Thursday, May 23
1:30–2:30 p.m.
Breakout Session V
How to Magnify Your Destination in Multicultural Media
Did you know the African-American, Hispanic, Asian-American and Lesbian/Gay/Bi-Sexual/Transgender (LGBT) markets are the fastest growing segments in the U.S. tourism industry?
What are their interests and attitudes towards leisure travel? Get the keys to understanding these segments, define opportunities, and learn how to pitch publications that target multicultural travel trends such as luxury travel, cruises, golfing, shopping, dining, arts and culture, beaches, and visiting family and friends.
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| Kelsy Chauvin, Contributor, Curve | Sandra I. Velazquez, Contributor, American Airlines Nexos | David Lang, Travel Contributor, Sing Tao Daily News and The World Journal | Sonya Lowery, Travel Writer, Upscale; Founder, World Next Door |
Additional Speaker Information
Kelsy Chauvin is a contributor at Curve. Her reporting career kicked off at age 12 with an exclusive on wacky earrings in her middle-school newspaper. A few years later at age 15, she took her first trip abroad to Uzbekistan — a journey that sparked a lifelong thirst to see the world. Today, the southern Louisiana native is a freelance writer and photographer specializing in travel and assorted feature coverage, primarily in the LGBT market. She also has written for Frommer’s Travel Guides since 2006, and has authored half of the New York City guidebook since 2008. Kelsy’s favorite quote, from writer Susan Sontag, perfectly sums up her travel philosophy: “I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.”
Sandra I. Velazquez is a contributor at American Airlines Nexos. At Nexos, Sandra writes about multicultural travel and attractions, combined with sports. She has worked for a number of news organizations and publications, including HoyDallas.com, ESPNdeportes.com, La Estrella, Metro Networks, Inc. and El Campeón (El Heraldo News sports supplement). She obtained her B.A. in Communications from the University Autonomous of Tamaulipas in 1997 with a Mention of Honor.
David Lang is a travel contributor at Sing Tao Daily News and The World Journal. In addition to his writing, David serves as a special tour consultant for Shanghai Spring International Travel Service USA Inc. and China International Travel Services (CITS). He also represents China (Guangdong) International Tourism Industry Expo (CITIE) as its North America marketing consultant and has served as a media consultant for the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB). David is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA) and International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA). Born and raised in Hong Kong, he has lived in Canada, England and the United States, and graduated from the London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE) with a master’s degree in International Relations.
Sonya A. Lowery is a travel writer at Upscale and founder of World Next Door. Lowery takes her not-so-serious job, very seriously. “I thoroughly enjoy exposing people to extraordinary experiences and taking them to places they normally wouldn’t go on their own. I live for the look of excitement and accomplishment once they’ve done something they thought they couldn’t do.” As a young girl, Lowery was always a bit of a tomboy, playing football, climbing trees and wrestling on the middle school wrestling team. Today, she takes newbies on different adventures like skydiving and whitewater rafting, and plans group adventure vacations and stay-cations annually. Lowery writes for Upscale as their ever-eager "Adventure Girl" and is the founder of World Next Door, a brand associated with action and adventure that promotes movement, fun, bucket-listing and thrill-seeking with friends.