African
Diaspora World Tourism Awards and Travel Expo
Dignitaries, notables, professionals and culture and travel enthusiast of African descent set to descend on Atlanta!
African
Diaspora World Tourism Awards & Travel Show Expo in Atlanta, Ga. (USA) on April 26-28, 2013. The
three-day event will also include a Travel Show Expo, an Africana
Culture Performances Extravaganza, a Hall
of Fame luncheon and Visit Africa
and Caribbean luncheons, in addition to the awards ceremony. The event is being
presented by AfricanDiasporaTourism.com
in association with the AD King
Foundation.
The
official gala awards ceremony recognizing people who have made unique and
significant contributions in the fields of black culture and heritage tourism
will take place at the Atlanta Airport
Marriott on Saturday April 27th beginning with a reception at 6 pm. Noted
broadcast journalist Monica Kaufman
Pearson is host for the awards gala.
The African
Diaspora World Tourism Awards ceremony will recognize professionals for
outstanding services as tour operators, travel planners, culture and heritage
scholars, tourism ministers and CEO'S, and other professionals in travel. We will pay tribute to politicians,
government officials, and people of all races who have contributed to the
development and promotion of culture and heritage tourism in the places of the
African Diaspora worldwide. Awards will also be given to destinations, historic
sites, organizations, institutions and corporations.
In
addition to giving out awards at the ceremony, AfricanDiasporaTourism.com will honour 100 leaders in the
‘Hall of Fame’ who have made legendary contributions to the field of black
culture and heritage in such a way as to significantly influence tourism. These
include notables like Congressman John
Lewis, Mr. And Ms. Muhammad Ali,
Ms. Coretta King, Danny Glover, Dr. Julius Garvey, Dr. Asa
Hilliard, Bob and Rita Marley,
former Senegalese president Abdoulaye Wade, former
Ambassador Andy Young, Tavis Smiley, Dr. Maulana Karenga, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Dr. Jean Ping and many others from around the world. The Hall of Fame luncheon honoring these legends will be earlier
that day at noon.
On Friday the day before, there will be a “Visit Africa” Luncheon at noon where destinations
from the Motherland will provide information about touring their countries. The
Africana Extravaganza, consisting of
cultural performances, artistic exhibits and Diasporic cuisines will happen
that evening at 7 PM. The Travel Show
Expo, which will take place on both Friday and Saturday, will allow tourism
destinations, corporations and vendors of the hospitality industry to showcase
and promote their products. The Caribbean
Brunch, where you can learn about visiting islands of the Caribbean will
take place on Sunday morning right before the wrap-up meeting to adjourn.
ADT
publications editor Kitty J. Pope, who is the founder/ director and producer of
this event, says that an award ceremony of this type is needed because we have
shining stars who have worked hard to push forth agendas related to black
culture and heritage tourism. "There is the annual World Travel
Awards that is the 'Oscars' of the travel industry; but because of its
uniqueness, I feel that a separate, special event is needed for the culture and
heritage contributions of people of African descent," says Pope.
Dr. Babs Onabanjo, co-founder and CEO of the AD King Foundation, is the executive producer of this event who
says that he is glad to help present an event that will bring people from
Africa and people of African descent from around the world together.
“Dignitaries, notables, travel industry experts and professionals will be able
to come together for all types of networking opportunities.”
“The awards ceremony is
dedicated to the late great Marcus
Garvey and we are happy to announce that his son Dr. Julius Garvey will participate as a presenter,” says Pope. “The
Africana Extravaganza and the Travel Show
Expo was added on to this event because of the overwhelming response from
people around the world. “Destinations, especially African countries, wanted to
be a part of this, and cultural performers and artists also wanted to
participate. So we have made this into a three-day event”, says Pope.
“The Travel Show Expo is the first of its kind to place emphasis on
black heritage sites and trails worldwide in order to increase visitation and
tourism.” Our Africana Extravaganza
will be hosted by acclaimed artist and sculptor Donald Brown from Great
Britain, and it will be headlined by Ron
Bobb- Semple, who will do a re-enactment of Marcus Garvey, and Bob
Marley’s granddaughter Donisha will do spoken word.
“This will be a most
historical and exciting three-day event because we are bringing all things related
to black cultural and heritage tourism under one roof,” says Pope.
For registration and more
information, visit www.ADWT-Awards.com. Discounted
tables are available for special seating at the Awards Ceremony for organizations, associations and corporations. Travel Show Expo booths are available for businesses and vendors. You may
also call (404) 549-7215 or (404) 784-4095 for details.
