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Inclusion and Accessibility Open Doors to Community Impact and Economic Growth

 
Destinations International’s 2024 Social Inclusion Summit explores the importance of destination organizations promoting social inclusion, offers new resources  

Washington, DC (November 18, 2024) – Destinations International (DI), the world’s leading association representing destination organizations and convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs), shared insights and announced new resources to support and advance inclusion in the travel and tourism industry during its 2024 Social Inclusion Summit, held in Spokane, Washington, USA, October 28-30. The event was held concurrently with DI’s 2024 Business Operations Summit. 

Nearly 80 destination professionals from across the United States and Canada attended the event, which focused on the theme, “Forward Together: Creating Intentional Inclusion Initiatives That Champion Economic Growth and Community Impact.” Also in attendance were two students from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, recipients of HBCU Hospitality Scholarships from the Destinations International Foundation.  

During the summit, DI presented resources and information available to destination organizations and the community in promoting accessibility and inclusion, including:

Global Accessibility Report - a collaborative research effort by City Destinations Alliance (CityDNA) and DI to provide a foundational understanding of global initiatives around accessibility and serve as a catalyst for destinations in evolving their strategies and recognizing the economic value of accessibility.

Workforce Diversification and Retention Industry Brief – a report highlighting the need for a more diverse industry workforce in the travel and tourism industry and sharing DI’s 10-year vision to attract and retain more diverse talent as well as foster greater representation in leadership.

2024 Social Inclusion Lexicon – a research-based compendium of words offering destination organization leaders the most effective vocabulary for conveying the importance and impact of inclusion to their stakeholders and communities. 

Social Inclusion Resources Glossary – a list of essential DI resources and services available to empower destination professionals working to advance inclusion in their own organizations, as well as in their engagement with stakeholders and communities.  

“Destination organizations can play an essential role in advancing social inclusion, both for their own operations and as a catalyst in their local communities,” said Sophia Hyder Hock, DI Chief Inclusion Officer. “We hope the sessions and conversations at the summit – along with the new resources shared with participants – will advance inclusion, which we know benefits the local economy and community. Spokane was an ideal venue for discussions about advancing accessibility and social inclusion in the travel and tourism industry. We were honored to meet in such an historic and welcoming city, and we are deeply appreciative of the tremendous support from President & CEO Rose Noble and the entire team at Visit Spokane.”

Summit sessions featured a range of topics, including: “Championing Inclusion: Advocacy Strategies for Engaging Local Government,” “From Intention to Action: Establishing Accountability in Social Inclusion,” “The Seven Secrets of Inclusive Hospitality,” “Enhancing Workplace Culture: Emotional Intelligence and Inclusive Communication,” and “Retention Strategies and Succession Planning for a Diverse Workforce.”  

Attendees received “Ideas that Spark Change” workbooks to encourage reflection and bring home best practices, while breakout sessions provided opportunities for discussion and the exchange of ideas. An immersive cultural experience at Spokane’s Riverfront Park provided learning about its history and design, and representatives from Riverfront Park and Spokane Riverkeeper discussed their work to improve sustainability in and around the once heavily polluted river. Members of the Spokane, Kalispell and Coeur d'Alene indigenous tribes educated attendees about their histories and cultures and shed light on the impact of cultural tourism, including programs at the Coeur d’Alene Casino and Resort.

"The Social Inclusion Summit, now in its second year, was and is a chance to see the big picture of the work being done,” said Sonya Bradley, Chief of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Visit Sacramento and co-chair of the DI Social Inclusion Committee. “From the opening keynote – which was not simply inspiring but pushed us all to really delve deep into inclusive tourism – to the roundtable discussions, where we heard the challenges and successes from our destination peers, the Summit gave us the take-aways we need to evolve our roles and responsibilities. I walked away with ideas and new connections. The immersive experience is the high point of the Summit. Getting a chance to hear stories directly from the members of the native tribes and learn about their culture was a privilege and honor. I look forward to next year’s Social Inclusion Summit."

The 2025 Social Inclusion Summit will take place October 28-30, 2025, in Jackson, Mississippi, USA.  
Event partners for the 2024 Social Inclusion Summit included:

Brand USA 
CFO by design 
Fired Up! Culture 
HospitableMe
International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA) 
Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) 
Longwoods International 
Miles Partnership 
MMGY Global 
Paradise – a partner for good 
SearchWide Global 
Simpleview 
Sparkloft 
Travelability 
Tripadvisor 
Wheel the World  

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About Destinations International
Destinations International is the world’s largest and most reliable resource for destination organizations, convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) and tourism boards. With more than 8,000 members and partners from over 750 destinations, the association represents a powerful forward-thinking and collaborative community around the world. For more information, visit www.destinationsinternational.org.

About the Destinations International Foundation
The Destinations International Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering destination organizations globally by providing education, research, advocacy and leadership development. The Foundation is classified as a charitable organization under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code and all donations are tax-deductible. For more information visit www.destinationsinternational.org/about-foundation.