Vrbo
Vrbo, the original vacation rental platform, is dedicated to Empowering Travel for All —inspiring travelers to explore without limits. Since 2018, as an official sponsor of College Football, Vrbo has tapped into fans' loyalty by showcasing how their host-free spaces let fans unapologetically be themselves — wild rituals, face paint, keg stands, and all.
As a Black traveler myself, I understood that while the desire to explore is universal, the experience isn’t always equitable. Black travelers face added risks like racial profiling and discrimination, making it difficult to truly unwind.
This makes Vrbo’s host-free spaces uniquely valuable: providing judgment-free environments where everyone, especially Black travelers, can feel free to be themselves.
To foster a deeper connection, we focused on Homecoming — the pinnacle of Black culture and togetherness — as the perfect moment to build relationships and show support for the HBCU community. We knew we couldn’t just be another logo at Homecoming. We needed to connect on a human level, uplift the community, and evoke the same sense of freedom and belonging that Vrbo offers in its homes.
Empowering Black Journeys
To create an intimate setting to not just show up, but ENGAGE Homecoming attendees, we create a panel for the SpelHouse (Spelman + Morehouse) community. We carved out space for authentic conversations around Black identity, culture, and the transformative power of travel. Vrbo shared the stage with visionaries like Allen Iverson, Tai Beauchamp, Kwame Onwuachi, and Brandon Jenkins. These trailblazers shared their personal experiences, insights, and approaches for navigating travel while embracing their identity – from overcoming obstacles to fostering a sense of community across the globe.
