I am pleased to announce that I have been named an Outstanding Woman in Travel Research by Women in Travel and Tourism International (witti)!

The organization held its first "Top Women in Travel" award ceremony earlier this month and selected the winners from over eighty nominees. The awards are the first of their kind in which women have honored their peers for outstanding contributions to the travel and tourism industry.

"It's important to highlight the very significant contributions of women working in travel and tourism today," said Mandala Research CEO and witti founder Laura Mandala. "These champions of travel and tourism are not only advancing their companies and the industry, but are also mentoring and recruiting the next generation of travel professionals."

Mandala said that witti strives to serve as a forum for increasing the low numbers of women represented at the most senior levels in the travel industry.

I was nominated in three categories:

- Lifetime Achievement in Travel & Tourism
- Outstanding Woman in Travel Blogging
- Outstanding Woman in Travel Research.

The awards recognize excellence in achievement for the following fields and endeavors: Destination Management/Marketing, Hospitality, Shopping Tourism, Travel and Transportation, Travel and Tourism, Tourism Marketing, Travel Blogging, Travel/Tourism Media, Travel Research, and Mentoring in Travel and Tourism.

Those who follow this blog know that I am committed to researching and sharing information on the African diaspora in Paris and gourmet Paris. Entrée to Black Paris began by providing information on these (and other topics) in self-guided itineraries in 1999 and has since evolved to become a provider of private, guided tours and activities that focus solely on these two topics. Our work supports two Strategic Focus Areas (Travel / Study Abroad and The Arts, including culinary arts) for my non-profit organization, the Wells International Foundation (WIF).

Women's Empowerment is another WIF Strategic Focus Area. I am pleased to have been recognized as part of witti's inaugural group of award recipients because of witti's commitment to supporting, educating, and advocating for women who work in the travel industry.