Maurice Foley is the founder of The Black Travel Expo. The event took place in Atlanta at the Marquis Marriot Hotel on June 3-4, 2022. It had over 2000 guests in attendance for its premiere. It included over 20+ panelists and speakers, 25 workshops and events, and 75 sponsors and vendors. This historic expo will be the spark for many more events to come.
Here is Maurice’s story:
Maurice became a full-time entrepreneur in June 2021 after he launched his latest venture the Black Travel Expo. He has degrees in communications and marketing and a master’s degree in management. Maurice has had a passion for travel since the age of 6. He now has incorporated his travel adventures into various business opportunities.
10 years ago, he launched a successful travel company called Two Oceans Travel & Tours. With it, he takes small groups to countries within the continent of Africa. He started traveling to South Africa 22 years ago and has now made Cape Town one of his homes. He also owns a multi-million-dollar real estate development firm and property management company.
After conducting research on the Black traveler, he came across a report by MMGY Global and Black Travel Alliance. This report stated that in 2019 (pre-covid), Black leisure travelers in the U.S. spent $109.4 billion in travel. Creating this event was no issue for Maurice who has created successful events in the past. However, not on this scale.
Maurice felt Black travelers needed to have their own platform to network and meet other like-minded travel consumers. He created an event to support Black entrepreneurs. The event included engaging panel discussions and open conversations between the Black travel consumer and corporations.
What is your vision for the future of the Black travel?
My vision for the Black travel industry is to provide travel education, information, awareness, and economic empowerment for the Black community. Empowering the Black community with the proper tools and knowledge will certainly create long- lasting and necessary platforms.
Why is the Black travel industry important to you?
The Black travel industry is important to me because travel is part of our daily lives. It’s not always about the destination but more about the journey and sharing those stories and experiences with others. Travel inspiration and encouraging others to travel is most important.
What do you want those in attendance at this premiere expo to remember about this historic event?
I want those who attended the Black Travel Expo to remember that we provided a platform for people to learn about the Black travel industry. People met other Black travel professionals, created opportunities, and had discussions. The topics discussed were DEI , Black Men in Travel, how to live abroad, and how to purchase real estate abroad. Lastly, it was an opportunity to bring like- minded Black people together.
