Some journeys start with a passport. Others start with a purpose. For this year’s Wanderful Award Nominee at the Bessie Awards, the path to building a transformative travel company didn’t begin in a boardroom, but on a mountain trail. What began as a love for hiking grew into something much larger: a mission to center women, especially women of color and indigenous women in an industry that too often sidelines them. Himalayan Women Trail Leaders have spent the last year not just promoting adventure, but fundamentally reshaping what empowerment in travel really looks like. And we couldn’t be more thrilled to celebrate them.

About the Bessie Awards

The Bessie Awards celebrate the trailblazers, changemakers, and visionaries who are reshaping the travel industry for the better. Named in honor of Bessie Coleman, the first African American and Native American woman to earn a pilot’s license. These awards recognize individuals who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to empowering women and fostering inclusivity in travel.

Himalayan Women Trail Leaders: Marinel M. de Jesus, Esq.

Founded by a former civil rights lawyer and Filipina-American immigrant, this trailblazing social enterprise is on a mission to do more than just get people outside, it’s about who gets to lead the way. After leaving her legal career to follow her passion for hiking and nature, the founder began building something deeper: curated treks that are community-led, ethically grounded, and rooted in representation. Whether it’s walking the Great Himalaya Trail alongside Mingmar Dolma Sherpa, the first Nepali woman to guide the route or launching the Himalayan Women Trail Leaders initiative, this brand isn’t just talking about change. They’re living it. Their work uplifts marginalized voices, challenges the status quo, and creates tourism experiences that reflect the real stories of the people and places they encounter.

Tell us your story! How did you find your way into the travel industry? 

My story begins in a place I never expected: the intersection of law and nature. I spent many years as a civil rights lawyer, advocating for justice, equality, and change. While I found purpose in my work, something was missing. I realized that my soul longed for something beyond the courtroom—something that could reconnect me to the world around me. That’s when I discovered hiking.

What started as a simple love for the mountains grew into a deep passion. Over the next decade, I organized hiking groups in the U.S., exploring some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country. But in 2017, after more than ten years of leading treks, I decided to take a leap of faith. I left my career as a lawyer with the intention of running treks worldwide. The decision wasn’t easy, but I knew I had to prioritize my happiness. Life in the U.S. was starting to feel like it was depriving my soul of the joy I had found in nature.

So, I followed my heart and turned my passion for the outdoors into a social enterprise. By curating treks that focused on the deep connection to nature, I was able to share this joy with others who felt the same pull toward the mountains. It was then that I found my way into the travel industry. I was no longer just a traveler; I was a guide—curating journeys for others to experience the beauty and freedom I had discovered on the trail. Through this work, I’ve been able to continue my journey of growth and discovery, and I’ve found a new way to inspire others to reconnect with themselves and the world around them.

What motivates you to do your work today?

As a Filipina American and an immigrant, I’ve long navigated the feeling of not fully belonging in the U.S. Facing ongoing prejudices against women of color and immigrants, I’ve learned that the world won’t always create the space for change. If I want to see a shift in how people like me are treated and represented, I must be the one to take action. This realization drives me every day.

What motivates me most in my work is creating a sense of belonging for women like myself—especially women of color—and ensuring that brown and Black people, as well as indigenous communities, are seen, valued, and respected in the travel industry. I am passionate about creating opportunities and visibility for these groups, particularly within tourism, which has often overlooked or underrepresented our stories and contributions.

This drive comes from my personal experiences with marginalization, and I wake up every day with the desire to change the narrative. It’s not just about making a space for others; it’s about shifting the mindset that everyone deserves to be a part of the larger conversation. My work is deeply personal because it is rooted in my own journey and the hope that, through representation and inclusivity, we can create a travel industry that reflects the diversity of the world we live in.

What is your proudest career accomplishment?

One of my proudest career accomplishments has been the opportunity to connect with indigenous communities and women within the travel workforce on a grassroots level. Building these relationships has allowed me to develop tourism initiatives that are not only authentic but also true to the desires and values of the local communities they aim to serve.

A standout example of this is the Himalayan Women Trail Leaders (HWTL) initiative. In Spring of 2024, I spent over 100 days walking the high route of the Great Himalaya Trail with Mingmar Dolma Sherpa, the first Nepali female guide to take on this challenging journey. During this time, I forged a deep and unique relationship with her, gaining a profound understanding of the Sherpa community and the many ethnic groups that inhabit the region. This experience allowed me to witness firsthand the status of Nepali women in the trekking industry and the challenges they face, especially as guides.

Inspired by this experience, we created the HWTL initiative to amplify the voices and narratives of these women and provide them with greater opportunities and visibility. It’s about promoting a more equitable and inclusive trekking tourism industry that gives women the recognition and support they deserve. Seeing how this initiative has empowered women in the region and fostered change is an accomplishment I am incredibly proud of, and it’s a testament to the power of community-driven tourism.

What do you think are the most important issues facing the travel industry today?

One of the most pressing issues facing the travel industry today is the lack of women of color in leadership positions. As someone who has navigated the tourism space as a woman of color, I’ve seen firsthand how our voices and experiences are often overlooked. Women of color like myself should be given more opportunities to speak, to share our unique perspectives, and to lead initiatives that reflect our lived experiences. By doing so, we can contribute to decolonizing the tourism industry and help shift the narratives that have historically been white-centered. Our stories matter, and we need the industry to listen—not just to the voices of a few, but to the diverse range of women who have been at the heart of these communities.

Another significant issue is the widespread greenwashing that occurs, especially in initiatives that claim to uplift women and indigenous communities. While many tourism initiatives market themselves as “empowering,” often, the representation and impact on the communities they claim to serve are shallow or diluted by white-centric viewpoints. Many in the travel industry frequently misrepresent the narratives of Indigenous communities, Black people, and women of color, using their stories to promote more palatable, sanitized versions of their experiences instead of addressing the real, ongoing challenges they face.

This commodification of our stories does more harm than good, as it perpetuates the very systems of power and oppression that we are trying to dismantle.The travel industry must do better by not only listening to but also actively amplifying the voices of marginalized groups. It’s about more than just giving us space; it’s about ensuring that our narratives aren’t co-opted or distorted for marketing purposes. 

What do you envision for the future of the travel industry?

There are three main things I see for the future of the travel industry –

I envision a future where women leaders are no longer an exception but a normal and celebrated part of the travel industry. Women of all backgrounds, particularly women of color, will have the same opportunities as their counterparts to lead, innovate, and shape the tourism landscape. In this future, it will be common for travel consumers to actively seek out and book women-led tours, recognizing the value and authenticity that these leaders bring to the industry.

Additionally, I see a future where indigenous communities have full autonomy over their tourism initiatives. These communities will run their own operations, curate their own narratives, and benefit directly from the cultural experiences they share with the world. Indigenous people will take the lead in telling their own stories, managing their resources, and guiding their tourism industries on their terms, free from external forces or exploitation.

Finally, I envision a fully regulated mountain tourism industry that values and respects the local workers who play a critical role in these remote regions. The industry will recognize guiding and porter jobs as dignified and valuable careers, offering equitable wages, decent working conditions, and strong labor protections. This shift will ensure that the people who make the tourism experience possible receive fair pay, gain opportunities for professional growth, and earn the same respect as workers in any other sector. Ultimately, these changes will not only benefit the individuals involved but will also create a more ethical, sustainable, and inclusive tourism industry for all.

This isn’t just a company. It’s a movement. In a travel industry still grappling with systemic inequities, greenwashing, and underrepresentation, this nominee reminds us what’s possible when leadership looks like the people it serves. They’ve traded performative “empowerment” for real, grassroots collaboration, and the result is a travel model that’s ethical, inclusive, and fiercely transformative. We proudly shine a spotlight on this brand and the people behind it, who remind us that when we hand the mic to those long unheard, the entire industry gets better. Here’s to blazing trails, shifting power, and creating a world where every woman feels seen, heard, and valued—on and off the trail.