HQ #116 / Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Best Cases and Scenarios

One of the most urgent and inspiring changes of this decade has been the rise of ‘diversity’ as the guiding principle of our community of associations. Historically, it's been said that it takes around 50 years for a social movement to really take off, as at the start of this journey there are still many prejudices to overcome. So, in a vast ecosystem of associations geared towards Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness, how do you include everyone within a palette of various shades, in an equal way?

Responsible associations that listen to their members recognise the importance of parity when it comes to the inclusion needs of their delegates. The very evolution of our lifestyles, migrations, health and safety challenges, digital progress and the sustainability of labour processes have brought new challenges and puzzles to inclusion and, in a way, increased social diversity.

We have membership organisations advocating for a more accessible society towards people with disabilities (such as the European Blind Union); international organisations committed to promoting and empowering LGBT+ meeting professionals with their events (don't miss our Deputy Editor’s interview with the LGBT Meetings Professional Association); how destinations are aligning new incoming communities with the impact they have on them (read our special report with Ottawa Tourism);

We also explore alternatives for convention centres to quantify their social value and facilitate accessibility guides for event organisers (don't miss our story on ACC Liverpool Group's Social Value Plan); and even how to break down gender barriers with women leading the meetings industry in Latin America (FIEXPO 2024).

Diversity has also become an essential dimension in the workplace. At our HQ, a company based in Antwerp, we only have one Belgian employee - the rest of the team comes from China, Portugal and Spain. And that, dear reader, is the theme of this issue. In each article you read, we celebrate the beauty and power of diversity throughout our sector. The more diverse we are, the more powerful and innovative we become.

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