Women continue to venture out into the world, explore new horizons, and shape the future of travel in long-lasting ways. From diversifying the travel industry to creating awards that honor the contributions of women in travel, the following travel conferences have emerged over the years, providing important platforms for women and the BIPOC community to network, learn, and find inspiration for their next trip.
Whether you’re a content creator eager to grow your travel brand or a first-time solo traveler wanting to connect with other globetrotters, these annual travel conferences are the perfect place to learn a thing or two about travel and find your travel community.
The Women in Travel Summit (WITS)
Anytime I meet a woman who is new to the travel community and eager to connect with other travelers, I point her in the direction of Wanderful. The Wanderful community, founded by Beth Santos, brings together women with a shared passion for all things travel. This robust travel community is comprised of numerous city chapters, a digital hub brimming with virtual events and discussions, as well as in-person conferences.
Organized by Wanderful, the Women in Travel Summit (WITS) stands out as one of the premier travel conferences for travelers, bloggers, and entrepreneurs. WITS offers a diverse range of workshops, panel discussions, and networking opportunities aimed at empowering women in the travel space to explore the globe or launch their own travel-focused businesses.
Notably, Wanderful has also created the Bessie Awards (named for Bessie Coleman, the first woman of African American and Native American descent to hold a pilot’s license). The Bessie Awards celebrate women in the travel space who continue to reshape and diversify the travel industry in impactful ways.
Wanderfest
Also from the Wanderful community comes Wanderfest, self-described as “the first women-powered outdoor festival for women who love to travel.” Similar to Wanderful’s premier event WITS, Wanderfest brings together travel lovers from across the globe for a weekend filled with inspiring speakers, curated excursions, networking events, and a global marketplace.
Women’s Travel Fest
Originally founded by entrepreneur and travel expert Kelly Lewis, the Women’s Travel Fest is an annual travel conference that celebrates and inspires women to explore the world fearlessly. This conference brings together travelers, writers, and industry professionals to share inspiring discussions and workshops aimed at helping others to travel confidently or to share advice on launching their own travel careers.
Last year, the Women’s Travel Fest was taken over by the powerhouse Alexandra Jimenez, known for her Travel Fashion Girl brand. In early 2024, Jimenez took Women’s Travel Fest abroad for the first time in the conference’s history, bringing travel lovers and industry folks to Playa del Carmen, Mexico, for a multi-day event filled with thoughtful panels, curated excursions, and nods to the local culture.
Nomadness Fest
While not exclusively for women, Nomadness Fest is a hallmark travel conference that celebrates the BIPOC community and its allies. Founded by the empowering Evita Robinson, who has been a champion for diversity in travel for years, this weekend festival brings together speakers for candid conversations about what it’s like to explore the world as a traveler of color.
Through these imperative discussions, BIPOC travelers are given essential resources, tips, and advice, as well as the support of a globally diverse community. The Nomadness Fest is an offshoot of the larger BIPOC community, Nomadness, which brings together over 30,000 Black and Brown travelers and also curates trips for its members.
In 2024, Nomadness Fest will focus on the theme of “Reimagining BIPOC Travel” by looking ahead at how artificial intelligence and media influence continue to reshape travel. By inviting television hosts, representatives from large travel tech companies, and notable content creators, this year’s Nomadness Fest promises to address our burning questions about where travel is headed and how it will evolve.
The Latino Travel Fest
Similar to Nomadness Fest, the Latino Travel Fest is not exclusive to women but important to include nonetheless. This travel fest is geared towards the Latino community and its allies, bringing together Latino and Latina authors, creators, entrepreneurs, and bloggers for exciting panels, discussions, and workshops. Although this travel conference is a newcomer and only in its second year, it has made a splash by being the first (and only) travel conference dedicated to the Latin community. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler, a budding entrepreneur, or simply passionate about exploring the world, these travel conferences offer something for everyone with a wanderlust spirit.
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