IGLTA Foundation Announces 2022 Small Business Fellowships

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Global LGBTQ+ travel organization will bring recipients to its Global Convention in Milan for networking and education

MILAN (2 August 2022)—The IGLTA Foundation has announced the recipients of this year’s David Martin Small Business Fellowships, who will be hosted to attend the Global Convention of the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association in Milan, Italy, 26-29 October. IGLTAF’s fellowship program was created to support the next generation of LGBTQ+ travel professionals and are awarded to owners of small tourism businesses around the world.

“The Fellowship program is a key initiative for the IGLTA Foundation, and we’re proud to support geographically diverse recipients from all sectors of tourism each year,” said Eddie Canaday, Director, National Accounts, Mid-Atlantic Region, Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp, who chairs the IGLTAF Board Fellowship Committee. “By providing mentorship, educational, and networking opportunities in a global setting, we are able help small business owners accelerate their path to success, which then expands the number of safe, welcoming choices for LGBTQ+ travelers around the world.”

This year’s recipients are:

Aisha Shaibu-Lenoir, Moonlight Experiences

London-based Shaibu-Lenoir (she/her) founded this award-winning platform to celebrate queer culture through travel and experiences in 2019. Moonlight Experiences exists to tackle the lack of diversity in the travel industry by harnessing the economic power of tourism & nightlife to uplift queer women, non-binary, and Black/POC members. “I'm extremely honored to be part of this year's fellowship as a Black queer woman. We know there is so much work and change that needs to be done in the travel industry to uplift marginalized voices and level the playing field,” she said. “I truly believe the time is now to support and unite as a global LGBTQ + community to make an impact. This is why I'm excited to share my insights, collaborate, and learn from other industry leaders.”

Danny Guerrero, The Culturist Group

Guerrero (he/him), who makes his home in Los Angeles, founded this multicultural travel marketing company to address the need for greater diversity, equity, and inclusion in tourism. "As a small business with large ambitions to create a more inclusive industry by empowering travel brands and destinations, having the opportunity to network with, and learn from, a global group of LGBTQ+ industry professionals is absolutely essential to our success, and to our mission,” he said. “Not only will this be my first time attending the IGLTA Global Convention, but also to become an IGLTA member. I am extremely grateful.”

Mariana Radisic Koliren, Lunfarda Travel

As the founder and product design lead of this Buenos Aires tour company, Radisic Koliren (she/her) strives to create safe LGBTQ+ travel experiences and share her city’s diversity. She recently created a tour specifically to showcase Argentina’s queer history. “I'm incredibly excited to spearhead the building of a global network of intersectional travel designers, tour guides, agents and operators,” she said. “The power of togetherness and allyship is everything as we try to bring a new dawn of inclusivity and diversity to every part of the travel industry, and I can't wait to get started!"

The David Martin Small Business Fellowship was renamed in 2018 to honor IGLTA’s late volunteer ambassador in Spain, David Martin, a dedicated supporter of LGBTQ+ business. 

The IGLTA Foundation thanks its Founding Partner Delta Air Lines for generously providing flight support to our Fellowship program.

For more information, please visit igltaconvention.org. 

About IGLTA & the IGLTA Foundation

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. The association’s professional network includes 11,000+ LGBTQ+ welcoming accommodations, destinations, service providers, travel agents, tour operators, events and travel media, and its members can be found in nearly 80 countries. The philanthropic IGLTA Foundation empowers LGBTQ+ welcoming travel businesses globally through leadership, research, and education. For more information: iglta.org, igltaconvention.org or iglta.org/foundation and follow us on Facebook @IGLTA, @IGLTABusiness or @IGLTAFoundation, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram @iglta.