Los Angeles -- July 31, 2008 - Imagine taking a group of beautiful African American women on their ideal trip to Italy. Rome. Milan. Venice. Florence. Seeing the sights, eating local food, enjoying the cultural offerings of the country. This was the vision of Fleace Weaver, founder of Blackweekly and BlackGirlTravel.com, when she launched the Bella Italia, an all female travel club three years ago. Inspired by an episode of Tyra Banks' America's Next Top Model, where the models rode around Italy on the back of Vespas and enjoyed a bonding experience, Weaver worked feverishly to put together a tour for herself and other black women. Thirty-five people responded the first year and now the annual trek is looked forward to by women across the country. And, these women are not the so called "upper crust" -- these are normal, hard working everyday people who scraped and saved to take the trip of a lifetime. What emerged from the previous tours were life-long bonds and new friendships. Many of these women now travel together and have developed a love of exploration to exotic vistas never before imagined. Due to its growing popularity, the number of participants was expected to double in 2008 and required that Bella Italia hire an administrator for its tour scheduled for September 18-27, 2008.
Weaver selected Avocet Travel, founded by Essence Magazine co-founder and president emeritus, Clarence O. Smith, as tour administrator. This agency was selected because of Smith's former association with Essence magazine, Avocet's reputation as a premiere provider of cultural tours and travel services for African-Americans and its relationship with clients such as Alvin Ailey, Diversity Restoration Solutions and the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce. Avocet Travel has failed to forward $80,000 in monies received for the Bella Italia tour.
In following up on an intermediate payment due to the primary tour operator, Go-Today.com, to secure the airline reservations for the tour, Weaver was informed that the funds were "tied up" in the now alleged escrow account was to have been set-up by Tracey Mendohlson, VP of Marketing for Avocet prior to accepting any of the Bella Italia payments. She was told that the funds would be "fluid" within a short period of time. They weren't. Upon repeated inquiries to Ms Mendohlson and a conversation with Mr. Smith, Weaver finally learned that the monies taken in by Avocet on behalf of the tour were allegedly co-mingled with Avocet’s operating funds. The firm is purported to have had financial struggles. While Smith acknowledges that the $80,000 was in their control and was erroneously used by Avocet, he says he is trying to raise funds and has asked for an additional 30 days to do so. Weaver does not believe that Avocet is going to be able to raise the funds as Smith has been given additional time and has so far remained unsuccessful. The other issue is time. She doesn't have an additional 30 days. Go-Today.com's extended deadline for final payment is August 14, 2008, which is when the airline tickets must be issued and 35 days before the tour is scheduled to depart. Weaver is desperate not to see the dreams of these women stolen away from them.
"I was excited to have Avocet Travel and Clarence O. Smith associated with Bella Italia, a travel club that is a celebration of Black women and sisterhood," says Weaver. "To have a man that was once connected to a wonderful magazine like Essence to administer our tour seemed like a perfect union." Please note: in no way is Essence Magazine or Time, Inc connected directly or indirectly to this matter. "I was also excited that we were supporting an African-American business. I never dreamt that today myself and 59 other black women who have worked so hard to scrape up money to pay for this tour would have all our hopes and dreams for the vacation of a lifetime threatened because Avocet spent the money that was not theirs to spend. Not only was our money spent, but also the monies earmarked for a fund to help send foster children and their mentors on international tours through the iCare Foundation."
Weaver and the other 64 (five did not send funds to Avocet) Bella Italia participants are looking for help. It is 1-½ months until the tour and there is still no resolution. Weaver has been to the police and has started the process for a multi-plaintiff civil lawsuit with the other participants of the tour . She is wracking her brain to come up with a fund-raising event. As Avocet has not rendered the service in which they were paid, the tour participants that paid by credit card are requesting charge backs and reversals on their credit cards, but many have had trouble with reversals from American Express, Wachovia and American Express. These might not happen or within the timeframe allotted. Many people paid with checks or money orders and have no way to recoup their payments. Weaver is desperately and actively seeking anyone who has influence with either of these financial institutions above, sponsorships/strategic partnerships with companies who market to the African American female, or with tourism/cultural affairs agencies out of or associated with Italy. She is also looking to contact Tyra Banks, who unknowingly inspired Bella Italia as she might be able to assist in garnering support and publicity to help these women. Direct contact with Magic Johnson and his travel agency might just help to put the tour back on track.
"This is about so much more than the tour--this is about devastating and denying these women the opportunity to join me on this traveling sisterhood sojourn," says Weaver. "One woman told me that her father gave her this trip on his deathbed. He thanked her for being a wonderful daughter and told her to go to Italy, enjoy herself and be sure she walked the streets of water. She didn't know what that meant, but had planned to find out. Another woman developed a brain tumor after she paid and needs to get her money back so she can support herself after the surgery. She has yet to get a refund from Avocet that was requested three months ago. This is bigger than me-- it is an impediment in people's lives. I wanted to believe in Mr. Smith and Avocet and what they represented, but I cannot."
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