Rafael doesn’t gatekeep. He believes in having honest conversations about why travelers are losing trust in the hospitality industry and how cities, hotels, and tourism boards can win it back.
Blending over a decade of marketing expertise with a journalist’s lens, the travel writer, tech founder, and brand consultant challenges brands to reimagine hospitality beyond hashtags, press trips, and surface storytelling.
In this webinar, Rafael will break down how to turn “cool trips” into experiences that matter and transform one-time visitors into lifelong advocates. You’ll leave thinking differently about storytelling, service, and creating.
📅 Date: Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026
🕒 Time: 12:10 – 1 PM Eastern / 9:10 – 10 AM Pacific
💻 Location: Zoom
Webinar Recordings & Recaps
A recording and the slide deck will be shared with everyone who registers by email newsletter two days after the webinar. You can also check out our webinar archives, as well as our YouTube channel.
Learn more about Rafael’s work on Blux Travel Group and Substack.
Rafael Peña is a travel journalist, consultant, and cultural strategist whose work explores how destinations can tell deeper and more inclusive stories. His reporting has appeared in publications such as Travel + Leisure, Cruise Critic, Travel Noire, the Miami Herald, and others. Through his fieldwork, Rafael has documented the people and places shaping travel today and developed a clear perspective on how culture, representation, and visitor experience intersect.
Drawing on his background as a Black and Latino traveler with roots in the Dominican Republic, Rafael helps destinations and hospitality brands understand the expectations of modern, multicultural audiences. His consulting work guides DMOs and tourism teams in developing messaging, content, and on-the-ground experiences that feel authentic, community grounded, and relevant to a diverse global traveler base.
Rafael is also a sought-after speaker on content strategy, inclusive storytelling, and the evolving needs of BIPOC travelers. He works with PR, marketing, and destination leaders to strengthen traveler trust, expand representation, and design experiences that reflect the full cultural fabric of a place. Through his journalism and his speaking engagements, Rafael pushes the travel industry toward richer stories, better hospitality, and more intentional destination marketing.
Trusted by tourism and destination marketing leaders.
