Destinations International's new EDI tool will provide its destination organisation members with the capability to filter their results by comparable budget size, geography, tourism asset, and more. Photo Credit: GettyImages/Andrii Yalanskyi
With a growing focus on diversity, equity and inclusion in the industry,
Destinations International – a global association for official
destination organisations and convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) –
has launched the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Assessment Tool.
The
EDI Assessment Tool, which was first announced during the
association’s 2022 Annual Convention in Toronto, is designed as a
resource for destination organisation members of Destinations
International to create intentional EDI goals and track progress in the
workplace and the community through data-driven metrics.
“Many destination organisations recognise the value of incorporating
EDI principles into their brand, but it is often hard to know where to
start,” said Don Welsh, president and CEO of Destinations International.
“This tool will set standard metrics across the industry for our
members to keep track of progress being made in the areas of EDI.”
The
tool will create awareness and discussion about how to develop and
implement intentional EDI strategies for destination organisations of
all budget sizes around the globe. It will also provide members with the
capability to filter their results by comparable budget size,
geography, tourism asset, and more.
“We have recognised the need for authentic EDI initiatives in our
industry and have discussed the need for accountability through
measurement and metrics,” said Sophia Hyder Hock, chief diversity
officer at Destinations International.
Destinations will have the opportunity to assess workplace dynamics,
operations and policies, vendor selection, community engagement, and
accessibility-related strategies.
More information about the tool can be viewed here.