Bring your staff, tell your neighboring businesses:
Everyone's Welcome at Everyone Welcome!
Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism is kicking off its Tourism Education Series for 2021 with this important, FREE training opportunity for the Whatcom hospitality community.
On June 2, join in to take a big, important step toward welcoming the LGBTQ+ community!
Our education partner, HospitableMe, will deliver their signature program, Everyone Welcome! This training program will discuss evolving language, the growing market, unconscious bias, the challenges LGBTQ+ people face when traveling, and ways we can do better and make the community feel more welcomed. Find more details and presenter bios below.
Everyone Welcome Virtual Training Meeting
When: June 2, 2021
10:15am - 10:30am: Network and Meet Your Hosts
10:30am: Presentation Begins Promptly (90 minutes)
Where: Virtual Meeting—Register HERE.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
It is a goal at Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism to make everyone feel more included. We hope you’ll join us as we embark on this journey. |
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What is Everyone Welcome?
Everyone Welcome is HospitableMe’s signature education program. It’s part biology, part sociology, part history, part psychology…and even a little “believe it or not!” Engaging and actionable, Everyone Welcome will help you examine your opportunities and challenges with LGBTQ+ guests , and start on your path to more welcoming, inclusive hospitality.
Our program will help you and your staff by:
- Explaining who are the people and communities that make up LGBTQ+
- Explaining the relevance of LGBTQ+ to your industry, segment and business
- Showing how LGBTQ+ people have typically been disrespected, insulted and excluded
- Sharing language, service and systems issues that impact LGBTQ+ guests
- Explaining global gender-identity trends
- Giving a broad overview of the LGBTQ+market characteristics and demographics
- Sharing actionable best practices that can be implemented immediately
- Giving recommendations and resources for further learning
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Who is HospitableMe?
HospitableMe is a global leader in inclusive hospitality, providing strategy and education to tourism, retail and healthcare organizations. Our educational programs help people and organizations connect more comfortably, respectfully and authentically with diverse customers, guests, clients and patients. Learn more at hospitable.me. |
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Billy Kolber
Co-Founder and CEO
Billy Kolber is the Co-Founder and CEO of HospitableMe, providing inclusive hospitality strategy and training for tourism, retail and healthcare organizations. He has a degree in Biology, but has spent his entire career in travel, running an American Express travel agency before launching OUT&ABOUT, the first gay and lesbian travel magazine in the USA. Billy traveled and sang around the world with the Yale Whiffenpoofs and is a two-time annual Pie Contest champion in Water Island. A 3rd generation native New Yorker, has visited 72 countries, and currently lives with his husband in Frankfurt, Germany. |
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Kenny Porpora Bio
Co-Founder and Vice President
Kenny Porpora is the Co-Founder and Vice-President of HospitableMe, providing inclusive hospitality strategy and training for tourism, retail and healthcare organizations. Trained as a journalist at Columbia, he has created and curated content for some of the most prominent destination marketing organizations in the world. Kenny is the New York Times best-selling author of The Autumn Balloon and his work has appeared in The New York Times, Newsweek, Buzzfeed, Salon and others. He has traveled to more than 25 countries and is a self-proclaimed puppy dog enthusiast, and future small-batch jam entrepreneur. |
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