Benin to Host the First African Edition of the Black Travel Summit in 2027
This landmark edition will bring the global Black travel community to the African continent for the first time.
Milwaukee, WI — October 17, 2026 — The Black Travel Summit (BTS), the leading gathering dedicated to advancing the interests and opportunities of Black and Afro-descendant professionals across the travel and tourism industry, has announced that Benin will host its 2027 edition in Cotonou. The surprise announcement was made at the Summit’s Black Travel Awards Gala on October 17 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and marks a historic milestone for the organization. The reveal brings the Summit to the African continent for the first time and opens an exciting new chapter in its mission to connect the global Black travel community.
In partnership with Benin Tourism, the 2027 edition of the Black Travel Summit will bring together travel entrepreneurs, tourism leaders, hospitality professionals, travel advisors, content creators and other industry stakeholders from across Africa, the Americas, the Caribbean, Europe and beyond. The event will create a platform for meaningful cross-continental exchange, commercial collaboration and the development of lasting relationships that strengthen the global Black travel ecosystem.
Founded in the United States by Anita Moreau in 2019, the Black Travel Summit has rapidly grown into a platform for connection, visibility and economic opportunity across the Black travel industry. Following its first international edition in Rio de Janeiro in 2025 and its return to the United States in Milwaukee in 2026, the Summit’s arrival in Benin represents a significant step forward in its international expansion. More than a routine change of destination, it reflects an ambitious vision for a global industry in which Black travel professionals and entrepreneurs can connect across borders, access new markets and build shared prosperity.
From Rio to Cotonou: The Power of Global Connections
The partnership between Benin Tourism and the Black Travel Summit began taking shape at the 2025 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, where representatives from Benin Tourism connected with the BTS team. What began as an international industry encounter developed into a shared vision of bringing the Summit to Africa. Following successful editions in major travel destinations such as Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Summit’s arrival in Cotonou, Benin, marks a defining new chapter in its global expansion, connecting Africa and its diaspora through travel, culture, entrepreneurship and international business.
The journey from an initial meeting in Rio to the announcement of Benin as the 2027 host destination illustrates the tangible potential of the cross-continental relationships BTS creates and nurtures as a key player in the global travel and tourism industry. According to industry research by the Black Travel Alliance and MMGY Travel Intelligence, Black American leisure travelers took 184.12 million trips in 2023, generating an estimated US$145 billion in spending. This collaboration demonstrates how bringing industry stakeholders together can move beyond networking to inspire international partnerships, open doors to new markets and turn shared ambitions into concrete action.
The selection of Benin builds on this momentum, reinforcing the Summit’s commitment to creating opportunities that transcend borders and to connecting destinations, businesses and professionals who can benefit from working together. It also signals the next phase of BTS’s international growth: expanding its reach worldwide while building stronger bridges between the African continent and the global diaspora.
A New Chapter for Global Black Travel
From Rio de Janeiro to Milwaukee and now Benin, the Black Travel Summit continues to expand its international footprint and advance its mission of connecting the global Black travel community. Beyond a geographic milestone, the 2027 edition is an invitation to turn the shared history and cultural ties that unite communities on both sides of the Atlantic into new partnerships, business opportunities and lasting collaboration across borders.
Official event dates, program details and participation information will be announced through the following official channels:
- Black Travel Summit: blacktravelsummit.com
- Benin Tourism: benintourisme.bj
About Benin Tourism
The Beninese Agency for Tourism Development (Benin Tourism) is the public institution responsible for implementing Benin’s national tourism development strategy. Through the country brand “Benin, a World of Wonders,” the agency works to promote Benin internationally, develop an attractive and competitive tourism offering and support professionals across the sector. Benin Tourism’s initiatives help position the country as a leading tourism destination in Africa and on the international stage. For more information, visit www.benintourisme.bj.
About the Black Travel Summit
The Black Travel Summit is a leading platform dedicated to celebrating, connecting and amplifying Black voices across the travel industry. Through its annual summit, educational programming, networking opportunities and community-driven experiences, the organization brings together Black travel creators, entrepreneurs, journalists, hoteliers, investors, travel advisors, industry professionals and advocates to foster connection, collaboration and greater representation in travel and tourism. Founded by Anita Moreau in 2019, the Black Travel Summit creates space for meaningful conversations around access, belonging, storytelling and the evolving influence of the Black travel community.
For more information, visit www.blacktravelsummit.com.
Media Contacts
For more information on the Black Travel Summit 2027 in Benin, please contact:
Jean-Wilfried KEMAJOU
Country Brand Coordinator, Republic of Benin
Tenille CLARKE
Publicist, Black Travel Summit