Predictions on: Diversity, equity & inclusion

Better knowledge sharing and industry communication will support the comfort and safety of travellers from all communities

Equipping employees with the knowledge and tools to represent an organisation as inclusive continues to be a key focus for 2024, ensuring that whatever race, gender, sexual orientation or mental and physical constraints of travellers, they have good experiences wherever they travel.

Keichline highlights that TMCs should help clients identify any areas of concerns. “We must continue to ensure we’re providing the most up-to-date information on destinations, so travel managers can make the right decisions for their travellers to keep them safe,” he says. “It’s about sharing even more than mainstream knowledge – which should already be incorporated into travel programmes – so travel managers will need to know the demographics of their travellers. If you have potentially at-risk people in your travel programme, make sure they’re protected.”

Stratford agrees and believes calls for a more co-ordinated response from industry stakeholders and suppliers will become louder from corporates.

He further suggests that improving the travel experience for everybody is to ensure every community is involved at every stage of the process.

“Individuals in communities – including LGBTQ+, solo female travellers, travellers with visible and hidden disabilities and ethnic and religious minorities – have the deep understanding of the challenges they face and any representative body must have them on board to be an integral part of the solution,” Stratford says.

“There are so many good things already being done by the travel industry to help remove some of those obstacles, which is really positive. But there categorically needs to be an industry taskforce, traveller representation and government collaboration to make a truly seismic shift. From employers’ points of view, it’s important their staff can progress and travel and that’s where TMCs can go above and beyond to assist.”