What an exciting way to start Spring by participating at Arival 360 Berlin and ITB (World’s Leading Travel Trade Show)!
Women in Travel CIC Team Alessandra Alonso and Simona Lištvanaitė took part in Arival 360 Berlin, a significant event in the tourism industry, focused on in-destination experiences, tours, and attractions. Engaging with attendees, building connections, and discussing our mission at Women in Travel.
We led an insightful session on ‘Advancing Women Leaders & Entrepreneurs in Tours & Attractions: Why Allyship Matters’.
Wonderful Panel speakers – Marinel de Jesus (founder of Brown Gal Trekker), Donal Carey (Head of Travel EMEA Google) & Klaudija Janzelj (TUI Musement) discussed the importance of allyship on a personal level and in the professional world.
Each of them shared their first-hand experience by taking part in our Male Allyship Network Programme – which supports all women and non-binary individuals personally and through their businesses, by providing mentoring; sponsoring; recognition and visibility; and access to network and professional opportunities.
Allyship requires long-term commitment, an acknowledgement of the power imbalance that has oppressed certain identities and groups of people, and the initiative to self-educate on the issue so you can be an effective advocate. The good news is that allyship can be small or big and anything in between. Showing up (the audience) and initiating a conversation are pivotal ways of exemplifying “allyship.”
We are looking forward to seeing more of these conversations at the trade shows and especially outside of them within the tourism industry.
At ITB Berlin we signed a Memorandum of Understanding with USAID Turizam at the ITB Berlin event, marking the establishment of our new partnership. This collaboration aims to provide women in the tourism industry of Bosnia and Herzegovina with access to training programmes, mentorship, and capacity-building initiatives, and we are excited to begin this journey together.
We look forward to engaging in many Travel industry events in the future, bringing our expertise, and commitment and inspiring many to join us on our impactful journey!
#InternationalWomenDay is our yearly reminder of elevating women. We are dedicated to providing support to women, especially those who are underprivileged and underrepresented, throughout the year. We strive to create employment and income opportunities, while also fostering safe and inclusive environments where all women feel valued and heard.
