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Carolyn Ray

Editor + CEO of JourneyWoman, Empowering Women 50+

Carolyn Ray is a prominent figure in the travel industry, particularly known for her work empowering women travelers over 50. Here are the key details about her:

Professional Role

Carolyn Ray is the Chair of the Canadian Chapter of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), a position she has held since October 2023.1 She is also the CEO and Editor of JourneyWoman™, a role she has occupied since July 2019.1

Achievements and Recognition

  • Named one of the Most Influential Women in Travel in 2023 by TravelPulse.1
  • Took over JourneyWoman in 2019, continuing the legacy of Evelyn Hannon, who created the world's first solo travel resource for women in 1994.1
  • Expanded JourneyWoman's Women's Travel Directory in March 2023 to include the world's largest searchable marketplace for women-friendly tours, retreats, accommodations, and small ships.1
  • Launched the industry's first Women's Speaker's Bureau in August 2023 to address the lack of inclusion and diversity in the travel industry.1

Other Roles and Affiliations

  • Member of the Travel Media Association of Canada
  • Member of Women Travel Leaders
  • Herald with the Transformational Travel Council
  • Ranked as one of Canada's top 100 female entrepreneurs on the PROFIT/Chatelaine W100 list1

Background

Carolyn has over 25 years of experience in building and leading businesses. Prior to her current roles, she was the CEO of Interbrand Canada and founded her own consulting firm, Authentica, in 2017.1

Awards

In September 2023, Carolyn won the SATW Canada Travel Service Story award for her article "Six Reasons You Should Choose a Travel Writer".1

Carolyn Ray's LinkedIn username is indeed carolynray, as mentioned in the query.

Highlights

Aug 30 · linkedin

Next week, I’ll be heading to Costa Rica with Board Chair Chris Braunlich to volunteer with Conservation Volunteers International Program, a non-profit that works around the world on conservation projects from the Galapagos to Patagonia and more. (Read more here: https://lnkd.in/d7T2TkiR)

Although I've volunteered before, this trip is different because it is THE activity. I’ll be at Punta Banco on the Burica Peninsula, participating in a sea turtle preservation program to protect the area’s biodiversity. We’ll do beach patrols to locate, excavate, and relocate sea turtle nests to a protected turtle hatchery. The project will also include working in and around the turtle hatchery, recording scientific data, and working on projects to mitigate beach erosion, which threatens turtle nesting.

I’m so proud to have Conservation VIP and hundreds of other women-run and women-owned businesses as members of our Women’s Travel Directory. Our Directory was started decades ago by JourneyWoman founder Evelyn Hannon and has expanded into the world's largest resource to plan women-friendly travel, with verified tours, retreats, safe places to stay, small ships and train experiences. Soon, we're launching some exciting new partnerships to further support women-owned businesses, B Corps and more, while always being of service to solo women seeking more purposeful travel.
https://lnkd.in/gstqfu3T

#womentravel #solotravel #womenover50 #Volunteer #travelwithpurpose #womenowned

Photo: from Puerto Escondido, Mexico where I participated in a turtle release program in 2021.

Aug 20 · linkedin

LAST CALL: We're only a few months away from our December 7 JourneyWoman™: Women Over 50 Travel 30th Anniversary Northern Lights Cruise with Hurtigruten Norway. I wanted to share this with my LinkedIn network, just in case you haven't opened our emails lately :)

Having 'tested' this same trip in February 2024, I feel honoured to be hosting this gathering with JourneyWoman readers from around the world. We have a special celebration planned to honour Evelyn Hannon, guest lecturers on solo travel (including our writer Karen Gershowitz) and sustainable travel (with our partner Carla Geyser from Blue Sky Society Trust, who's joining us from South Africa).

December is one of the darkest times of the year and the Northern Lights will be incredible. If you're interested in joining us, sign up now, as we only have a few spaces left. Our prices are exclusive to JourneyWoman. See the link below for more details.

Special thanks to Carly Biggart Anders Lindström for helping us set this up!

https://lnkd.in/dTyKEzEZ

Related Questions

What inspired Carolyn Ray to become a travel writer?
How has Carolyn Ray's leadership impacted the Society of American Travel Writers (Canada)?
What are some notable achievements of Carolyn Ray in the travel industry?
How did Carolyn Ray transition from CEO of Interbrand Canada to leading JourneyWoman?
What initiatives has Carolyn Ray introduced at JourneyWoman?
Carolyn Ray
Carolyn Ray, photo 1
Carolyn Ray, photo 2
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Experience

Owner, CEO + Editor at JourneyWoman (July 2019 - Present)
Founder and CEO at Authentica (November 2017 - Present); Freelance Travel Writer at Various online and print publications (April 2014 - Present)

Location

Toronto, Ontario, Canada