RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Valerie Dorsey, CEO of Cruise Planners/Charmed Vacations, and Stephen Scott, owner and founder of Travel Hub365, have been appointed co-chairs of Northstar Travel Group's Black Travel Advisory Board (BTAB).
Dorsey and Scott, both founding board members, replace Orlando Ashford, who is transitioning from the travel industry.
"The Black Travel Advisory Board is filled with leaders, and it is an honor to be among them," said Dorsey. "I hope to continue our quest to recognize that, as Black people, our place in tourism and the world crosses all boundaries, and we want a place at every table. We have done a lot of work to-date, and I am proud of Northstar for continuing to want to grow."
"Since the inception of the BTAB, I have seen a shift in media coverage and events. We are beginning to see more emphasis on topics surrounding the Black traveler and those who are Black in the travel industry," said Scott. "As a co-chair, I am looking forward to having a more holistic view of the amazing work that is happening throughout each of the board's core committees that helps push our mission forward."
Northstar also welcomed four new board members at their recent meeting: Belvin Baldwin, owner, Showtime Travel; Shawn Cole, vice president, global sales, Delta Air Lines; Shirnett Fleet, chief marketing officer, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises; and Sanya Weston, CEO, Your Premier Travel Service Group.
"We are honored to have Valerie and Scott co-chairing the board, as their insights and leadership have helped generate several impactful initiatives thus far," said Bob Sullivan, chief commercial officer/president, Northstar Travel Group. "We're looking forward to continuing to grow and make an imprint on the travel industry under their guidance."
The board's mission statement, goals and ongoing efforts are chronicled on the Northstar site. The efforts are focused in the areas of recruiting Black talent into the industry, utilizing more Black voices and sharing Black perspectives in content and editorial spaces, and increasing participation of Black professionals in events as attendees and speakers.
The BTAB was formed in 2020 with the goal of fostering a more inclusive travel industry, and is comprised of both travel advisors and industry suppliers as well as Northstar executive team members. A complete list of the BTAB members can be found on Northstar's corporate website.