Africa Travel WeekLGBTQ+ African business owners talk about pandemic recovery strategies, new LGBTQ+ offerings and how the larger travel and tourism community can benefit through supporting LGBTQ+ travelers and the local LGBTQ+ community.
THE SPEAKERS
Jason Fiddler
Chairperson: KwaZulu-Natal Gay & Lesbian Tourism Association
Jason is an experienced tourism industry analyst and has over 22 years’ experience with gay travel and the LGBTQ market. He has presented a number of professional speaking sessions to the travel trade and industry and as a founder of the KwaZulu-Natal Gay & Lesbian Tourism Association since 2004, is currently its chairperson.
Lipian Mtandabari
Director: Ntsako Travel Africa
Lipian Mtandabari has a strong passion for tourism and promoting equality through travel. He started Ntsako Travel Africa in 2018, an Exclusive Pan African LGBTQ+ travel company. The primary philosophy of Ntsako Travel Africa is to sell Southern Africa as an emerging destination for the LGBTQ+ travelling community. In addition to promoting the destination, Ntsako Travel Africa is also involved in capacitating, developing and transitioning the service industry to embrace LGBTQ+ travel and become LGBTQ+ inclusive.
Moira Edmunds
Director Of Operations and Head Tourist Guide: Green Beyond Tours & Travel Co
Moira, who is a Director of Green Beyond Tours and Travel, has a background in both the corporate and NPO world where she helped new start-ups get off the ground and to turn around non-performing corporates. She is a registered Chartered Marketer (CM(SA))with an interest in strategy and sales and marketing. Moira is an eternal student and has completed both local and international studies in a number of areas including travel, law, business, marketing, psychology, medicine, veterinary physiotherapy, counselling, executive coaching, agriculture, sustainability and sustainable development, drama, education and wine and wine-making. She is currently enrolled for further studies.
Michael Gladwin
Managing Director: Afrigay Travel
Michael, based in the Mother City, is the proud owner of The Travel & Event Company and founder of AfriGay Travel – an exclusive LGBTQ+ travel operation creating experiences in Southern Africa and around the world for the wonderful Alphabet Mafia. As an IGLTA Foundation Scholarship recipient a few years back, Michael has formed lifelong relationships with key players in the LGBTQ+ global travel & tourism world. Whilst also perfecting his sourdough skills during the ‘great travel pause’, much time has been spent on developing a series of engaging LGBTQ+ awareness, education and sensitivity workshops, dedicated to changing the way the tourism industry does business with the LGBTQ+ traveler.
THE MODERATOR
Martina Barth
Africa Representative: IGLTA
With a career spanning over 28 years in the tourism and hospitality industry and having worked for some of the leading hotel groups, she brings a deep understanding of many aspects of the tourism industry. She is also the Group Sales Manager for the Liz McGrath Collection. A strong passion lies in making the world more inclusive and welcoming for all. Her keen interest in advancing the LGBTQ+ Travel segment has been a focus since first attending the IGLTA Global convention held in Cape Town in 2016. Martina is incredibly passionate about cultivating, building, and strengthening relationships with travel partners across the various market segments. She has led an illustrious career curating and implementing innovative sales strategies that help build strong brands.
