IGLTA Announces Board of Directors for 2021-2022

Media Contact: LoAnn Halden

VP-Communications

+1 954.253.4095

loann.halden@iglta.org

Three tourism leaders became first-time members of the global LGBTQ+ travel association’s strategic advisory board

NEW YORK (17 August 2021)—The International LGBTQ+ Travel Association announced today their board of directors for 2021-2022. Three industry thought leaders, representing three different sectors in tourism/hospitality, were first-time appointees and will begin their two-year term in September.

• Meg Ten Eyck, LGBTQ+ Marketing Consultant, Editor of EveryQueer, Director of Analytic Strategy at Travel Curator, based in New York
• Patrick Pickens, Delta Air Lines, Specialty Sales, Global Sales Manager – Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, & Exhibitions, based in Atlanta.
• Antonietta Varlese, Accor South America, Senior Vice-President Communications, Institutional Relations & Corporate Social Responsibility, based in São Paulo. (Brazil is IGLTA’s second-largest membership base after the United States.)

“We received more applications for our board than ever before, with an incredible range of experiences,” said former IGLTA Board Chair Juan Julià​, who led the board nominating committee. “As we move forward and build back tourism, IGLTA needs strong, strategic leadership and we feel confident that Meg, Patrick and Antonietta will complement the existing board—already a dynamic group—and expand the skillsets we can tap into for future growth." 

Current board members who were reappointed for another two-year term are:

Felipe Cardenas, Co-Founder/CEO, Colombian LGBT Chamber of Commerce

Albert Herrera, Chief Commercial Officer, Internova Travel Group & Global Travel Collection

Uwern Jong, Experientialist-in-Chief/Co-Founder, OutThere magazine

Richard Krieger, Director, Sky Vacations

The new board takes effect during the board meeting prior to IGLTA’s 37th Annual Global Convention in Atlanta, 8-11 September. (igltaconvention.org) In addition to the appointments, the returning board members are Apoorva Gandhi, Vice President, Multicultural Affairs, Marriott International; Shiho Ikeuchi, President, Pink Soleil; Oriol Pamies, Founder, Queer Destinations; Sandi Robinson, Director of Sales, The Godfrey Hotel Chicago; and Jon Muñoz, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, Booz Allen Hamilton, who will move to the Immediate Past Chair role. John Tanzella, IGLTA President/CEO, holds a non-voting seat on the board.

IGLTA board members are selected from a nominating committee composed of current board members who are not up for reappointment and IGLTA members at large from around the world. Thank you to this year’s nominating committee: Maria Tuttocuore, Monaco Tourism Bureau; David Meany, The Travel Corporation; Sabrina Harrigan, Orbitz; and Juan Julià, Axel Hotels.

For full bios of the IGLTA board members and appointees, please email loann.halden@iglta.org.

About IGLTA

The International LGBTQ+ Travel Association is the global leader in advancing LGBTQ+ travel and a proud Affiliate Member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization. IGLTA’s mission is to provide information and resources for LGBTQ+ travelers and expand LGBTQ+ tourism globally by demonstrating its significant social and economic impact. IGLTA membership includes LGBTQ+ and LGBTQ+ welcoming accommodations, destinations, service providers, travel agents, tour operators, events and travel media in 80 countries. For more information: iglta.org, igltaconvention.org or iglta.org/foundation and follow us on Facebook @IGLTA, @IGLTABusiness or Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram @iglta.