The culture moves with us

Travel deeper. Belong everywhere.

Rooted in Black culture. Open to everyone who respects it. Connect through travel, learn the history behind each destination, and celebrate the living cultures shaping our world.

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Community comes first Permission-based No raw-data sales

One club. Many hometowns.

The next chapter
starts in your city.

Chicago and Houston are our founding anchors. We’re looking for local leaders across the country to bring Black travelers together, host thoughtful gatherings and grow a chapter with a team.

Find your chapterApply to lead in your city ↗

Travel together

Your next story starts here.

Discover trips presented with Team Vacay. Explore the details, book your escape, and connect your reservation in your Vacay Portal.

Sunset Society: Curaçao

Advisor-assisted booking

Sunset Society: Curaçao

Curaçao · The Pyrmont Curaçao

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Our people. Our purpose.

Built on connection.
Moving with purpose.

Black Travel Club centers Black travelers, honors Black history and welcomes everyone who respects the culture. Meet the people helping bring that mission to life.

Demetrius Walker, Founder of The Black Travel Club

Founder

Demetrius Walker

Entrepreneur, world traveler and advocate for making global travel more accessible to the Black community, Demetrius founded The Black Travel Club in 2017 after five years working for a major travel booking corporation.

Seeing how often mainstream travel companies overlooked Black travelers, he built BTC to help people explore with confidence, curiosity and adventure. Since then, the club has hosted signature trips and connected hundreds of travelers with trusted tour operators for dozens of journeys.

For Demetrius, travel expands perspectives, builds community and brings people into conversation with different cultures. He is also the entrepreneur behind Meeks Vegan Pizza.

Antonio “Tone” Barnes, Black Travel Club Co-Owner and Chief Travel Officer

Co-Owner & Chief Travel Officer

Antonio “Tone” Barnes

Tone brings tourism experience dating to 2008 and a belief that the best trips connect people to a place and to one another. Named a Top 50 Jamaica Travel Specialist in both 2017 and 2018, he combines destination knowledge with hands-on group travel experience.

He owns Vacay On Layaway and 360 Brand Advancement & Management. Through BTC, he helps shape travel experiences that celebrate Black culture, encourage learning and make room for meaningful connections.

Fiesta In Ecstasy is Tone’s event. His history with Demetrius includes Demetrius DJing Fiesta in earlier years and their partnership on Meeks Vegan Kitchen. Both Capricorns, they bring that shared connection to the annual GOATaway celebration.

More about Tone →

Our next chapter

Our paths changed. Our love for travel never did.

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the course of travel and of our lives. New business ventures took our attention in different directions, and we found success in those chapters. We kept our travel businesses going, but we know we did not always give them the energy they deserved. Our love for travel and the people it brings together never wavered.

Today, we are bringing that experience back to Black Travel Club with renewed focus: meaningful journeys, respect for Black history, and a community where everyone who honors the culture is welcome. Alongside Vacay On Layaway's renewed direction, we are building a team and growing local chapters so BTC can thrive beyond any one person or event.

A wider community, led locally.

Chicago and Houston are our founding anchors. We are inviting people across the country to apply to lead a chapter, build a local team and bring thoughtful gatherings to their city.

Explore chapter leadership
BLACK
TRAVEL
CLUB COMMUNITY IN MOTION · EST. 2017

Instagram is the front door

This is the home we own.

You do not have to be Black to belong. You do need to honor Black history, respect Black communities and show up for the culture. We travel to learn, listen and connect—with Black voices, local knowledge and respect at the center.

One community, connected through Vacay.

Existing members can sign in to their verified Community account. Access to private trip groups follows the group's membership and booking permissions.

Join the free Community → · Open Community →

New members can join after verifying their email. Newsletter signup below is optional and separate.

Shape future journeys

Destination voting is planned as the member experience develops.

Discover community

Connect through travel interests, home state, and departure airport.

Find trusted experts

Request groups and travel help through attributable Team Vacay workflows.

Support Black business

Discover verified businesses and host agencies as the directory grows.

The BTC field notes

There is more to a place
than the view.

Explore Black histories of enslavement, resistance and remembrance, then meet the living cultures shaping these destinations today.

Explore all 13 destination guides

Read the Atlantic history introduction →

Ghana ↗ Senegal ↗ Jamaica ↗ Curaçao ↗ Brazil ↗ Mexico ↗ Saint Lucia ↗ The Bahamas ↗

Begin with a place. Go deeper with its people.

Places with stories to tell.

Start with our upcoming destinations, then explore the Black histories and living cultures beyond the view.

Explore all 13 destinations →

Turn your interest into a next step

Love bringing people together?
Explore selling travel.

Join Team Vacay offers application paths for people interested in building a travel business, joining an agency team or referring travelers. Learn what each role involves, the training and support available, and the responsibilities that come with serving clients.

BTC is introducing you to Join Team Vacay. Applying does not approve an agent account, reserve a trip or enroll you in a paid membership. Review the current eligibility, agreement, fees and approval steps on Join Team Vacay before deciding.

Explore Join Team Vacay →

Your BTC campaign source stays with a submitted application. It is separate from sponsorship, commission terms and newsletter consent. Earnings are not guaranteed.

A community built to grow

Start free. Go further when you’re ready.

The free community comes first. Passport and Circle experiences are coming later as our community grows.

Foundation tier

Community

A free, verified community centered on Black culture and welcoming respectful travelers of every background.

  • Verified member conversations
  • Event discovery
  • Destination voting planned
  • Join after verifying your email
Future

Passport

A future premium layer for travelers who want more access and value.

  • More ways to connect
  • Details coming soon
  • Join the community for updates
Future

Circle

A future elevated community experience for deeper connection.

  • More ways to connect
  • Details coming soon
  • Join the community for updates

Stay connected

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Destination stories, trip announcements and community news. Confirm your email choice and unsubscribe anytime.

Black Travel Club Community

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Open Community

YOUR COMMUNITY. YOUR NEXT JOURNEY.

Travel assistance from our partners at Vacay On Layaway

Planning a getaway, destination wedding or group trip? Tell a travel advisor what you have in mind. Stay connected with Black Travel Club while Vacay On Layaway helps with your travel request.

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