A report released recently by Meeting Professionals International, (MPI), the world’s largest meeting and event industry association details how and to what extent event professionals plan for inclusivity and diversity, knowledge gaps in this area and best practice examples for the creation of inclusive experiences. Among the many takeaways, the report highlights that male and extroverts are best served by the meeting and events industry, with introverts being least-served.

The report is part of MPI’s pan-industry initiative to determine the current state of inclusion in the global meeting and event industry and offer education and tools to make meeting experiences more welcoming.

As awareness of diversity and inclusion has grown in the business community during the last 10 years, so does the understanding of its complexity. MPI explored the following areas of diversity: ability, culture, demographic characteristics, health, personal characteristics and professional background. Highlights of the report included:

  • Meeting professionals say the groups best-served by the event industry are male and extroverted attendees. They say introverted attendees are least-served. To balance this situation, in the report experts suggest that meeting professionals use technology to allow delegates to ask questions in alternative ways, as well as assigning seating at lunchtime to create new connections and reduce awkwardness.
  • 20% of respondents said they include diversity and inclusion initiatives to comply with legal requirements and 31% use diversity and inclusion to respond to guest expectations.
  • 40% of respondents said they don’t have all the information/knowledge needed to plan inclusive experiences.
  • 56% of respondents said their organization has a written diversity and inclusion policy

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