2025 SCHEDULE
We enjoyed four impactful days packed with workshops, networking, activities, and industry insights during November, Brazil’s Black Consciousness Month at Grand Hyatt Rio de Janeiro, Barra da Tijuca.
THE EVENT
Every year, the Black Travel Summit grows in participation, brand messaging, and, most importantly, content, with a speaker series that attracts top talent from across our ecosystem. This year, we are excited not only to celebrate 5 years, but to offer six tracks of focus to foster community, spark meaningful conversation, and drive thought leadership. The tracks are:
CREATOR
Designed for content creators and influencers to explore strategies for growing their personal brands, collaborating with industry leaders, and amplifying diverse travel narratives.
CORPORATE
Focusing on professionals and organizations, this track will delve into the importance of diversity in travel marketing, corporate social responsibility, and building inclusive travel products and services.
ENTREPRENEUR
Designed for business owners, founders, and aspiring entrepreneurs to gain insights into launching, scaling, and sustaining travel-related ventures. This track explores strategies for brand building, funding opportunities, global market expansion, and forming impactful partnerships within the ecosystem.
HOTELIERS & INVESTORS
This track brings together hoteliers and investors to discuss opportunities for creating innovative, culturally inclusive hospitality experiences and securing investment for diverse travel ventures.
TRIP ADVISORS & TOUR OPERATORS
Designed for travel advisors and operators, this track focuses on enhancing the guest experience, curating culturally relevant tours, and fostering partnerships with destinations that cater to the Black travel community.
FRIENDS & FAMILY
Practitioner pass holders will have the opportunity to extend this track to friends and family who want to experience specific events throughout the summit. F&F pass holders will not have access to workshops and speaker sessions.
2025 schedule
Enjoy four impactful days packed with workshops, networking, activities, and industry insights during Brazil’s Black Consciousness Month this November.
- This is a working schedule and is subject to change at any time. Please check back periodically for updates!
DAY 01 November 13th Thursday
BlackAF Tour—Sankofa Heritage Tour (Signature Tour) Offsite
BlackAF Tour—Zungu Food Tour (Signature Tour) Offsite
BlackAF Tour—Roots Nature Tour (Signature Tour) Offsite
DAY 02 November 14th Friday
Black Travel Alliance: Wavelength for CreatorsRio Ballroom I Creator
Passport to Storytelling Pitch CompetitionRio Ballroom I Creator
This competition goes beyond travel, it’s an open call for stories that broaden horizons, challenge norms, and reflect the limitless experiences of Black life and culture. From scripted to unscripted, from local to global, creators are invited to present concepts that explore the human experience through authentic and liberated storytelling.
Travel, in its truest form, is a way to open the mind, expand leadership, and connect to one’s most authentic self. In that same spirit, Passport to Storytelling encourages creators to break boundaries, redefine representation, and amplify narratives that move us forward.
Winners will receive a meeting with the scripted and/or unscripted development teams at BET+, gaining invaluable insight into the process of content acquisition and development.

EVP and General Manager of BET+
Design your Dream: Mount Cinnamon Edition Creator

Co Founder West Indies School of Hospitality
Black Travel Film Festival: Screenings Creator
ExpoTano
Opening ReceptionTano
DAY 03 November 15th Saturday
Afro-Brazilian Wellness Samba ClassLagoa A Terrace
AfroAfeto Wellness LoungeLagoa 1
Speaker Series–WelcomeGrand Ballroom

Black Travel Summit Founder and CEO
Keynote–"Só Alegria!" How Travel Shapes the Leader, the Story, and the LegacyGrand Ballroom

EVP and General Manager of BET+
Session #1–Leading with Impact: Elevating our Culture, Heritage, and Achievements in the Hospitality IndustryGrand Ballroom Corporate Entrepreneurs Creator

Global Head of Asset Management, Hyatt

Vice President of Hotel Finance, Hyatt Hotels Corp

Head of Leisure Sales, Hyatt Hotels Corp.
Session #2–Past Visibility: Black Travel and the Cost of Corporate DisengagementGrand Ballroom Corporate

Multidisciplinary Creative Director

Founder of Northside Pride of Jacksonville

Account Manager, ACCOR and JO&JOE Rio de Janeiro

Senior Tourism Specialist, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)
Session #3–Travel with Soul: Designing Purposeful Black-Centered ExperiencesGrand Ballroom Trip Advisors & Tour Operators

Founder of Experience Real Cartagena

Cultural Historian & Edupreneur

Traveller XP Founder & CEO

Founder & Travel Artist, SPANNing the Globe Tours
Session #4–Ethical Storytelling in Diaspora SpacesGrand Ballroom Creator

Award-winning Video Producer

Travel Content Creator

Award-winning Travel Creator & Writer

Afro-Brazilian Content Creator
Session #5–Beyond the 2%: Creating Impactful Hospitality VenturesGrand Ballroom Hoteliers & Investors

Co Founder West Indies School of Hospitality

Co-founder & General Partner, East Chop Capital Co-founder & Managing Partner, Getaway Society

CEO, Yoba Development

Co-owner, Hotel Sages

Co-owner, Hotel Sages
Session #6–Diaspora Superpowers: Turning Identity into Enterprise Grand Ballroom Entrepreneurs

Publicist & Storyteller

Europe and CEO of FVD International

Award-Winning Creative Director
LunchGrand Ballroom Foyer
Breakout #1–How to Land Brand Collaborations as a Nano CreatorLagoa 2+3 Creator

Content Creator and Drone Pilot
Breakout #2–Discover Benin: A World of WondersLagoa 5Corporate Hoteliers and Investors Entrepreneurs

CEO of Benin Tourism
Breakout #3–Diaspora on a Plate: How Food Records Our Journeys and Inspires New OnesLagoa 4Trip Advisors & Tour Operators

Community Organizer
Breakout #4–Black Travel in Brazil: Promotion and Anti-Racism Strategies Lagoa 5Corporate
Through initiatives such as the creation of the Afrotourism, Diversity, and Indigenous Peoples Coordination and the promotion of cultural itineraries, Embratur demonstrates how embedding DEI into tourism strategy enhances customer experiences, strengthens global positioning, and creates sustainable economic value. Join us in exploring how a commitment to anti-racism and authentic Black protagonism can power the next era of inclusive tourism in Brazil and beyond.

Diversity, Afrotourism, & Indigenous Peoples Coordinator, Embratur
Breakout #5–The Hospitality Exchange: Where Investment, Innovation, and Ownership MeetLagoa 4Hoteliers & Investors

Executive Director & Founder, Black Hoteliers & Investors Association (BH&IA)
Breakout #6–This is Gambiarra!: A Blueprint for Creative ResilienceLagoa 2+3 Entrepreneurs

Head of Creation at W3Haus

Art Director at iFood
Breakout #7–The Power of Being Real: Infusing Authenticity into Your Professional and Personal BrandLagoa 4 Corporate Entrepreneurs

Global Sales Manager, Hyatt Sales Force

Director of Sales – Luxury, Lifestyle & Leisure Hyatt Sales Force
Breakout #8–The Afro-Centric Hotel: Designing Spaces that Reflect Culture and CommunityLagoa 5Hoteliers & Investors

Hotel owner and Developer
Breakout #9–Reels in Real-Time: Mastering Short-Form Video Lagoa 2+3Creator

Storytelling & Travel Content Specialist
Black Travel Awards GalaGrand BallroomCorporater Entrepreneur Trip Advisor/Tour Operator Creator Hoteliers & Investors
DAY 04 November 16th Sunday
Pitch CompetitionLagoa 2+3 Entrepreneurs
Partner Press ConferencesLagoa 2+3Corporater Entrepreneur Trip Advisor/Tour Operator Creator Hoteliers & Investors
This inaugural edition features American Airlines and Benin Tourisme, spotlighting their shared commitment to inclusive travel and cultural exchange. Both partners will present new initiatives that connect communities across the diaspora and highlight authentic, empowering travel experiences for the global Black community.