TORONTO — With ***************** dominating headlines around the *****, the Canadian travel industry will get a chance to examine and address its own inequities during an upcoming virtual event on July 7.
Titled ‘Let’s Get Uncomfortable (LGU): Confronting ***************** in Canada’s Travel Industry,’ the two-hour event will be moderated by LGU organizer Shalene Dudley, founder of Latitude Concierge, who will lead a panel of key industry executives. These include Maxine Gundermann market sales manager, Eastern Ontario at Celebrity Cruises; Margie Jordan, owner of Jordan Executive Travel Service; Kier Matthews, director of sales at Classic Vacations; and Tolu Aladejebi, founder of Black in Hospitality.
According to Dudley, the panel will address anti-Blackness in tourism from the perspectives of both travel professionals and travellers, while also addressing anti-****** action that viewers can implement within their own workplaces and organizations.
“Representation in the travel industry can be improved but it will take bold moves and dedicated change-makers willing to expand and collaborate to break through a system that is so deeply rooted in our consciousness,” says Dudley. “This ‘Let’s Get Uncomfortable’ event will be a place to have that conversation, force people to acknowledge the ****** and disparities that exist, and hopefully inspire action and transformation.”
Travel professionals are being encouraged to contribute their own encounters with ****** in travel here. Submissions will be shared during the discussion and are completely anonymous.
The virtual event, which will take place on Zoom on July 7 from 5-7 p.m. ET/2-4 p.m. PT, is open to all travel professionals. Free tickets are available “for those in a restrictive financial position”, although participants are encouraged to pay $15 to contribute to compensating panelists. Those looking to make a more substantial contribution are encouraged to pay $50. Businesses are also invited to contribute at “silent sponsors”, and can do so by contacting letsgetuncomfortableevent@gmail.com.
To register click here.
This is the second ‘Let’s Get Uncomfortable’ event, the first of which addressed gender equity in Canada’s travel industry in 2018. LGU was founded by a small group of travel professionals who are committed to bringing difficult conversations to the forefront of the Canadian travel industry. For more information go to letsgetuncomfortable.ca.
