Exploritas specializes in creating travel experiences that merge those two facets of globetrotting. Kathy Taylor, associate vice president of community development, is excited about helping more African Americans experience the highs of intellectually and culturally stimulating travel. Surprising as it may be, African Americans travel three times as much as the general population, but Taylor is working to introduce more blacks to Exploritas’ unique approach.
“We are the largest educational travel company in the world,” she explains. “We serve about 175,000 people a year — very few are people of color.”
“Most [travel] programs, you’re just partying and eating,” she says. “This is not a program where you just sit on the beach and drink pina coladas. Very few organizations get as specific [as Exploritas]. You’re not only having a good time, you’re learning something.”
Travel programs can emphasize the arts and music of a locale, or give you an in-depth and gripping look at a region’s colorful history. “The Many Colors of Paris” featured the storied history of black expatriates in the City of Light — and won rave reviews.
Taylor has worked in sales for 30 years, including 12 as the head of the sales department at PBS flagship station WGBH in Boston. But she is extraordinarily passionate about being able to tell African Americans about Exploritas.
“[The company] knew that there was a huge market, but didn’t know how to tap into it,” Taylor shares. “And it wasn’t that I decided ‘I know what black folks want’ — we stayed in the field for a year.”
Keeping her ear to the ground and listening to the public, Taylor is confident that they will be ecstatic with what Exploritas has to offer. “People have never seen anything like it — you’re going to have a good time and there’s something that will also speak to your heart.” –todd williams
