reach, mobilize, and energize LGBTQ+ Georgia voters.
A proud Executive Committee member of the Human Rights Campaign’s National Board of Governors, Brown brings a unique combination of political experience, LGBTQ advocacy, and HIV/AIDS education and prevention to his work. Additionally, Brown is a member of the LEAD Atlanta Class of 2022.
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.
Melissa Cherry is the Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at Miles Partnership. In this new executive role at Miles, Cherry leads the development of the organization’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) consulting practice to serve current and future clients, in addition to guiding the company’s internal DEI processes and best practices.
From 2016 to 2021, Melissa Cherry served as the Chief Operating Officer at Destinations International and was responsible for the development and execution of the overall marketing and communications, information technology, meetings and education strategies to promote and elevate the association’s mission and brand to drive awareness of its impact to advance the success of the destination marketing industry. She also led and developed the association’s first equity, diversity and inclusion strategic roadmap released in 2020.
Prior to joining Destinations International, Cherry was senior vice-president for marketing and cultural tourism at Choose Chicago leading domestic and international marketing strategies, including all efforts for brand strategy, integrated marketing, research, advertising and event marketing. Additionally, she launched the first-ever Cultural Tourism Strategy to increase visitation and awareness to Chicago’s cultural entities, events and neighborhoods. Cherry’s 25 years of experience in the industry includes prior positions at the Chicago History Museum and was responsible for implementing marketing and communications strategies, and the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board where she was responsible for promoting the cultural destinations of Los Angeles.
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.
Greg DeShields is a longtime tourism and hospitality professional. A native Philadelphian with a passion for his work, Greg is dedicated to giving back to the next generation of hospitality leaders. He is a qualified tourism/hospitality and academic professional, a Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE) proficient in developing and implementing plans, strategies, and initiatives specifically designed to raise destinations image for diverse, multicultural travel.
Greg is a Certified Diversity Executive (CDE) with demonstrated cultural competence, prepared to strategically position an organization to remove systemic barriers to inclusion, lead culture change, and transform brands.
Greg is a graduate of Johnson & Wales University, Providence, Rhode Island, with an A.S. Degree in Hotel & Restaurant Management; and B.S. Degree in Hospitality Management. Professional Development Leadership Graduate.
Greg is the recipient of the 2021 Event Industry Council: Social Impact Award”, 2020 Skål USA Chapter of the Year, 2020 Philadelphia Tribune Most Influential African American Leaders, 2020 Meetings Today Trendsetter (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Education), 2020 Funtime Magazine, and the Philadelphia Icon Award.
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.
Danny Guerrero brings 20 years of leadership in the travel, tourism, and hospitality industry to MMGY Global. His perspectives on travel and tourism strategies, global experience and his business acumen are derived from his deep experience with a variety of travel verticals in marketing, agency, and in-house roles.
Danny is a passionate, and committed travel industry veteran, having led teams in North America offices for three different MMGY Global brands from his post in Los Angeles where he serves as that office’s General Manager. Danny has led integrated campaigns to reach the North American traveler for clients on nearly every continent, has crafted positioning strategies for luxury hotels throughout the Americas, and has developed distribution and travel trade platforms for international destinations, worldwide. His assignments include work for Tourism Australia, Visit California, Viceroy Hotel Group, Fiji Airways, Turismo Chile, The Travel Corporation, Visit West Hollywood, and the Los Cabos Tourism Board, among others.
A recipient of the ‘Outstanding Contribution Award’ by the World Travel and Tourism Council for his work advancing diversity and equity in the industry in 2021, and the Chairman’s Award granted by the National Association of Black Meeting Professionals for leading MMGY Global’s contributions to the Black meetings industry in 2020, Danny is dedicated to advocating for underrepresented travelers and promoting travel as a career path for diverse youth. Danny serves as the agency’s Co-Chair for Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (DEI) Council, the California Travel and Tourism Association’s DEI Task Force and Destinations International’s EDI Committee.
A proud first-generation Mexican-American, and native of San Diego, California, Danny lives with his husband and their dog in LA. He is a graduate of the University of California at Riverside where he studied Political Science and Marketing with a focus on International Trade.
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.
Courtney joined the Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau as the Executive Director in August 2019. She brought a collaborative and data-driven approach to her position and fully immersed herself in discovering and sharing all Albemarle County and Charlottesville have to offer visitors. She is looking forward to shifting perceptions about her destination to one centered as one of the most inclusive, innovative and experiential destinations in the country. Prior to coming to the CACVB, Courtney served as the Executive Director of Discover Bristol TN/VA and the Marketing Director for the Arlington Virginia Convention and Visitors Service. She is a frequent guest lecturer at The George Washington University, where she earned her Master’s in Tourism Administration in 2010 and was recognized by Beta Gamma Sigma for her academic achievements.
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.
Renée Areng leads Brookhaven as the inaugural Executive Director for the Brookhaven Convention and Visitors Bureau, now Explore Brookhaven since 2018.
Previously, Areng served with three destination marketing organizations: most recently Visit Mississippi Gulf Coast. Throughout her leadership, Areng increased all metrics including visitation and overall revenue for non-gaming hotels. Additionally, she unified all messaging in marketing and sales increasing all digital and social metrics.
Most recently, Areng consulted with Destination Organizations on strategic planning, accreditation, streamlining databases and increasing visitation. Clients include Visit South Walton, Louisiana’s Northshore, Tupelo CVB, Visit Mobile, Jeff Davis Chamber and CVB, Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou and Pat Harrison Waterway District. Prior to joining the Mississippi Gulf Coast, she served as Executive Vice President for Visit Baton Rouge, and she served in statewide and national political arenas.
Areng is a cum laude graduate of University of Louisiana with a BA in Public Administration and French. She earned her Certified Destination Marketing Executive (CDME) designation from Destinations International in 2007 and served on the CDME review committee in 2018. She has led five organizations through six accreditations through Destinations International’s DMAP program.
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.
Melissa Legaux, CMP is an enthusiastic sales professional with over 10 years of sales experience within the Atlanta, Georgia hospitality industry. While serving as the Director of Tradeshow Sales at Cobb Travel & Tourism, Melissa welcomes every opportunity to showcase and assist clients in hosting meetings and conventions in Cobb County, “Atlanta’s Sweet Spot”. Melissa has a solid record of accomplishment and career progression while maintaining a reputation for excellence. Her customer service-oriented focus leads to building strong business relationships while serving as a liaison between clients and local hospitality industry stakeholders. She possesses a Bachelor of Science Degree from Lester E. Kabacoff School of Hotel, Restaurant & Tourism Administration with a Concentration in Meeting & Convention Management at the University of New Orleans, “GEAUX Saints”! In 2014, Melissa received her Certified Meeting Professional designation and was a proud recipient of Collinson Media & Events Collaborate Magazine “40 Under 40” Industry Leader Award. Melissa eagerly embraces every opportunity to expand her knowledge and skillset within her professional career. However, she is equally passionate to be of service within the community through volunteer endeavors. She actively engages in opportunities to serve on industry panel speaking engagements, conduct presentations at local hospitality educational programs, and support local nonprofit organizations by raising funding and awareness throughout the community. Recently, her efforts are focused within a leadership capacity while serving on Meeting Professionals International – Georgia Chapter Board of Directors. Her board service over the past five years has led to her current role as President Elect. She’s honored to welcome the opportunity to serve as the first African American female representee within this capacity. Currently, she oversees the chapter’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion task force which is paving the way to welcome the organization’s first DEI board position. This role is essential to ensuring our members voices are heard, honored, welcomed, and most importantly, inclusive within the fabric of our chapter’s operations. Melissa is an advocate of stepping outside of the box to push the pendulum forward and pave the way for future leaders ahead.
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.
Honorably discharged from the United States.Army following 12 years of service, Chiriga Moore, affectionately known as Zoe (pronounced ZOH) completed an M.S. in Hospitality, Recreation and Tourism and then started an event planning company in Oakland, CA.
Learning that Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) were not prioritized in the meetings, events and tourism industry, she became an advocate to help spark dialogue and action in the areas of supplier diversity, organizational culture and diverse representation in leadership.
Initially, spearheading the formation of an Inclusion & Diversity committee with MPI’s Northern California Chapter, she decided to become a Certified Diversity Professional (CDP)® to deepen her knowledge and place the focus on equity as a strategy. Having dissolved her company, LB Alliance due to COVID-19, she became the co-founder of Moore Consulting Agency LLC along with her son Jourden Moore. Doing business as Grow with Zomo she is supporting hospitality organizations with the development of their Equity, Diversity and Inclusion strategies from Insight to Implementation.
As an independent Hospitality EDI Strategic Consultant, she engages leaders of organizations through her speaking, writing, educational courses and consulting.
The outgoing co-chair for MPIs 2021 Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Advisory Committee, Zoe is committed to holding industry leaders accountable to their expressed commitment to effective change.
Zoe is a contributing writer to The Meeting Professional, Meetings Today, and her personal blog Unsolicited Advice. She resides in Marietta, GA with her 17 year old son, Jourden Moore of JEM Innovations. She loves homemade chocolate chip cookies, photography, and travelling.
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.
James Warren is a storyteller and a strategist, passionate about the intersections of human and digital, and brands, culture and communities. James is the Vice President of Brand Strategy at JMI, a brand strategy and consulting firm uniquely focused on brand community engagement. He is also the Founder and CEO of Share More Stories, a human experience research company that delivers deeper human insights and solutions through storytelling and machine learning, to help brands and organizations create more value for and with their constituents.
For nearly 25 years, James has used his unique blend of marketing, storytelling, strategic planning, organizational development and innovation experiences to help companies form lasting connections with their employees, consumers and communities. Over the last several years, James and his team have led groundbreaking studies focused on the travel experiences of historically excluded and underrepresented consumer groups, helping clients at the state and local level develop more authentic engagement and improve the visitation experience.
A sought-after advisor, facilitator, contributor and convener, James serves on the BridgePark Foundation’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee as Chair-Elect; the YMCA of Greater Richmond’s Board of Directors, Executive Committee, and Mission, Equity and Inclusion Committee; and The Dwight School Foundation’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion Board. James studied economics and literature at Princeton University and creative writing at Columbia University, and also writes for Richmond magazine on family, community, and lifestyle. Originally from New York City, James and his family now call Richmond, Virginia home.
Lindsay Fruchtl has served as the VP of Marketing for Destination Augusta for six years. In this role she directs all marketing and communications, public relations, and advertising services for the organization and the destination. Prior to joining the Destination Augusta team, Lindsay served as the Senior Marketing Manager with the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce and Visitor &
Convention Bureau (VCB) in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. From 2009- 2013, Lindsay served as the Marketing Director for Visit Tybee on Tybee Island, Georgia. Lindsay has her Travel Marketing Professional (TMP) certification from the Southeast Tourism Society. She is a graduate of Leadership Augusta and serves on the Board of Directors for the Georgia Association of Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Classic South Travel Association, and Girls Scouts of Historic Georgia. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications from Brenau University in Gainesville, Georgia. Lindsay is married to her husband Jason, and they have one son, Zachary, age 10. Personal tidbits about Lindsay Fruchtl: Growing up Lindsay was a competitive dancer specializing in jazz, modern, and lyrical dance styles, and minored in dance in college. Lindsay doesn’t like wooden popsicle sticks, tongue depressors or toothpicks. They’re like nails across a chalkboard and give her goosebumps. She enjoys hiking with her family, watching documentaries and anything on BBC, reading biographies and listening to true crime podcasts.
Originally from Utah, Dustin has a unique background in design, experimental animation, and illustration, which shapes his unique style and approach. After finishing grad school at CalArts with a Student Academy Nomination for his thesis animation film, he became an animator on the “South Park” Movie. After working for a few smaller agencies, he decided to go on his own.
His creative agency’s foundation was built on branding and designing websites for everything from lounges to large-scale events to entertainment industry websites. They created DVD release websites for Warner Bros. titles including “Mama’s Family”, “The Closer”, and “Dennis the Menace”, and movies such as “Undisputed”, “The Duchess” and “Into the Wild”, which got a Webby mention for use of photography. Recent entertainment work includes Academy Award digital campaigns and B2B creative banner campaigns for Showtime and Smithsonian Channel.
Now based in New Orleans, Dustin’s focus in the travel space has garnered clients including Condor Airlines, Visit Salt Lake, and Visit Sacramento. For over seven years, he has led New Orleans & Company’s efforts to promote inclusive travel for the city.
Recent acknowledgments include the American Advertising Federation’s District Best of Show Broadcast for their video series “One Time in New Orleans With Varla Jean Merman”, and the Louisiana Travel Association’s Tourism Campaign of the Year for their World Pride activations. Dustin also speaks on inclusive marketing for travel conferences including the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association, eTourism Summit, International Pow Wow, and others.
Alabama’s Lee Sentell is the nation’s longest serving state tourism director, now in his 20th year. In 2004 he launched the Alabama Civil Rights Trail, the first in the country. After tasking a major university to inventory civil rights landmarks open to the public, he founded the U.S. Civil Rights Trail in 2018 with his fellow Southern tourism directors. The trail features more than 130 landmarks across 15 states and Washington, D.C. His department and the Luckie & Company advertising agency received the International Travel & Tourism Award in London for best regional destination marketing.
Previously, Sentell was director of marketing at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and Space Camp in Huntsville, Ala., then served as Huntsville tourism director. He is past chair of Travel South USA, the nation’s largest regional tourism marketing agency.
He launched his book, The Official U. S. Civil Rights Trail: What Happened Here Changed the World in 2021. The book takes a journey through school integration, protest marches, freedom rides and sit-ins throughout the South.
Sentell is a native of Ashland, Ala., and a journalism graduate of Auburn University which will present him with the Horst Schulze Excellence in Hospitality Award on April 21.
Laura Luker is a graduate of the University of Georgia with a degree in Public Relations. Laura has led the award-winning Henry County Convention and Visitors Bureau, now Visit Henry County, GA, as the Director of Tourism since 2008. Prior to joining Visit Henry County, GA, Laura gained valuable event planning and marketing experience working with Macon’s International Cherry Blossom Festival and as the Marketing Director for an environmental consulting company. Laura is passionate about creative storytelling and uses that passion to help share Henry County’s story with visitors.
ily Pabian joined We Love Buford Highway in 2019 as the agency’s executive director, bringing her over 30 years of experiences within B2B, B2C, consultancy, and nonprofit industries. “Collaboration, connection, and communication are my optics for development,” says Pabian. “And fostering relationships is at the core of how we will continue to deliver our mission. I look forward to building many within this community.”
When asked why she loves the Buford Highway corridor, her answer is grassroots, “because it was our family’s first home.” Pabian was a resident in an apartment complex right off the highway. “Buford Highway was my family’s first home in Atlanta. It’s where I learned to speak English and where I had my first taste of foods and knowledge of other cultures,” says Pabian. “As a 5-year-old Chinese-American kindergartner in the late ‘70s, all I wanted was to blend in, to do the impossible. Friendships that I made with other first-generation immigrants were special times, where I found solace, laughter, and simply to feel like a kid.”
A graduate of Georgia State University with a background in print journalism, and cultural anthropology, Pabian has a passion for all things related to mass comms and advocacy. She believes that people connect with one another through societal commonalities as identity, culture, and custom. These are the internal gut checks that drive referral, loyalty, and momentum.
Buford Highway remains a mainstay for Pabian and her family. “I’ve lived all over Atlanta, but my roots are here. I get a visceral sense of belonging everywhere I dine or shop. Buford Highway is thriving and constantly changing. People need to know about it, and I have a strong sense to both protect it and educate about how unique, vibrant, and sacred this place truly is.”
An Atlanta native, wife, and mother of three rising young adults, Pabian served as a member of Fulton County’s School Governance Council, and was a recipient of GADOE’s Parent Leadership Award. In 2021, Pabian was recognized as Georgia Asian Times’ 25 Most Influential Asian Americans and an honoree for the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award.
BIlly Kolber is a renowned voice in the LGBTQ+ travel segment, and a global innovator in inclusive hospitality. As the Co-Founder and CEO of HospitableMe, he and his team provide inclusive hospitality strategy and training for tourism, retail and healthcare organizations around the world, helping them provide a more respectful and inclusive welcome to diverse customers, patients and guests. Their clients include some of the world’s most respected and powerful brands, including Booking.com, NYC & Company, The Kering Group, Discover Puerto Rico, The Travel Corporation, Bottega Veneta, AIG Travel, and Costa Navarino.
Billy has a degree in Biology from Yale University, but has spent his entire career in travel, running an American Express travel agency before launching OUT&ABOUT, the first gay and lesbian travel magazine in the USA. He launched ManAboutWorld Magazine in 2012, one of the first built-for-mobile magazines of any kind, and HospitableMe in 2017. Currently, he and the HospitableMe team are launching a new curriculum: Everyone Welcome: Seven Secret Principles of Inclusive Hospitality. This innovative approach to diversity, inclusion, equity, accessibility and belonging empowers hospitality providers to provide more personalized, authentic and considerate service to all guests, through the lens of 15 different forms of diversity/identity.
Billy traveled and sang around the world with the Yale Whiffenpoofs, was a top selling Avon Representative for a decade (including 4 years as #1 in Avon’s Manhattan headquarters district), and is a two-time annual Pie Contest champion in Water Island. He served on the board of Yale. NYC for seven years, plus four years on the Yale Alumni Board of Governors, and is the only two-time recipient of a Yale Alumni Leadership Award. A 3rd generation native New Yorker, he has visited 76 countries, and currently lives with his husband in Frankfurt, Germany.
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