From October 5-7th, tourism professionals, community leaders and regional trail blazers will gather in Syracuse, New York, for the 5th Annual Travel Unity Summit. Our 2019 theme is “Cultivating Welcoming Communities\” and will bring together stakeholders to explore issues of diversity, inclusion, economic justice and social good through the prism of travel and tourism.
The organizers of this timely event are SUNY-ESF, the oldest institution in the United States that focuses on the study of the environment, and Travel Unity, a nonprofit focused on increasing diversity and inclusion in the world of travel and tourism. Other partners/supporters of the event are Visit Syracuse, the Greater Syracuse Hospitality & Tourism Association, Visit Rochester, the New York State Tourism Industry Association (NYSTIA), New York State Canal Corporation and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
The three-day summit will feature guided discussions around how changes to city infrastructure can help create tourism opportunities, and the importance of education, arts, culture and nature in attracting the attention of visitors, in addition to a plenary (with roundtables) that addresses how to market authentically to diverse groups and how organizations can actively use corporate social responsibility campaigns for both marketing and the greater good.
Saturday, October 5, 2019
Advancing and Honoring Local Communities through Tourism
10:00 am – 12:00pm
Working with Neighborhoods to Harness and Embrace Tourism: I-81 Corridor
A discussion on how neighborhood communities can leverage tourism for economic development and to share their stories. The session will look at these issues through the lens of Syracuse’s I-81 Corridor.
Facilitated by Deka Dancil, featuring Syracuse Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens, Lanessa Chaplin of NYCLU, and William Simmons from Syracuse Housing Authority.
12:00pm – 2:00pm
Responsible Destination Development: Heritage Tourism in Central NY
A discussion on how tourism sites can be (re)built while honoring and respecting local concerns. The session will look at these issues through the lens of Central NY’s heritage and historical stories, including Native history, women’s rights, and more.
Facilitated by Dr. Damien Duchamp, featuring Larry Luttinger of CNY Jazz Central, Dr. Christopher Dunn of Cornell Botanic Gardens, and Carol Eaton of Visit Syracuse.
The session will conclude with a walk around the I-81 corridor to discuss the challenges and opportunities from the day’s discussion.
Saturday evening: Networking event at World of Beer, 5pm – 9pm. Open to all.
Schedule
| 10:00am – 11:30am |
Cultivating Welcoming Higher Ed
|
| 12:00pm – 1:30pm |
Experiential Education: Internships, Study Abroad, and Applied Learning
|
| 1:30pm – 2:30pm |
Lunch Break
|
| 2:30pm – 4:00pm | Inclusion in Arts, Culture, and Nature |
| 4:00pm – 5:30pm | Meeting the Needs of Non-Traditional Students |
Monday, October 7, 2019
Plenary
Why to attend Monday’s sessions:
1) You want to hear leaders from the travel industry discuss how to best leverage diversity and inclusion for social good and economic benefit.
2) You would like to take part in discussions around reaching new audiences and leveraging corporate social responsibility programs.
11:00 AM – 11:45 AM
Keynote and Discussion
Syracuse Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens will share her thoughts on diversity and inclusion for Syracuse, Central NY, and beyond, followed by a conversation with Travel Unity Executive Director Roni Weiss and a discussion with the audience.
For the complete summit agenda, as well as online registration, visit: www.travelunity.org.
