Multicultural Travel News

One of St. Lucia's popular and classy plantation resorts is putting its efforts into attracting the burgeoning African American market. “St. Lucia must continue to diversify and tailor its marketing efforts, by targeting communities of color, especially those who have a voracious appetite for all things Caribbean,” said Eroline Lamontagne, managing director of Soufriere's Fond Doux Holiday Plantation. “We are serious about this and would like to see our tourism marketers do more to attract Black and Caribbean travelers of means to our shores,” said Lamontagne. In June, Fond Doux supported the Associate Member Task Force of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) during the organization's 37th Annual Convention and Career Fair in New Orleans. The Task Force is for freelance and part-time journalists, journalism educators, public relations practitioners, as well as other media-related professionals of NABJ. The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) is an organization of journalists, students and media-related professionals that provides high quality programs and services to, and advocates on behalf of, black journalists worldwide. Earlier this year, Fond Doux sponsored St. Lucia's 33rd Anniversary of Independence Gala in Brooklyn, New York, joining the Saint Lucia Foundation, St. Lucians in New York, the government and the private sector to celebrate the milestone. Visit www.fonddouxestate.com.

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Greater Fort Lauderdale held their 95th annual national championships of the American Tennis Association (ATA), America’s oldest African American sports organization on July 29 – August 4 at Jimmy Evert Tennis Center in Holiday Park and the Tennis Club of Fort Lauderdale. Having the ATA tournament in Fort Lauderdale is an example of the efforts made by the Multicultural Business Development of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau (GFLCVB).  The CVB is setting its sights on becoming the destination of choice for major African American and organizations of color (such as the ATA, Black Tennis Hall of Fame and 100 Black Men of America) to build its headquarters and host their annual conferences which bring together thousands annually from national and global networks. Fort Lauderdale city made the debut of the redevelopment of historic Sistrunk Boulevard, a historic African American community which honors one of Fort Lauderdale’s first black pioneer doctors. The redevelopment of Sistrunk Boulevard celebrates the 10-decade-long history of the black community in Fort Lauderdale and the accomplishments and important contributions to the city. Greater Fort Lauderdale currently leads the nation in attracting Black residents and organizations in large part because of the influx of Caribbean immigrants from Jamaica, Haiti and Trinidad – one of the largest Caribbean communities in the nation with more than 500,000 residents. Visit http://www.sunny.org/visitors/events/.
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The island of Barbados will host the 8th Annual African Diaspora Heritage Trail Conference (ADHT) on September 17-19th to bring renewed focus to the rich histories of the African Diaspora. This event will unite Government leaders, officials, educators and travel/tourism professionals spanning across the globe, creating a deeper understanding of the world’s global ties as well as highlighting the island’s unique, cultural roots in the Transatlantic Slave Trade. This year’s conference, coordinated by the Barbados Ministry of Tourism, features the theme “Our Heritage, Our Identity: Uncover, Recover, Discover” and will focus on the development of one unified cross-border cultural heritage initiative to conserve the essence of African descent across global borders. Participants will have the opportunity to experience the Barbados Slave Route Heritage Trail - Freedom Footprints: The Barbados Story, which illustrates Barbados’ commitment to preserving the rich histories and heritage of the African Diaspora. The event, which will be held at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, is endorsed by the United Nations Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). The island of Barbados offers an authentic Caribbean experience with its exceptionally rich culture and history rooted in remarkable landscapes. For more information on the event, visit www.adhtbarbados.com. For more information on traveling to Barbados visit www.visitbarbados.org.

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Lincoln Center Out of Doors, from July 25 to August 12, features 100 free performances across the plazas of Lincoln Center in New York. Eighteen premieres and debuts highlights the three weeks of this latest edition of one of the country’s longest-running, free, outdoor festivals. Influential African American artists and their legacies are celebrated with a number of concerts, starting with opening night, featuring Nile Rodgers and the CHIC Organization, and concluding on the final Sunday of Out of Doors with an all-star gathering for soul-jazz pioneer, social activist and self-proclaimed “bluesologist” Gil Scott-Heron who died in 2011. Other performances include Valerie Simpson and friends paying tribute to Nick Ashford, Gospel and Soul king, Otis Clay and The Platinum Band, R&B singer, Lenny Williams and Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls All Stars Band, a multigenerational group celebrating Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Nina Simone and other great female musicians of color. Visit LCOutofDoors.org.  Read more >>

Southwest Airlines announces its third annual, award-winning Diversity Summit held on August 2 in Dallas at the airline's headquarters. Themed "LUVing Employees, LUVing Communities," the summit will gather executives from North Texas Fortune 500 companies to join the conversation about Diversity and Inclusion initiatives, foster new opportunities, and explore best practices. "Southwest is proud to host our third annual Diversity Summit to help increase awareness and show appreciation of cultural and lifestyle differences within the workforce," said Ellen Torbert, Southwest Airlines Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion.  "At Southwest, we pride ourselves on giving our Employees the Freedom to be themselves. Attendees will hear from Diversity experts on topics such as dispelling misperceptions and stereotypes and learning best practices around fostering diversity and mutual understanding in the workplace.  Additionally, Colleen Barrett, Southwest Airlines President Emeritus, will discuss how Southwest's Corporate Culture was built on the tenet that Employees should always treat each other with respect and dignity. The Southwest Airlines Diversity and Inclusion Summit was created and is hosted by the airline's Diversity Council. Visit www.southwest.com.  Read more >>

Visit Oakland is pleased to announce the launch of its first advertising campaign for tourism to Oakland. Well-known local representatives such as Tim Westergren, founder of Pandora, Goapele, soul/R&B artist, and James Syhabout, Michelin Star chef, participated in the campaign, highlighting their favorite activities, restaurants, neighborhoods and things to do while in Oakland. The representatives come from all different backgrounds and diversities, including Japanese, African American, and Thai. "This is an important time to advertise what Oakland has to offer, as the city was just named the top five destination to visit in the world in 2012 by The New York Times," said Sima Patel, Chair of the Board for Visit Oakland. "It's a great opportunity to talk about the positive changes and revitalization of the city, and there’s no better way to learn about this than from locals who know it best." The intention of the campaign is to provide an overarching identity for outgoing tour and travel communications, which will be implemented across a variety of media including print, online, video, radio and direct marketing initiatives. The slogan, “Oakland. To Know it is to Love it,” captures the pride that locals have for the city and the importance of getting to know Oakland beyond its misconceptions. The campaign is focused on four initiatives: Arts & Culture, Music & Entertainment, Food & Nightlife, and Meetings & Groups, four significant audiences for travel to the city. Visitors can plan their trips to Oakland based on the insider itineraries from these local representatives, found on the campaign micro site. The site also includes discounted hotel and meeting promotions. The campaign is behaviorally targeting those interested in the arts, culture, entertainment and culinary offerings of Oakland, focusing heavily on the cultural festivals happening this summer. It aims to reach a diverse audience interested in Oakland’s cultural attractions. The Oakland Convention & Visitors Bureau is a non-profit organization marketing the City of Oakland as a travel destination under the brand name Visit Oakland. For more information, please visit oaklandloveit.org.  Read more >>

Visitors can experience the lives and achievements of African Americans with courage and perseverance at three of Baltimore’s most favored cultural museums with The Legends and Legacies Experience Pass. Passes are valid for three consecutive days and provide access to The National Great Blacks In Wax Museum (http://www.greatblacksinwax.org), The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture (http://www.africanamericanculture.org) and The Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park http://www.douglassmyers.org). The National Great Blacks In Wax Museum is the first wax museum to celebrate African American history in the nation including more than 100 wax figures and scenes, a full-sized model slave ship, and an exhibit on the role of youth in making history. Visitors can pose for photos with figures of some of the nation’s most famous African Americans including President Barack Obama, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Harriet Tubman and Jackie Robinson. The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture is dedicated to sharing the stories of African American Marylanders who made an impact on American history, art and culture. The Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park is a national heritage site that explores African American history and gives visitors a glimpse at the lives of both Frederick Douglass and Isaac Myers, two extraordinary individuals whose legacies pushed forward the need for equality in the United States. The Legends and Legacies Experience Pass is available at the Baltimore Visitor Center on the Inner Harbor’s West Shore Promenade. For more information, visit http://baltimore.org/heritage/site.  Read more >>

SeaDream Yacht Club has entered into partnership with Jon Greenseid, a nationally recognized kosher consultant, and now can accommodate Glatt-Kosher private charters under strict rabbinical supervision. Realizing that market demand could be developed, SeaDream’s Executive Chef, Sudesh Kishore applied his culinary skill to kosher offerings. SeaDream has created a masterful menu with both traditional and contemporary Glatt-Kosher dishes. SeaDream’s President, Bob Lepisto said “Research indicates the kosher industry continues to grow at an astounding rate. Starting this fall, on voyages sailing roundtrip from San Juan, Puerto Rico we’ll be able to accommodate kosher private charter weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, charity benefits, corporate and personal events.” Chic and stylish, SeaDream’s 56-stateroom yachts are favored for their elegant informality, state-of-the-art facilities, personal service provided by a crew of 95, inclusive open bar and gratuities, ocean view accommodations, luxury spa and world class cuisine. For more information, visit www.SeaDream.com.  Read more >>

With outbound travel from Asia on the rise, Fairmont Hotel & Resorts has rolled out a new program with the Chinese traveler in mind. With more than 77 million Chinese travelers expected to take a trip overseas in 2012, and China fast becoming one of the world’s most influential international tourism markets, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts announced a new Chinese Menu Program at its worldwide collection of more than 60 luxury hotels. The new program, which will be phased in throughout 2012, will provide greater personalization and enhanced culinary choices for Chinese guests traveling abroad. As part of this customized travel offering, Fairmont has introduced a number of authentic Chinese dishes to its catering and restaurant menus worldwide, and will also introduce new service delivery elements to provide visiting Chinese guests with a more enjoyable and satisfying dining experience. “Personalization has and always will be a hallmark of the Fairmont experience, so to that end we’ve taken the proactive step of expanding our food and beverage programming with authentic touches that will help make our Chinese guests feel more comfortable and welcome,” said Jean Michel Offe, Fairmont’s vice-president, food & beverage. A range of authentic dishes will be featured in catering menus for groups, and guests, including individual travelers, will be able to enjoy items such as congee, traditional rice porridge, for breakfast at Fairmont’s restaurants. In dining outlets and at catered events where the Chinese Menu Program is requested, meals will begin with the offering of a cold towel, and end with the offering of a hot towel. Chopsticks will also be on hand for guests who prefer them. Groups will have the added option of serving meals family-style with a variety of dishes, and Fairmont hotels will be mindful to offer at least seven courses, but not exceed 12, keeping with Chinese tradition. Additionally, front line hotel staff, such as servers, will be briefed in appropriate etiquette to further make Chinese guests feel comfortable and to demonstrate respect for their cultural preferences. As Fairmont expands its services for the Chinese traveler around the globe, the luxury brand is also growing in China.  In addition to Fairmont Beijing, Fairmont Yangcheng Lake, and Shanghai’s iconic Fairmont Peace Hotel, Fairmont expects to open new hotels in cities such as Nanjing, Taiyuan, and Chengdu in the near future. For more information, visit fairmont.com.   Read more >>

From holistic rituals to ancient Mayan recipes, Hotel Esencia’s eco-luxe Aroma Spa is offering easy DIY spa treatments for the spa enthusiast seeking an in-home escape into paradise. The first organic Spa in the Riviera Maya, Aroma’s eco-focus is evidenced throughout with organic, homemade products, an extensive herb garden, and native, chemical-free construction materials including walls colored with a taupe native mixture. Renowned for providing travelers an escape into the magical realism of the Mayan culture, Aroma celebrates native tradition with a signature Temezcal Mayan Sauna. The indigenous ritual involves a Temazcalera, a specially trained Mayan healer, assessing the needs of the guest’s body, mind and spirit before selecting specific herbs to lay on scalding stones in an enclosed sauna, infusing the air with healing aromatherapy. The in-home treatments offer simple anti-aging solutions with quick and easy steps using fresh, organic ingredients for the serene feeling of a professional spa treatment. For more information, visit www.hotelesencia.com.   Read more >>