The Real Future of Black Luxury Travel Isn't What You Think

Hello Beautiful Friends,

Let me tell you something that might surprise you about me: before I was curating luxury travel experiences for sophisticated Black women, I was crawling through bat caves in Big Bear, California at 6 years old.

Picture this (since my childhood is in boxes in storage): little me with the Crenshaw YMCA summer camp, on my very first hike, suddenly finding myself face-to-face with living, breathing creatures in their natural habitat. Not in a zoo or documentary—in their actual home. I remember being struck by this profound realization that these weren't just "animals"—they were families, with their own ways of communicating, their own stories, their own complex relationships. It was the first time I understood that there was this entire world existing alongside ours, and I wanted to explore every corner of it.

That moment sparked a 10-year journey in environmental education and camping that shaped everything about how I see travel and our relationship with the natural world. Even when wildfires kept me from returning to camp, that curiosity never left.

Now, as I'm creating luxury experiences for Black women and watching us redefine what luxury actually means, I keep thinking about that little girl in the bat cave. Here's what I've realized: the luxury travel industry is having the same awakening I had at 6 years old. People want authentic, transformative, meaningful experiences—not just beautiful backdrops for photos.

Can we talk about something that's been on my mind? I keep seeing the same conversations about Black luxury travel—designer hotels, Michelin-starred restaurants, exclusive beach clubs. All gorgeous, all worthy, but honestly? I think we're missing something extraordinary that perfectly aligns with what my audience actually values (which we'll dive deep into in the next newsletter) - all wrapped into one transformative experience.

The future of Black luxury travel isn't just found in gilded ballrooms or champagne fountains—it's unfolding on the decks of small expedition ships where intimate groups gather at sunset to witness ancient amphitheaters along Mediterranean coastlines that have hosted performances for millennia.

Let me tell you why National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions just became my new obsession.

The Luxury Travel Revolution Nobody's Talking About