Brand USA event to shine spotlight on black-owned businesses
Brand USA’s four-day virtual event Travel Week Europe 2020 takes place this week, with a session on how the travel trade can work more closely with black-owned businesses, one of the key features.
The event kicks off today, linking over 150 buyers from across Europe with 115 US exhibitors.
Brand USA President and CEO Christopher L. Thompson and Marriott International President and CEO Arne Sorenson will deliver the keynote speech, talking about the challenges the tourism industry is facing and opportunities the coming months and years may bring.
On day four, Thursday, October 29, Stephanie Jones, National Blacks in Travel and Tourism Collaborative founder & CEO, Cheraé Robinson, Tastemakers Africa founder & CEO, and Al Hutchinson, Visit Baltimore president & CEO will look at how travel companies are beginning to make commitments to support black employees and black-owned businesses and share specific examples of how the travel trade can more effectively engage with black-owned businesses.
The Supporting Black-Owned Travel Businesses session will explore what this looks like in practice; how companies in Europe and the US can make real change in their purchasing and supply chains, and put impactful actions behind their pledges.
Thompson said: "After the unprecedented challenges that 2020 has brought, Brand USA Travel Week Europe 2020 provides a welcome opportunity to foster meaningful business relationships, develop innovative tourism products, and critical connections.
"Together, we’re building the future of US tourism."
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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