Contiki has appointed Aisha Shaibu-Lenoir, entrepreneur, activist and producer as its LGBTQIA+ ambassador for 2023. Shaibu-Lenoir aims to break down barriers and achieve visibility, equality, and equity for all within the community. She has joined on a 12-month contract and will serve as Contiki’s voice of the LGBTQIA+ community, both internally and externally.
“I am excited to embark on this journey with Contiki where we can collaborate to further amplify diverse and marginalized voices from our community,” said Shaibu-Lenoir. “Working together also means we contribute towards the changing face of travel. Travel needs to be more inclusive, intersectional, accessible and to take into account the needs of all women, queer people of color as well as our non-binary and trans community.”
“We’re delighted to be working with Aisha,” said Rachel Storey, brand and partnerships director at Contiki. “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. She’ll also do a bit of traveling with us so she can really get a feel for the Contiki experience, as well as what we stand for as a brand. We hope this partnership helps us with our ongoing mission to tailor our products to a diverse range of audiences.”
Shaibu-Lenoir is known for her work on various projects. She runs an LGBTQIA+ travel group called Moonlight Experiences, which spotlights and celebrates the community’s nightlife and culture on tours of Great Britain; she is head of community engagement for UK Black Pride, whose event last year was the largest of its kind in the world with over 25,000 attendees. She is also a trustee for GiveOut, an international LGBTQIA+ Foundation that supports the battle for the community’s rights across the world.
This summer, Contiki is hosting the “Spain Pride” trip with stops in Madrid, Sitges and Barcelona for the “Pride Barcelona” event as well as the “Contiki Pride” tour with a journey from London to Paris to Amsterdam for “Pride Amsterdam.”
For more information, visit www.contiki.com.
Related Stories
MMGY Global Releases Portrait of LGBTQ+ Travelers in America
WeTravel, Queer Destinations Create Inclusive Tourism Course
Gen-Z Places High Value on Travel Despite Financial Concerns