Adventure for all – 16 travel brands promoting inclusivity
- Jun 15, 2020
- 8 min read
Updated: Aug 5, 2020
We’re living in the midst of some crazy times right now. If you’ve been keeping up with world news, then you know that the world is demanding for change. More specifically, change in the treatment of the black community in the United States and a re-forming of systemic structures, including the relationship with police, the redistribution of wealth, and a call for equal access to education and health care services.
There’s a lot of work to be done ahead, but it’s important to address that this isn’t just one community’s problem, this is all of our problem. Each space in our lives can do their part in ensuring that it’s inclusive to all people, and travel is no exception to that.
While the travel and tourism industry is still largely targeted towards white males, the past few years have seen an increase in travel interests from groups who are simply not being represented. The reality is that more and more people of colour are travelling, more girls are going on solo-adventures and more people with disabilities are searching for ways to safely travel abroad.
We all need to be represented and some companies are doing just that… From black-owned travel businesses, girls-only tours and LGBTQ+ excursions, to body positivity groups and travel aid resources for people with disabilities, here are 16 travel brands changing the way we see the world:
Black-focused travel:
There’s often this misconception that black people just don’t like to travel, or that they’re uncultured. This is so far from the truth and the following brands are working towards de-bunking these myths:
What started off as just an Instagram page, has since skyrocketed into a large network for black girls to share their travel stories and experiences, and above all to encourage more women to gain independence through exploration. BGTT has now developed into providing travel excursions to places around the world, with the intent of overcoming adversities many women of colour might face while being abroad. Their group tours have taken members on adventures across Thailand, India, South Africa and Barbados, as well as ‘voluntourism’ trips in South America.
Black and Abroad labels itself as a multi-platform travel and lifestyle company whose core mission is to “explore, embrace, empower.” They’re most known for their Go Back to Africa campaign, in which they reclaim the racial slur as an incentive to go out and explore, learn about different cultures and to re-frame the African story and perceptions. Their curated tours have taken members to places like Ghana, Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania, among others. Additionally, their platform serves as a powerful crowd-sourced information hub, connecting travel writers and enthusiasts, in an effort to elevate and encourage diverse narratives in the world of travel.
Urban Events Global is an American adventure company that goes beyond just travel. Rather, their vision is to “cultivate a space for professional people of colour to interact through organic events around the world.” Although they do offer a number of global tours and excursions, it’s their commitment to connecting with local members across several home country events that sets them apart. In doing so, they’ve helped established genuine and long-lasting connections, as well as networking opportunities for young professionals. The group currently holds over 50,000 members!
4. Innclusive
Think Airbnb, but more… inclusive! Innclusive was born after founder, Rohan Gilkes, had experienced racial profiling while trying to book an Airbnb rental, due to the colour of his skin. Gilkes wanted to instead create a platform where travellers could feel a sense of dignity and respect right from the beginning planning stages of their trip. Members can now feel at ease knowing their profile photos will only be shown after a reservation is confirmed, while the platform’s progressive instant-booking-only design eliminates opportunities for discrimination, regardless of race, looks, gender identity or sexual orientation. Innclusive now operates in over 130 different countries and also offers city guides and access to events and excursions.
5. Airfordable
Not actually black-focused, but proudly black owned! Let’s be honest, it’s a privilege to travel, and while many may want to experience the world, some just can’t to for financial reasons. That’s where Airfodable comes into play, making it easier and less stressful to book flights, by allowing customers to pay off tickets through a bi-weekly installment system with no credit check required! This opens up the travel playing field to many more demographics and incomes.
Girl-focused travel:
Unlike previously, more and more girls are choosing to travel solo! They’re no longer waiting around for a male friend or partner, but are realizing that the journey to empowerment and self-discovery only requires one thing – yourself! These next few travel brands are helping more girls do just that:
6. WHOA Travel
“Strong women lift each other up.” That is the motto of the girls-only adventure travel company, Women High on Adventure (WHOA Travel). They’re committed to empowering women in a space free of female comparison and are demonstrating that strong communities are built on the backs of women who come together to support and educate one another. WHOA has created a sisterhood through girls-only adventures and expeditions that go beyond the surface level – they’re trekking the Patagonia, exploring Machu Picchu and climbing the rigorous Mount Kilimanjaro. Additionally, their commitment to working with local women-owned businesses and grassroots organizations is helping strengthen local resources and communities.
For over three decades now, Wild Women Expeditions (WWE) has created global outdoor experiences that both challenge and excite their female members to step out of their comfort zones. They are a beginner-friendly travel group whose beliefs are founded on the idea of enjoying the journey just as much as the destination and who place value in learning through doing. What’s also so great about WWE is the diversity of women who partake. Not only do their members come from all sorts of skill levels, but they also come from a wide range of backgrounds and welcome women of all ages, sexual orientations and identities, including transgender women! WWE also ensures that their partnerships are all female-powered and support local women’s rights organizations and community programs.
Fat Girls Traveling (FGT) is a multi-social media support group, labeled as “fat activism through the travel lens.” Through their Instagram and YouTube channel, FGT is spreading body positivity to curvier girls and inspiring them to take on the world head first, full of confidence. They provide a platform as well as a Facebook group for members to share their travel pictures and voice their life experiences as plus-sized women. They’ve also ran multiple Fat Camp retreats in the U.S., where women come together to empower each other, as well as to learn from other plus-sized female guest speakers, influencers and boss babes that are pioneering the body positivity movement.
9. Pink Pangea
Pink Pangea is where boss babes and adventure come together! It’s a platform giving space for women who want to grow, not only through travel but also through writing and business-focused skills-building. Pink Pangea offers women the opportunity to authentically share their travel stories, tips and information, but it’s also a great resource platform for those who may want to make a business out of it! Try one of their many online workshops, from various travel writing and blogging courses, to website help, and pitching workshops! They also offer writing and journalism retreats, as well as hiking and yoga excursions!
10. Go! Girl Guides
Go! Girl Guides offers the world’s first and only series of guidebooks, “created by women, for women.” Their mission is to empower more girls to travel the world on their own, while gaining a strong sense of confidence in doing so. Their priority is to ensure safe and smart travel by equipping women with resources, covering important topics from which hotels/ hostels offer the best security, how to deal with catcalls, navigating local pharmacies, talks about access to tampons and birth control abroad, as well as tips for staying safe at night. Each guidebook is country-by-country based and available in both print and e-book format.
Disability-friendly travel:
Arguably one of the most overlooked groups in the travel and tourism market are those with physical and developmental disabilities. Unfortunately, much of our world has not been built to better facilitate this group, but these next few travel companies are breaking down those barriers:
11. Access Tours
Access Tours is an American non-profit organization making it more accessible for people with physical disabilities and special needs to explore the great outdoors. They provide wheelchair accessible package vacation tours in the American West, including trips to the Canadian Rockies, the Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore, and Southern California. Guest sizes are kept intimate, usually not more than 10 per tour and staff are highly knowledgeable in caring for all types of mobility impairments and needs.
Accessible Journeys is a vacation planner and tour operator dedicated to making travel more inclusive to people with physical disabilities and their families. They offer accessible vacation itinerary planning, group tours and cruises, disability travel resources for families and provide licensed travel companions. So, whether you’re planning a personal trip or prefer a fully taken-cared for tour, Accessible Journeys has got you covered. Some past trips have included destinations to Italy, Egypt, Antarctica, India, and various African safaris.
13. Trips Inc.
Trips Inc. is an all-inclusive vacation tour company providing a safe space for travellers 18 and older with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They have helped to promote personal and emotional growth in over 16,000 travellers, based on their core values of compassion, learning and friendship. Each tour is looked after by a group of caring tour leaders, volunteers and chaperones who are equipped in attending to the particular needs and sensibilities of each member. Most of the excursions take place nation-wide in the United States, from visiting Disneyland, to Alaskan tours and Hawaiian adventures, however they also offer some international destinations as well as cruise packages.
LGTBQ+ friendly travel:
14. Out Adventures
Probably one of the most popular and well-known LGBT tour companies. Out Adventures offers separate gay and lesbian tours, however are also very welcoming of friends and family who may want to join. They offer over 20 different tours in 15 countries, but what most stands out is their unique search platform for pairing you up with the perfect tour. Their tailor-made vacations allow you to search by different interests, themes and activities, as well as budget and group size. Some of the tours offered include gourmet travel through Portugal, a hiking trek of Peru’s Inca Trail and New Year’s celebrations in Thailand, among many others. Each tour is guided by an experienced leader and often a host as well, who are all knowledgeable on the ins and outs of local customs and attitudes around the LGBT community to keep you feeling safe and comfortable.
15. Detours Travel
Detours Travel is a gay-focused tour company that was born after noticing that most other tours were too ‘cookie-cutter’. Instead, Detours ditches the traditional, well-planned out itinerary for one that allows for spontaneity and adventure. As stated on their site, “Detours is a laid-back approach to travel that feels more like exploring the world with friends than anything else.” Their priority is on creating less restrictive and more flexible itineraries that focus on getting to know a particular country and culture - unrushed and on a local scale. There’s no strict daily plan, but rather guests can expect to have the choice in a number of daily activities that’ll guarantee to bring in fun on their own terms!
16. Olivia Travel
Olivia Travel is a lesbian-focused tour company that has taken nearly 300,000 women across the world, on cruises, riverboat vacations and adventure travel. What’s unique about them is that they charter many of their accommodations, including entire ships and resorts to provide a safe space for their female guests. Tours are also tailored with specific programs to meet the interests of all types of travellers – from onboard mixers for solo vacationers, to their special Sisters at Sea program, geared towards women of colour – each program creates opportunities for members to get to know each other, celebrate diversity, lift each other up and cultivate genuine friendships. Vacations include cruises to Greece and the Mediterranean, Costa Rica and the Panama Canal, and adventures to Machu Picchu, Alaska and India, as well as many riverboat destinations around Europe.
Happy travels,
Tatiana
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