AAHA! Virginia launched the Consensus Network, a monthly forum bringing together tourism professionals, business owners, educators, community leaders, government representatives, and heritage enthusiasts to shape the future of Virginia's cultural tourism landscape. Meeting on the last Thursday of each month, the Consensus Network operates on two tracks: a private AAHTN session (3-4 PM) for tourism industry professionals to coordinate marketing strategies and partnership opportunities, and a public forum (1-2 PM) where all stakeholders participate in collective planning, share resources, and contribute to building Virginia's heritage tourism infrastructure. This movement toward ensuring African American heritage preservation creates measurable economic impact while fostering the authentic community connections that make cultural tourism transformative.
"Building Virginia's heritage tourism infrastructure."
The Consensus Network delivers tangible outcomes at every meeting: partnership agreements signed, collaborative marketing campaigns launched, economic impact data shared, and community commitments documented. Destination marketing organizations highlight heritage tourism opportunities. Black-owned business owners connect with heritage travelers. Educators explore experiential learning partnerships. Community members passionate about preserving local history contribute their expertise and knowledge. Through this collaborative model, we preserve the past while creating an economically sustainable framework that ensures heritage sites receive necessary resources, communities benefit from increased tourism revenue, and future generations inherit a thriving cultural tourism ecosystem. Join us for our next Consensus Network meeting and become part of Virginia's heritage preservation movement.