How I Built the Inclusive Travel Forum | My 20-Year Journey Through Travel, Finance & Inclusion

From British Airline Pilots Association to Saint Lucia Tourism Authority. From financial services to launching her own consultancy. From marketing executive to inclusion leader. This is the story of how Atlyn Forde built the Inclusive Travel Forum — and why the travel industry needs it. In this candid founder interview, Atlyn sits down with Nelma Neto to share her 20-year journey through the travel industry, the pivotal moments that shaped her thinking on inclusion, and what led her to create one of the UK's most distinctive voices on inclusive travel practice. Atlyn talks openly about: Starting her travel career at BALPA (British Airline Pilots Association) and what she learned about the industry from the inside Joining the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority as a Marketing Executive — and eventually returning as Director — and the personal connection that made the role so meaningful The difficult decision to leave travel to be present for her daughters, and why that turned out to be one of the best decisions she ever made Transitioning into financial services and the transferable skills that made it work — and what she'd say to anyone considering a sector move Writing her book, Navigating Crossroads, a playbook for navigating career transitions whilst maintaining your wellbeing Discovering a passion for diversity, equity and inclusion after chairing her company's first DEI committee following the murder of George Floyd — and how that changed the direction of her career Becoming Head of Engagement and Inclusion and eventually Chair of the Global D&I Committee — working with teams across India, Australia and beyond Launching Communicate Inclusively and the Inclusive Travel Forum — combining 20 years of marketing expertise with a new passion for inclusive practice The three pillars the Inclusive Travel Forum works across: colleagues, customers, and the communities that destinations serve Why inclusion in travel isn't just about doing the right thing — it's about profitability, performance, and reaching new markets JOIN US — 24 JUNE 2025 Building Inclusive Destinations for the Future, London Fireside chat · Panel discussion · Networking https://www.tickettailor.com/events/c... MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO • Navigating Crossroads (book by Atlyn Forde) — available at https://www.communicateinclusively.co... • Inclusive Travel Forum — www.inclusivetravelforum.org • Communicate Inclusively — www.communicateinclusively.com • Inclusive Impact Lab — e-learning platform for inclusive practice - https://www.communicateinclusively.co... 📧 [email protected] 🌐 www.inclusivetravelforum.org CHAPTERS 0:00 Introduction 1:30 Starting out — BALPA and entering the travel industry 5:00 Joining the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority 10:30 The decision to leave travel — and why family changed everything 13:00 Transitioning to financial services — the skills that transferred 17:00 Writing Navigating Crossroads 19:00 Discovering a passion for DEI — the moment everything changed 23:00 Launching Communicate Inclusively 26:00 Founding the Inclusive Travel Forum 30:00 The three pillars: colleagues, customers, communities 35:00 The business case for inclusive travel 40:00 The 24 June event — Building Inclusive Destinations for the Future 45:00 Atlyn's message to the industry #InclusiveTravel #TravelIndustry #FounderStory #DEI #InclusiveLeadership #TourismMarketing #CommunityTourism #TravelMarketing #WomenInTravel #InclusiveTravelForum #NavigatingCrossroads #CareerTransition #DiversityAndInclusion #DestinationMarketing #TravelProfessionals #WomenInBusiness #InclusiveBusiness #TravelInnovation #SaintLucia #BlackWomenInBusiness