Africa Travel WeekIf you have ever wanted to tap into the LGBTQ+ market the time is now, and this masterclass is a great place to start. In this session, Tanya Churchmuch, hosted a panel of LGBTQ influencers who shared their travel and tourism experiences; what worked, what didn’t and what travellers within this market segment are looking for.
THE SPEAKERS
Maartje Hensen
Once Upon A Journey
Hi, I’m Maartje. You can tell me apart from my wife, Roxanne by my glasses. Most of the time you spot a camera first, and then my face. I have the tendency to change my hair quite a bit, so that is not the best point of recognition. According to my mum, I was born with the travel bug. Ever since I was a little kid I was telling everyone I was planning on emigrating ‘when I was old enough’, and I would visit the United States first. In 2015, I crossed that one off the bucket list during a study abroad.
Roxanne Weijer
Once Upon A Journey
The girl who is 7 cm (2.8 inches) taller, two years older and has more curls in her hair; that’s me, Roxanne! Friends say you can hear my laugh even before you can see me. What can I say? I’m very easily made enthusiast for anything! When I was 13 years old, my dad and step-mom took me to Thailand. I immediately fell in love with Asia and traveling. Afterward, a world trip seemed inevitable. After finishing high-school I left the Netherlands for six months to travel around Asia, New-Zealand, and Australia. I met so many incredible people, saw the most beautiful things and also did some crazy things like bungee jumping and skydiving (and other, improper, things).
Ravi Roth
Creator/Producer
Ravi Roth is a 35-year-old living in NYC. Ravi grew up in a small town called Dalton, outside of Scranton, PA. He has been trekking the globe since he was 24 and has since been to 31 Countries. Ravi has always had an inate sense of wonder and curiosity leading him to talk to anyone he meets along his ways. Ravi began acting at the age of five and he studied at The Boston Conservatory. Ravi had been seen across the country and in New York in Altar Boyz, Suessical, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, and Fiddler on the Roof. Travel runs in the blood of the Roth family. His brother Yogi recently made a documentary with their father, Will, called “Life in a Walk” where they walked the Camino De Santiago.
Teraj
Singer and social media influencer
Miami-born and NYC-based, Teraj, is an accomplished model, social media influencer, dancer, and versatile artist who is poised to step into the spotlight as a skillful Pop/R&B singer and songwriter. As Teraj gained notoriety for his promising modeling career, in January of 2014, Teraj took on the New York City real estate market as an agent for Keller Williams NYC, quickly making a name for himself and landing several appearances on Bravo’s hit reality show ‘Million Dollar Listing New York.’ In 2016, Teraj decided to return to his musical roots full-time and started working on his debut album. He began to travel the world and landed performances in Rome, Montreal, Toronto, Savannah. With all of his accomplishments, Teraj is just getting started – finally pursuing his lifelong dream as an entertainer/artist ready to change the world.
THE MODERATOR
Tanya Churchmuch
President, MuchPR
Tanya Churchmuch is the founder of MuchPR, a New York-based PR agency focusing on travel, hospitality and LGBTQ markets. Tanya launched the company after working in-house for Tourisme Montreal in Canada for several years where she oversaw their global PR team and everything related to their LGBTQ PR and marketing efforts. With MuchPR she helps lead the LGBTQ efforts for a national tourism board and supports other DMOs and tour operators in their efforts to authentically and effectively connect with the community.
Tanya has a long history with the LGBTQ travel industry: she was the founder of the first lesbian travel website, Girlports; a longtime Board member of IGLTA, including three years as Board Chair and now an Executive Member of the IGLTA Foundation; and a lesbian brand ambassador for Out Adventures. In 2018, Tanya was awarded IGLTA’s Hanns Ebensten Hall of Fame Award for her years of work dedicated to awareness and visibility of the LGBTQ traveller in the travel industry.
MuchPR is a founding partner of The Change Agencies, the first network of independently owned PR and marketing agencies focusing on Black, Asian-American, Hispanic and LGBTQ communities. A recognized expert in the LGBTQ travel industry, Tanya has spoken on this topic at travel conferences around the world, including ITB, IGLTA, ASTA, Salão São Paulo de Turismo, Community Marketing, LGBT Week NYC, Women in Travel Summit and many more.
Jean Lim
