Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1250931
B M & T ••• March/April 2020 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 33 Two African-American women are taking their own love for travel, culture and entrepreneurship, and are inviting an American delegation of business owners to combine a unique vacation experience with leveraging opportunities to do busi- ness in some key global markets, via inter- national shopping tours. Atlanta-based Sentrigue, LP., owned by Dawn Anderson and Ingrid Briggs, is working to help explore small busi- nesses' potential for expansion into some major inter- national mar- kets like the Caribbean, Africa and Asia, by simultane- ously creat- ing unique travel expe- riences with f a c i l i t a t - ing key connections needed to do busi- ness in these countries. Sentrigue's first excursion will be held in Kingston, Jamaica, to assist interested businesses in leveraging opportunities at Expo Jamaica, the largest and most impactful exhibition and trade show of its kind in the Caribbean Jamaican prod- ucts and services. "We chose to begin our tours during Expo Jamaica because it is one of our global business partners and is recog- nized internationally as a major trade and investment event for those wanting to do business in Jamaica ," says Dawn Anderson, partner in Sentrigue and owner of One-Neo-Geo, LLC., a market- ing and media distribution company. "Our goal is to offer one-of-a-kind prod- uct and service sourcing on a global level, to help companies build their brands without the high cost and capital that often comes with participating in opportu- nities such as this," she con- tinued. " A t t h e same time, we wanted to help open doors for key networking opportunities with a few high level local connections, while simultaneously providing a unique and fun travel experience that's a little differ- ent from what people usually have when coming to Jamaica," said Anderson. Sentrigue's International Shopping Tours will be held on a quarterly basis travelling to Jamaica first, then Africa (Ghana) and Asia next. According to Anderson and Briggs, the tours are intentionally designed to encourage business owners to explore doing busi- ness internationally, particularly for those who have never considered it. As a result, it is created to accommodate a small group of forward-thinking, busi- ness growth-minded travelers of about 10-15 people. "We really want to encourage busi- ness owners, traders and investors who not only love to travel, but who also want to sell, resell or secure unique or hard to find international products and merchandise for their online or brick and mortar businesses, to consider participating in this oppor- tunity," says Briggs, a 30-year veteran of the federal government, including the Federal Aviation Administration. "This is a strategic, cost efficient and even fun way to secure access to key connections, products and services, which could really help small busi- nesses expand domestically and inter- nationally," she said. The first Sentrigue International Shopping Tour in Kingston, Jamaica, will be held at a date to be determined after the pandemic has passed. Included in the Jamaica Tour for partic- ipants, are private networking events and business-to-business meetings with key influencers in Jamaica, including key government officials; tours of local attractions, including Blue Mountain; room and board; some meals; trans- portation while in Jamaica (including to and from the airport) and personal security for the group. The cost is $1,800. However, airline tickets and alcoholic beverages are not included. For more information or to register, go to www.sentrigue.com. UNIQUE INTERNATIONAL SHOPPING TOUR FOR ENTREPRENEURS, TO COMBINE BUSINESS AND PLEASURE IN CARIBBEAN, AFRICA AND ASIA Company Kicking-Off First Escorted Tour in Kingston, Jamaica, Offering Atypical Tourist Stops and Key International Business Connections