The dinner celebrates the legacy of the Negro Motorist Green Book, the publication that, for nearly 30 years, helped Black travelers navigate the challenges of segregation during the era of Jim Crow laws. This year’s inaugural celebration will honor organizations, community leaders, and travel professionals for their significant contributions to diversity and cultural tourism.
A special highlight of the A Celebration of Cultural Tourism Dinner event will be honoring those who, through their historic, invaluable contributions to the Green Book, helped pave the path to a more inclusive travel landscape. These pioneers of progress will be recognized in five categories: Transportation, Lodging, Community Partner, Restaurant, and Indigenous/Native American Partner (with the support and recommendation from the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association).
The event is a marvelous mix of joy, perseverance, and triumph, according to David Jackson, executive director of the Green Book Institute. “With this celebration, we will honor the inspiring story of the Green Book and those who helped shape and sustain it,” he said. “We also will lift up our work of today, which connects small businesses and entrepreneurs with the global tourism community.”
Fittingly, the event will take place during the annual gathering of packaged travel professionals at NTA’s Travel Exchange. The presence of NTA members – tour operators and representatives of destinations, hotels, restaurants, motorcoach companies, and experience providers – will add the spirit of today’s tourism innovators to a celebration of the legacy established by their predecessors.
“It is an absolute honor to help host this wonderful event that pays tribute to those in our industry who acted with courage and compassion,” said Catherine Prather, NTA president. “Our association prioritizes the ideals of the Green Book Institute, and we’re excited to shine a spotlight on the good that travel can bring to the world.”
The dinner, to be held at Huntsville’s Von Braun Center, will be emceed by Denella Ri’chard, the host and producer of “Traveling With Denella Ri’chard,” an award-wining, globally streaming television show. Along with honoring Green Book pioneers and the indigenous partner, the event will also celebrate tourism and civic leaders from Huntsville.
Tags: Catherine Prather, NTA, National Tour Association
