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Green Book Institute honors champions of cultural tourism at Travel Exchange ’24

December 3, 2024

Photo by Normand Huberdeau

During a Nov. 18 luncheon at NTA’s Travel Exchange ’24 in Huntsville, Alabama, The Green Book Institute honored five organizations that helped pave the path to a more inclusive travel landscape.

The inaugural presentation of the Cultural Tourism Awards, led by Karin Aaron and David Jackson of the Green Book Institute, opened with a video chronicling the history and significance of The Negro Motorist Green Bookduring the segregation era. The 2024 awards enable the Green Book Institute to preserve the spirit of the publication, produced from 1936 to 1965.

“Cultural travel is a driving force for growth, sustainability, and meaningful community engagement,” Jackson told the crowd of travel professionals. “We’re proud to join this global conversation that aims to amplify the value of cultural tourism while fostering education and awareness.”

Listed below are the representatives from three honored organizations who joined Aaron and Jackson on stage at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, the site of the four-day travel trade show. Ford Motor Company and Howard Johnson by Wyndham also received awards but were not represented.

  • Terri Harvill, YMCA of the USA
  • Melanie Bench, Cherokee Nation
  • William Hampton, Huntsville Revisited

“I’m truly humbled to receive this honor,” said Hampton, founder of Huntsville Revisited. “Preserving Huntsville’s history is a passion and a privilege, and this recognition inspires me to continue shining a light on the stories that make our community unique.”

At a media forum following the awards program, NTA president Catherine Prather emphasized the broader significance of cultural travel.

“By celebrating and preserving the unique histories and contributions of diverse communities, we create meaningful experiences that resonate deeply with NTA members and the traveling public,” she said. “Cultural tourism allows this rich history to be authentically shared, and it also financially supports local communities and small businesses around the world.”

Click here for more information about the Greenbook Institute.

Pictured left to right: David Jackson, Green Book Institute; Bryce Wilson, GroupCollect (sponsor); William Hampton, Huntsville Revisited; Melanie Bench, Cherokee Nation; Terri Harvill, Birmingham YMCA; and Karin Aaron, Green Book Experience.

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