DE&I

Mission Statement

·        To promote global awareness of the many issues facing travelers and coworkers in the workplace, or while traveling, attending meetings, or handling travel needs.

·        The committee provides the resources, education, and support to enable the travel industry to embrace and drive diversity, equity, and inclusion within organizations.

Objectives

·        Collect, maintain, and disseminate data and information pertaining to diversity, equity, and inclusion within organizations.

·        Collaborate and support GBTA membership and our global committees.

·        Provide resources, guidance, and expertise to facilitate the creation and development of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs for the GBTA membership.

·        Educate and promote best practices in support of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Where to Start?

·        Start with Why

·        Raise Awareness

·        Build your DEI Vocabulary

·        Set Goals and Assess your progress

·        Lead with Communication

Why DE&I is important?

·        TO GBTA: “Our goal is to be the industry voice advocating for diversity, equality and inclusion, and to raise the profile for all individuals from all walks of life, religion, race, age, gender, sexual orientation and disabilities, mental health and invisible illnesses. We want to challenge the status quo and provide a visible platform to raise and address these issues in our industry,” said Dave Hilfman, interim Executive Director GBTA, adding “by tackling the uncomfortable, we want to foster an open, transparent, and welcoming arm, where trust and integrity will be at the forefront of our agenda.”

·         TO THE BUSINESS TRAVEL INDUSTRY:   Business Travel News' recent DE&I survey showed potential traction for diversity, equity and inclusion in managed business travel, but specific actions were harder to define.  That's not to say industry appetite isn't there. As some interviewees pointed out, companies can tend toward reticence regarding details of their activities or positions, lest they get criticized for falling short of an ideal. To make real progress, the industry will have to take that risk and be willing to engage openly. Progress will be a long journey, with incremental successes and failures as inevitable sides of the equation. Still, BTN found a travel industry—both buyers and suppliers—taking some meaningful steps toward a diverse and equitable future.