Meetings Mean Diversity
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Meetings Mean Diversity
by Lauran Peoples
Nearly 20 years after being founded in 2004 by American diversity consulting firms, ProGroup Inc. and Diversity Best Practices, Celebrate Diversity Month has evolved to not only celebrate multiculturalism globally, but to also acknowledge and reassess societal commitment and support of diversity in all facets of community and industry.
The meetings and travel industry has long served as a microcosm of society, lending itself as common ground for attendees from different cultures and conventions with varying objectives. When combined, these two elements create platforms that influence decisions and organizational culture beyond the confines of a multi-day conference. The social justice movements that finally garnered long overdue international discourse in 2020 helped set the stage for dialogue that would both mend and mold a new standard of expectation in our industry and globally.
Present day meetings and tourism organizations have welcomed and implemented a number of diversity, equity and inclusion based initiatives. Almost all have acknowledged the need for progress, with enterprising industry leaders pledging a resolute commitment to doing the work necessary to affect and sustain change.
One of the most impactful displays of these commitments can be seen in the current leadership of the most prominent international professional organizations in the meetings industry . As of this year, the Board of Directors for Meeting Professionals International (MPI), Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), Religious Conference Management Association (RCMA), and American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) are all chaired by Black men and women. This representation follows several impactful alignments within the meetings industry spearheaded by the National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals (NCBMP), including strategic partnerships with MPI and PCMA.
As the conversation around diversity, equity, and inclusion continues to evolve, so must the commitment to ensuring that there is equity in diversity and measurable growth in progress. The strides that have been made in the meetings and travel industry serve as a shining example of being the change and meeting it on the next level.
