Tuesday, July 9, 2024
reading time: 2 minutes
The 30th anniversary of ESSENCE Festival took center stage in New Orleans this past weekend, as Travel Divas made history with over 300 women making the largest girls’ trip to the annual festival held July 4-7.
The festivities kicked off with a lavish reception at the Westin Hotel, featuring Grammy-nominated New Orleans native Paige Freedia. Paige Freedia engaged in a special conversation with host Brandi Woods and hosted a fun dance competition, with the winner receiving concert tickets to all three nights. Over the weekend, the Divas enjoyed headlining concerts by Janet Jackson, Usher and Cash Money, and traveled in luxury on a custom Travel Divas bus.
According to ESSENCE, “If luxury travel with fellow black women sounds like your taste, look no further than Travel Divas.”
Founder of Chanteria Early She echoed this sentiment in her welcoming remarks, saying, “You will celebrate yourselves this week.” I participated. “You deserve room service. You deserve some days where you don’t make your bed. You need that break.”
Travel Divas, a community of over 600,000 professional Black women, has made a huge impact since 2021, spending over $38 million on travel and organizing over 756 trips to 61 countries. The organization started with bus trips to New Orleans.
Travel Divas hosts over 100 travel events worldwide each year. Despite the diversity of its destinations, ESSENCE remains a cornerstone. Since 2009, Travel Divas has attracted over 900 women to the festival. This year saw its largest gathering ever, with over 300 women in attendance.
“This festival is very personal to me.” Chantera Early Founder Shares“As a child, ESSENCE magazine was a staple in my home. The ESSENCE Festival brings the magazine to life. All those years of flipping through its pages culminate in this vibrant, personal experience of New Orleans.”
Travel not only creates lasting memories, it can also enhance and prolong our lives. Research shows that travel can boost mental health and reduce stress. “Whether it’s sitting on a safari in South Africa, having lunch at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, enjoying tea at the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, or walking the streets of Tokyo in a kimono, Travel Divas takes women from familiar places to new places where they can breathe and experience another culture.” Earley adds,.
“Seeing 114 amazing black women travel to Dubai was exciting for some and disrupted what they thought we were capable of,” said Travel Divas Community Manager Michelle Timms“We are proud to provide a safe space for Black women to travel. Safety is our top priority while ensuring our stars have a great time.”
After the girls’ trip, Travel Divas raved about their amazing experience at ESSENCE Festival, with many already planning next year’s event. The trip ended with a lively hip-hop brunch in the French Quarter. With over 700 successful trips, Travel Divas continues to lead the way for black female travelers everywhere.
