A nonprofit mentorship program launches today to help young BIPOC people work in the luxury travel industry.
Erina Pindar, managing director of SmartFlyer, has been a force in establishing SmartFlyer as one of the most respected, full-service travel agencies. It is headquartered in New York City, with offices and agents throughout the United States and outposts in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia.
Today, Pindar will help launch EQTR, Equity in Travel, a nonprofit mentorship program to help develop future BIPOC luxury travel leaders and entrepreneurs. College-age students will be paired with a mentor for the year-long program and meet on a monthly basis to explore career opportunities and ideas, have access to panels and speakers, and work on a project to present at the end-of-year Innovation Summit, currently scheduled to take place in May 2022. Mentors are joining from different sectors of luxury travel—so far, from travel agencies, public relations firms, hotels, and media.
*F2J Note – BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color)