Benin to Host First African Edition of the Black Travel Summit in 2027

The Black Travel Summit (BTS), a 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  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 Summit will be held on the African continent for the first time, opening what organizers call 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 is designed to 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 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 step forward in its international expansion. 

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. 

According to industry research by the Black Travel Alliance and MMGY Travel Intelligence, Black American leisure travellers took 184.12 million trips in 2023, generating an estimated US$145 billion in spending. 

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.

Official event dates, program details and participation information will be announced through the following official channels: Black Travel Summit and Benin Tourism.