Black Travel Summit

Black Travel Summit It's our mission to support, empower, and create opportunities with and for the Black travel community.

The Black Travel Summit is the premier event showcasing Black travel industry professionals and influencers. It is our mission to support and empower voices within the Black travel community. We cultivate this ecosystem by creating entertaining and groundbreaking events around the Black travel movement, and by bridging Black travel businesses, career and entrepreneurial professionals, and influencers with all members of the tourism supply chain.

BLACK MEN THERE’S NOTHING YOU CANT DO!And when it comes to the water, you belong in it,Beneath itBeyond itBeside itAnd e...
09/02/2026

BLACK MEN THERE’S NOTHING YOU CANT DO!

And when it comes to the water, you belong in it,
Beneath it
Beyond it
Beside it

And every time John Montgomery II John | Travel Content Creator dives beneath the surface, he reminds another Black man and young Black boy that there is NO space in this world where we don’t belong.

With 100+ dives across 16 countries and 5 continents, John is a PADI Master Scuba Diver, a certification held by fewer than 2% of PADI divers worldwide. But what makes his story even more powerful is what he’s doing with that visibility.

He’s already inspired 30+ people to try diving or pursue certification, and his mission is to help the next generation of Black divers SEE THEMSELVES in the water.

Seeing someone who looks like you doing something you never imagined for yourself is all it takes to say:
“WHY NOT ME?”

At BTS 2026, John joins us for “Reclaiming Blue: Black Stories Beneath, Beyond & Beside the Water.”

Help us welcome John to Black Travel Summit!

09/01/2026

SHOWCASE YOUR BRILLIANCE WITH PASSPORT TO STORYTELLING!

Last year, Melissa Stemmer presented Diaspora” taking us on a journey across the world and showing how our shared experiences, culture and connections prove that globally, WE ARE A FORCE. A journalist in the game for over a decade, she bet on herself and you can too!

That series that’s been living in your head for YEARS. The one you’ve talked about, written notes for, maybe even started filming?

THIS IS YOUR SIGN TO BRING IT TO LIFE.

Passport to Storytelling is Black Travel Summit’s gateway for Black storytellers ready to take their ideas from CONCEPT ➡️ PITCH ➡️ POSSIBILITY

So what story do you have to tell? It’s ok if your concept is just a concept, we want to see your vision.

What’s your concept
Whose your audience
Share sample episodes
Share your production plan

And most importantly, why now?

The winner will receive feedback and access to industry professionals representing streaming, television, production and development plus a private meeting with top executives at a brand to discuss your concept and how to develop your show.

Your story deserves more than sitting in your Notes app.

Passport to Storytelling applications close in 14 DAYS!

We can’t wait to see what you’ve been creating .

LADIES & GENTLEMEN OUR 2026 Keynote speaker is none other than the INCREDIBLE Lauren Gay!!!Everything we do is calculate...
08/31/2026

LADIES & GENTLEMEN OUR 2026 Keynote speaker is none other than the INCREDIBLE Lauren Gay!!!

Everything we do is calculated to provide the best programming the Black Travel Ecosystem has ever seen! When it came time to choose the person who would deliver a keynote that not only moves you, but causes you to take immediate action , asking Lauren Gay , was one of the easiest and most important decisions we could make.

When we say RENAISSANCE: REBIRTH. RENEW. RECLAIM....

Lauren has embodied each of them throughout her career.

Fearless, yet soft-spoken.
Observant, yet POWERFUL.

Adventurous, intentional and completely unwilling to accept the stereotypes of where Black people especially Black women are “supposed” to belong.

Lauren has spent years proving something our ancestors already knew:

WE BELONG OUTDOORS.
WE BELONG IN THE WATER.
WE BELONG ON THE TRAILS.
WE BELONG IN NATURE.

WE 👏🏾WERE 👏🏾MADE 👏🏾FOR 👏🏾THIS

A creator , podcaster , published photographer, Black Travel Alliance co- founder , Black Women Outdoors founder and environmental activist to name a few , she’s built her platform around exploration, conservation and creating unforgettable moments!

At BTS 2026, Lauren is coming to remind us that sometimes the greatest adventure is giving yourself permission to become someone NEW.

Family, it is our absolute honor to welcome Lauren Gay to Milwaukee

In the words of Lauren herself:

“It’s only the great outdoors…what are you afraid of?”

HE GIVES CREATORS THE GAME AND DOESN’T GATEKEEP!!!If there’s one thing about “Chew” of Chew & Liv, he’s going to show yo...
08/30/2026

HE GIVES CREATORS THE GAME AND DOESN’T GATEKEEP!!!

If there’s one thing about “Chew” of Chew & Liv, he’s going to show you how to SEE THE WORLD, SAVE A DOLLAR…and MAKE SOME MONEY WHILE YOU’RE AT IT!

Chew KNOWS the creator economy.

Alongside his wife, the’ve built Chews to Explore into a platform that proves being a creator can be more than free trips, likes and views,it can become a business, with multiple streams of income.

And let’s be clear: HE’LL BE THE FIRST TO TELL YOU IT AIN’T EASY!

But that’s exactly why we love him.

Chew is constantly pouring into other creators, sharing what he’s learned, breaking down monetization, talking numbers, teaching strategy and showing us how to stop depending on ONE platform, ONE check or ONE brand deal.

So help us welcome Chew & Liv at BLACK TRAVEL SUMMIT 2026 to talk about how to maximize YouTube and your creator career.

It’s about creating better content, understanding how to build a CAREER from it. Turning YouTube into a real revenue stream, and building beyond brand deal.

When we say this will be one of the most meaningful sessions to help you build , we mean that. Welcome Chew!

08/26/2026

‼️FLASH SALE‼️

WE’RE ONLY 50 DAYS AWAY UNTIL BLACK TRAVEL SUMMIT 2026!!

And because 50 is the magic number today, we’re giving you 50% OFF YOUR SECOND PASS!

YUP, BUY ONE, GET ONE 50% OFF, Practitioner AND Corporate passes!

Been waiting to grab your ticket? THIS IS YOUR SIGN!

Grab your business bestie. Your creator friend. Your travel crew. Your colleague. The person you’ve been saying “WE NEED TO GO!” to all year and grab your ticket.

THIS IS A TRUE FLASH SALE and this offer only last today from 6pm to 8pm EST!

This offer is available ONLY WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. Once they’re gone, THEY’RE GONE.

📍 Milwaukee, Wisconsin
📅 October 15–18, 2026
🎟️ BUY ONE PASS, GET THE SECOND 50% OFF

*please note you must fill out both registrations at checkout”

See yall soon!

WHEN IT COMES TO SHOWING UP FOR YOUR COMMUNITY, SHE DOESN’T JUST TALK ABOUT IT, SHE DOES THE WORK.Speaking out against i...
08/25/2026

WHEN IT COMES TO SHOWING UP FOR YOUR COMMUNITY, SHE DOESN’T JUST TALK ABOUT IT, SHE DOES THE WORK.

Speaking out against injustice. Amplifying stories others tried to hide. Giving a platform to people who have been made to feel faceless, nameless and voiceless, all while producing content at the HIGHEST level.

Eileen Ivette | Afro-Latina Travel Creator + Speaker | 📍NYC has mastered the art of making people STOP, WATCH, LISTEN and LEARN.

The hooks? POWERFUL.
The visuals? STUNNING.
The editing? 🔥
The storytelling? ALWAYS intentional.

And now she’s bringing that knowledge to us!

In her session, she’ll teach you how to to write hooks & edit like a pro,”** Eileen is breaking down how she creates content that grabs attention AND keeps it, because having an important story to tell is one thing, but knowing how to make people actually stop scrolling long enough to hear it is a SKILL.

Creators. Social media managers. Journalists. Storytellers. Anyone using visual content to share your work , THIS SESSION IS FOR YOU.

Learn how to make your storytelling stronger, your editing sharper, and your audience PAY ATTENTION from someone who has mastered doing all three while never losing the purpose behind the story.

FAMILY, HELP US WELCOME EILEEN YVETTE TO BTS 2026!!!

FAMILY, SECURE YOUR ACCOMMODATIONBTS 2026 is getting closer, and if securing your hotel is still sitting on your to-do l...
08/24/2026

FAMILY, SECURE YOUR ACCOMMODATION

BTS 2026 is getting closer, and if securing your hotel is still sitting on your to-do list… THIS IS YOUR SIGN TO HANDLE IT!

Our Black Travel Summit hotel rates are expiring soon, and once they’re gone, THEY’RE GONE!

We’ve secured special rates at three downtown Milwaukee hotels:

Historic Hilton Milwaukee. Hilton Milwaukee

Saint Kate – The Arts Hotel Saint Kate

Hyatt Place Milwaukee Downtown Hyatt Place Milwaukee/Downtown

BTS 2026 is taking over Downtown Milwaukee, and our partner hotels are located approximately 1–15 minutes walking distance from the Baird Center , our main Summit venue.

Flying in? Downtown is only about 15 minutes from Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport.

Taking the train from Chicago? It’s a 15 minutes walk walk from the station or 4 minute drive.

So you can arrive, get settled and be right in the middle of EVERYTHING happening for BTS weekend.

October 15–18, 2026 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin

BOOK. THE. ROOM. ASAP

🔗 Hotel booking links are available at the link in our bio .

08/22/2026

ROLL CALL!

If you’re coming through to Milwaukee for Black Travel Summit 2026 , let us know in the comments!

So many of you pulled up last year and our hearts were FULL!

The laughter , tears, memories, celebration of culture and support was unreal!

With less than 2 months left, the anticipation is REAL! We can’t wait to see you.

The Renaissance is coming!!

YOUR STORIES DESERVE MORE THAN THE TIMELINE!For years, you’ve been creating content for social media. You’ve built the a...
08/21/2026

YOUR STORIES DESERVE MORE THAN THE TIMELINE!

For years, you’ve been creating content for social media. You’ve built the audience. Developed the concept. Maybe you’ve even shot the pilot or produced the series.

But you’ve ALWAYS had a bigger vision.

You want the BIG SCREEN.
The NETWORK.
The STREAMING PLATFORM.

And sometimes, the only thing separating a great idea from its next opportunity is ACCESS TO THE RIGHT ROOM.

Welcome to PASSPORT TO STORYTELLING

Black Travel Summit is giving storytellers, creators and visionaries the opportunity to take their original TV concepts DIRECTLY to network partners and C-level industry executives.

Scripted. Unscripted. Local. Global. Documentary. Reality. Lifestyle. Culture.

We want TV series that broaden perspectives, challenge what we’ve always been shown, and showcase the limitless experiences of Black life and culture.

And the winner?

You’ll receive a **PRIVATE MEETING WITH DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVES from leading networks, giving you direct access to learn how content is evaluated, acquired and developed, with the possibility of earning a spot on a streaming platform.

YES your idea could potentially go from **CONCEPT ➡️ PITCH ➡️ SCREEN.

This isn’t just about winning a competition.

It’s about getting into rooms creators spend YEARS trying to enter.

You’ve spent years creating for the small screen in your hand.

Now it’s time to see just how BIG your story can become.

Applications open until September 15! We can’t wait to see your series!

‼️WE DO COMPETITIONS DIFFERENT OVER HERE ‼️When it comes to our community, a competition isn’t just about winning. It’s ...
08/18/2026

‼️WE DO COMPETITIONS DIFFERENT OVER HERE ‼️

When it comes to our community, a competition isn’t just about winning. It’s about ACCESS. OPPORTUNITY. EXPOSURE. And getting your ideas in front of the people who can actually bring them to life, or give you the support you need to bring them to life.

Introducing DESIGN YOUR ROUTE: THE CRUISE EDITIONin partnership with our family at AmaWaterways

Here’s the challenge: Choose an existing AmaWaterways river cruise itinerary and “REIMAGINE IT” through the lens of the Black traveler.

We spend more than $145 BILLION annually on travel so what happens when we get a seat at the table to help design the experiences created for us?

Show us the Black history. The Black-owned businesses. The food. The music. The excursions. The onboard programming. The nightlife. The local communities. The moments that make us say, this was created with us in mind.

And don’t just think sightseeing, think product development create something next level.

The top 5 finalist will pitch their concepts live at Black Travel Summit in front of AmaWaterways and travel industry leaders

And the WINNER?!

A CRUISE WITH AMAWATERWAYS TO A DESTINATION OF YOUR CHOICE, and a chance to work with them to bring your concept to life!

But even bigger than the prize is the opportunity to get inside the room, showcase how you think, demonstrate how you build travel products for Black travelers, and potentially influence what the future of river cruising could look like.

This is what we mean when we say access.

📅 Submission Deadline:September 15
🏆 Finalists Announced: September 22
🎤 LIVE Final Pitch: October 18 at Black Travel Summit

You got the vision? DESIGN THE ROUTE

Tag somebody who needs to enter because we’re looking for the NEXT great idea. Link in bio 😊.

Address

111 NE 1st Street
Miami, FL
33132

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