Renowned entrepreneur, activist, and cultural producer Aisha Shaibu-Lenoir has been appointed as Contiki’s LGBTQIA+ Ambassador for 2023. This exciting partnership aims to break down barriers and promote visibility, equality, and equity within the travel industry.
Contiki Tours: Breaking barriers & championing inclusivity
Aisha’s ongoing mission is to break down barriers and achieve visibility, equality, and equity for all within the LGBTQIA+ community. Her appointment comes with a 12-month contract, during which she will serve as Contiki’s voice of the LGBTQIA+ community, both internally and externally.
In a statement, Aisha expressed her enthusiasm for collaborating with Contiki to amplify diverse and marginalised voices from the LGBTQIA+ community. She emphasised the importance of making travel more inclusive, intersectional, accessible, and mindful of the needs of all women, queer people of colour, and the non-binary and trans community.
Travel needs to be more inclusive, intersectional, accessible and to take into account the needs of all women, queer people of colour as well as our non-binary and trans community.
Aisha Shaibu-Lenoir
Aisha Shaibu-Lenoir: A Trailblazer’s journey
Aisha Shaibu-Lenoir has been recognised as a top LGBTQIA+ Trailblazer for 2023. As an entrepreneur, activist, and cultural producer, she has been involved in various projects that promote visibility, equality, and equity for the LGBTQIA+ community, including:
- Moonlight Experiences: Aisha runs this LGBTQIA+ travel group, which celebrates the community’s nightlife and culture through tours of Great Britain.
- UK Black Pride: She serves as the Head of Community Engagement for the largest event of its kind in the world, with over 25,000 attendees.
- GiveOut: Aisha is a trustee for this international LGBTQIA+ Foundation, which supports the battle for LGBTQIA+ rights worldwide.
Contiki’s commitment to diversity and inclusion
Rachel Storey, Brand & Partnerships Director at Contiki, expressed the company’s delight in working with Aisha, stating that her input will greatly contribute to how Contiki communicates and engages with their LGBTQIA+ audience and allies. Contiki is excited to consult with Aisha on various areas, including content production, products, and making their trips as inclusive and accessible as possible.
Contiki Tours acknowledges that no single individual can represent an entire community; however, they hope that by listening closely to Aisha, their marketing materials and trip selection will better represent the interests of everyone within the LGBTQIA+ community.
We’ll listen closely to what Aisha has to say, and she’ll contribute massively to how we communicate and engage with our LGBTQIA+ audience and allies. We hope this partnership helps us with our ongoing mission to tailor our products to a diverse range of audiences.
Rachel Storey
A New era for LGBTQIA+ travel
Aisha’s appointment as Contiki’s LGBTQIA+ Ambassador signals a new era for LGBTQIA+ travel, where brands are increasingly recognising the need for authentic representation and inclusive experiences tailored to the community. As a result, travel providers are making strides to create a more diverse and welcoming environment for LGBTQIA+ travellers.
This appointment comes on the heels of various initiatives launched by travel brands to promote diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. Contiki itself has recently launched its own Pride trips which have been meticulously crafted to honour the rich diversity within the LGBTQ+ community, simultaneously delving into various cultures and global destinations.
In recent years, multiple tourism boards and organisations have introduced training programmes to improve awareness and understanding of the LGBTQIA+ community’s needs and preferences. Additionally, several companies have established internal diversity and inclusion councils to ensure that their staff are well equipped to cater to the unique requirements of all travellers, regardless of their background or identity.
The appointment of Aisha Shaibu-Lenoir as Contiki’s LGBTQIA+ Ambassador is a testament to the travel industry’s commitment to fostering a more inclusive and accessible environment for all travellers. This partnership is expected to be a driving force in reshaping the way travel companies approach and engage with the LGBTQIA+ community, setting a new standard for diversity and inclusivity in the sector.
