We empower destinations and brands to provide a more inclusive and inviting welcome to historically underrepresented and excluded customers and guests, no matter their identity.

Billy Kolber is the co-founder of HospitableMe, and a leading voice in the LGBTQ+ travel industry. He co-founded OUT&ABOUT, the first gay + lesbian travel magazine in the US, and ManAboutWorld, one of the first mobile-only magazines of any kind.

He and his team provide education and training to empower destinations and brands to provide more inclusive, authentic, personalized and welcoming service to diverse travelers. Billy has a B.S. in Biology from Yale, and sang around the world with the Yale Whiffenpoofs.

He has worked as a commercial photographer, chocolatier, top-selling Avon Representative, author and guest experience consultant. Billy has visited 71 countries, but still lives in New York City, where he was born. Connect with Billy on LinkedIn.

Kenny Porpora is the co-founder of HospitableMe.

He is The New York Times best-selling author of The Autumn Balloon and his work has appeared in The New York Times, Newsweek, Buzzfeed, Salon and others. He has curated content for some of the largest destination marketing organizations in the world.

He graduated  from Columbia University, where he studied journalism and philosophy, and holds an M.S. from Columbia in investigative journalism, where he wrote his master’s thesis on professional wrestling. Connect with Kenny on LinkedIn.

Alysse Dalessandro is a queer plus size fashion and travel blogger. Her blog, Ready to Stare, focuses on making travel and fashion more accessible for all. It’s a space where individuality is celebrated and breaking the rules is encouraged.

Alysse was named one of NBC Out’s #Pride50 for 2019 and one of Cleveland Magazine’s Most Interesting People in 2018.

Devin-Norelle is a professional model, public speaker, opinion writer, and trans advocate changing the future for the better. Devin-Norelle (Ze/Zim/Zis) has contributed to several top-shelf publications and recently walked in fashion shows including Chromat. Ze is passionate about uplifting the trans and non-binary communities and has been awarded for advocacy work. Devin-Norelle facilitates individual D&I Gender Expansive training to create a more inclusive world.

Koumei van Zeeland has a yoga career spanning nearly 30 years and over 20 years of teaching. As a physiotherapist specializing in community rehabilitation, they have supported Japan’s nursing care policies and public health consultations, and since 2009 has held yoga classes to create a space to support various social minorities, including LGBTQ+ and people with various physical disabilities. 

In recognition of his achievements, they were selected as one of 50 people from the world’s largest yoga organization (Yoga Alliance)’s education team (Teaching for EQUITY 2022) from among approximately 90,000 registered yoga instructors around the world. Connect with Koumei on KYC (HP)

Dimitri Joseph Moïse is a NYC based actor, producer, and entrepreneur. Dedicated to a life of philanthropy and activism, Dimitri is a co-founder of TORCH, dedicated to uniting marginalized communities through arts entrepreneurship, Creative Team Member of The Leading Edge Arts Project, former liaison at Broadway Serves, Rotating Support Artist at Collaborative Opportunities without Limits and Boundaries (CO/LAB), working with actors with physical and mental disabilities, and a Director of the Board at the NYU LGBTQ Alumni Network.

He is also co-founder and lead producer of Subito Politico Productions, creating politically, socially, and culturally conscious work that inspires larger conversations and calls to action, within our industry and with our audiences

Logann is a Festival Winning, published playwright.  In addition to being a writer, they are an actor, comic, model, dancer, and activist.  As an actor Logann has been on the stages of NYC, as well as in many of the productions that film in the city. 

They aim to write pieces that represent underrepresented communities, and challenge audiences to step into a world that might be unfamiliar to what they know, allowing their minds to be opened.

Logann has performed with TATCO and NSPF in NYC and via Zoom, and was photographed for Peter Bussians book, “Trans New York: Photos and Stories of Transgender New Yorkers.”  They are featured in an exhibit about the importance of pronouns, at the new Planet Word Museum located in Washington D.C.

Logann is honored to be working with Hospitable Me.  Their plays “Seahorse Dadz” and “Same” can be purchased in a collection at Amazon.com

Meg Ten Eyck is an LGBTQ+ advocate and community educator. After finishing her MPA and research practicum focusing on LGBTQ+ urban youth policy, Meg went on to inform educational programming at three of the largest LGBTQ+ nonprofits in the US. Meg’s first book, “Slacktivist: Using Digital Media to Create Change” will be released in 2017.

Meg’s LGBTQ+ subject matter expertise has been featured in Cosmopolitan Magazine, Go Magazine, Out Traveler, Gay Star News, Matador Network, Elite Daily, Korea Observer, and India’s The Quint. Her passion lives at the intersection of travel, queer culture, and new media. Connect with Meg on Instagram

Sitara Herur-Halbert (they/them) is a Black, South Asian, LGBTQIA+, and neurodivergent community organizer and educator, who has spent several years uplifting marginalized voices and advocating for reform.

They currently serve as DEIB Coordinator for Student Communities and Communications Manager at the Lycée Français de New York; and are a 2019 graduate of the Dual BA Program between SciencesPo and Columbia University, as well a 2022 Institute for Nonprofit Practice Community Core Fellow.

Previously, they have served as Director of DEIB at NYC Pride; as a member of the Tarrytown Police Reform Committee; and as part of the Columbia University Alumni Association Task Force on Belonging. Outside of their work as an activist, they are a dedicated fiber artist and collector of books.

Stan Eshuis (he/him/his) obtained his MSc in Change Management in Amsterdam and speaks five languages: Dutch, English, Brazilian-Portuguese, French, and German. With a passion for traveling, he has lived abroad in three different countries for a total of 2.5 years: Brazil, Australia, and the UK.

Stan has worked for an international B2B networking organization, where he built and maintained relationships with CHROs from large organizations and connected them with HR solution providers through matchmaking events.

His work experience, combined with his strong intercultural competencies and strategic insights into Brazilian culture, has driven his ambition to pursue an international career.