Diversity and Inclusion

What does it really mean to plan an “accessible” meeting or event? While most commonly thought of as ensuring that facilities are accessible for wheelchairs, it’s more complex than that. It means anticipating and addressing a wide spectrum of needs among attendees and presenters, encompassing everything from dietary, hearing, vision, scent allergies, mobility, and much more.

With the return of in-person events, industry professionals may have overlooked one factor in their desire to nurture diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts — the event space itself.

As the U.S. becomes more politically divided and companies and associations more engaged, a state has a greater chance to enact a law that may challenge an event’s ethics.

As event audiences have expanded, planners must make sure their gatherings are accessible for all. Unfortunately, deafness, an invisible disability, is often neglected when planning events, a mistake.

The return of in-person events has sparked a great deal of excitement, but not for all. New data suggests that virtual events have accessibility and inclusion benefits that cannot be ignored.

Do corporations and exhibitors have a duty to uphold their diversity and equity policies in the public sphere, even if it means boycotting some events? With SXSW taking place this week in the controversial state of Texas, the debate rages. 

The pandemic has disproportionately disadvantaged women — and especially women of color. This is also true of events, where many have lost their livelihoods. In an industry where women make up so much of the workforce, why is there such a gender imbalance at the top?

Diversifying event partnerships is one way to join the world-wide call to action to support the Black community in the fight to end systemic racism. Here is a curated list of 50 Black-owned businesses to diversify your partner and supplier portfolio. 

On May 25, 2020, the tragic death of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis police department spurred a worldwide series of protests against systemic racism and police brutality, as well as a much wider conversation about race in society at large. Shortly thereafter, we interviewed four Black event professionals on their experience in events as a first step towards giving a voice to a community that is traditionally underrepresented in events.