Today we’d like to introduce you to Ti and Yvette Mason.
Ti and Yvette, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
How LIA Atlanta Travel Club All Started after I met the love of my life online, you see; in 2011 was the very first time that we spoke over the phone, we were long-distance and began to travel and meet up in different states for quick weekend getaways and family outings.
We actually dated long distance for three years Our two beautiful daughters Javoni is 29 years old and will be 30 on December 15th. Jayda our youngest is 23 years old. Javoni has Autism and full of laughter and Jayda is an up coming educator of young children. These are our Angel’s and we are so very proud of both of them.Some would say that is amazing because sometimes same gender loving relationships already may have some strain for whatever reason and then to add long distance to the relationship, some might say you’re headed for disaster, but thank God for Face-time, social media and being in the position to TRAVEL. I (Ti) relocated from Durham, North Carolina to Atlanta, Georgia with Yvette in May of 2014. October 2014 is when we created Diva in Motion Traveling Club. We took our first trip as Diva In Motion in December of 2014 to Harrah’s Casino in North Carolina, with 45 attendees we considered it a success and we begin to have meet-n-greets at a local bar on the Southside called Dugan’s Bar & Grill. We were still trying to find our niche in the community and trying to figure out how we wanted to brand our travel club. Fast forward to May 23, 2015, we became Yvette & Ti Mason, this changed not only our lives but our vision for Diva in Motion Travel Club change totally; it was like a light bulb went off and I knew exactly what I wanted to do and how I wanted to brand the travel club. We changed the name immediately and became Ladies Loving Ladies in Atlanta. We began our branding and suddenly found out that the name was too long with too many “L’s”.
(Laughing). So, we changed the name once again to become Ladies in Atlanta Travel Club LLC. We are not just ONE DIVA, but LADIES IN ATLANTA, thus LIA and that is who we are known as today. Our vision and goal is to provide a safe environment for women who love women to come together and not only travel but form a bond of sisterhood and of course have lots of fun. We welcome all our LGBT family as well as those that love to travel with us.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Well, hmmmm… smooth, not at all; nothing smooth about starting your own business and trying to run it as smoothly as possible. Especially trying to please 15 -175 attendees when you have events or trips. One thing that we try and do is accept feedback from our members as well as non-members, this has been one of our growing tools and we take the feedback to make the next trip or even better. Some of the struggles that we have had along the way is making the decision to cancel events. We have thought a trip or event was a good idea and we have to scrap it because we might not have had a good response or even when we have an event or trip and we have a good response, but once the event or trip gets closes to happening, we may have to cancel it because we don’t have enough ticket sales, etc. I think when you are dealing with a product like ours; you really have to do your homework and research on what is going to get the best turnout. We are still growing and learning and we will continue to grow and learn throughout the business.
Ladies In Atlanta Travel Club – LIA ATLANTA – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
LIA Travel Club’s mission is to bring friends and strangers to form a bond while traveling. This club is not only for women who love women but those who love to travel with our LGBT family. Not only do we focus on travel and events, but we like to party with a purpose. We are huge in giving back to the community, for instance, in the past six years, we have an annual Yacht Party were we pick an organization or person to give back to. We have given to the homeless community, Autism Awareness, American Heart Association and Breast Cancer Awareness. December 14, 2019, LIA Atlanta will be going to a local grocery store and pick five random people or a family and pay for their food that they are about to purchase. We will also be giving a financial donation to an organization who provides services to elderly lesbians. Our club does at least one party a year where a percentage of the proceeds will go to a special cause. We use our all-white yacht party as a platform to give back. Since LIA’s inception, we have helped six autistic children go camping, we have recognized survivors of Domestic Violence, and we have used our platform to raise awareness for breast cancer and heart disease as well as homeless families. I would say we specialize in travel, but over the years, we have grown to be so much more. We are known for our community outreach and providing a safe environment for mature women to party with a purpose.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I see success personally as doing something that you love and being able to change lives. I think that LIA is successful in that. Yes, we are a for-profit business, but we are far from being able to quit our full-time jobs. We feel; that what we stand for will bring us even more success as we grow our business. We are growing our business by getting more member to join in our mission, our criteria to join LIA is being at least 25 years of age, have a mature mindset and be ready to have fun and do great work in the community.
Pricing:
- Membership $60 pp yearly with yearly renewal
- LIA 1st LGBT PROM 4/4/2020 $65 pp & $120 per Couple
- LIA 6th Annual Yacht Party All Inclusive
- www.llliatltravelclub.com
Contact Info:
- Address: LIA IN ATLANTA TRAVEL CLUB
UNION CITY, GA - Website: www.llliatltravelclub.com
- Email: Llliatl2015@gmail.com
- Instagram: LIA.ATLANTA
- Facebook: LADIES IN ATLANTA ( LIKE PAGE )
- Other: LIA ATLANTA MASON – FACEBOOK
Image Credit:
Yvette Mason, Ti Mason, Lennard Devlin
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