Aisha Scheib LenoirKenneth Lamb
Aisha Scheib Lenoir
Aisha was founded in 2019 moonlight experienceis a pioneering LGBTQ+ travel company specializing in queer culture and history. Through her work, Aisha strives to advance education and understanding by decolonizing travel and making it more accessible. Her team is made up of over 25 of her LGBTQ+ activists and creatives, and she hosts trips all over the world, from Europe to Africa to Asia. This year, her contributions are gaining attention as she was named Kon-Tiki’s LGBTQ+ Ambassador. Aisha’s influence extends to her Airbnb as well. She is a community leader at Airbnb, and she was invited to our headquarters to talk about making the experience platform safer for the LGBTQ+ community.
Aisha, a Black British woman with roots in Ghana and Nigeria, noticed a worrying trend in tourism services aimed at the queer community, which were primarily aimed at white gay men. This allowed her to create visibility and opportunities for people similar to herself. Aisha warmly welcomes others to join her experience, whether to learn or just to have fun.
My admiration for Aisha’s work began when we met years ago and I’ve loved watching her win ever since. She is an advocate for Black travel and recognizes the important role intersectionality plays in our journeys. Aisha’s presence in her travel world is a gift and I am grateful that she can amplify and celebrate her queer experiences from the forefront.
Anita Francois
Anita Francois
Born in London to Seychellois and Haitian-American parents, Anita has always been fascinated by cultural heritage. Her journey as a museum curator led to her solo creations spotlighting African indigenous communities around the world, and planted the seeds of her interest in the Black travel movement in 2016.
Currently, Anita is firmly entrenched in the travel industry as the Founder and CEO of . black travel summit, is committed to supporting, empowering and creating opportunities for the Black travel community. Acting as a connector and ecosystem creator, Anita brings together travel professionals of all generations, including entrepreneurs, influencers, travel advisors, and those eager to partner with Black-owned businesses.
What started as a virtual webinar with more than 8,000 viewers during the coronavirus pandemic has evolved into a full-fledged global summit with 300 participants in Miami. The second Global Summit is just around the corner from October 20th to 22nd, and Anita has received support from the beginning from notable sponsors including Hyatt, Wheatlabel, and Royal Caribbean. This proves how valuable her ideas are throughout the industry.
Although we have yet to meet in person, Anita’s online presence and recent conversations confirmed her passion and dedication to uplifting the Black community. Anita is not only redefining travel for her, but building bridges to empower the Black travel community and ensuring brighter journeys for generations to come.
