< PreviousF or meeting planners, the chosen location is almost as important as the itinerary. Which is why leading hotel brands around the world focus on happiness — giving meeting and event planners and attendees what they want: the “wow factor.” The ‘wow factor’ is nothing more than state-of-the-art facilities and technology, specially catered menus, flex- ible staff, outdoor space, all-encompassing amenities and highly creative spaces that challenge attendees to think outside the box. It might be overwhelming to think about the research and work that goes into accomplishing this, but top hotel brands around the world are not just doing it, they are revolution- izing the meeting industry by it. The ‘Wow Factor’ BY CHLOE LABELLE Giving Meeting Planners What They Want Courtesy of MGM Resorts Courtesy of Omni Hotels Omni Homestead Resort The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas 40 October 2023 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.com HOTEL BRANDS UPDATEMGM Resorts Top brands like MGM Resorts are highlighting their uniqueness in a way that entices event planners. According to Stephanie Glanzer, senior vice president and chief sales officer at MGM Resorts, MGM is at the tail end of a full $100 million remodel of the company’s 2 million sf Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV, which will be com- pleted in early 2024. “The project reflects the needs and preferences of today’s meeting planners and attendees with significant technology upgrades, dynamic digital signage and a fresh, new design and ambiance,” Glanzer said. “The feedback we’ve already been receiving from planners and attendees has been terrific and we’re excited to showcase the space with new and recur- ring groups in the coming months.” Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, NV, also offers the perfect blend of new venues and amenities to elevate the resort experience. The Convention Center remodel is part of that new wave of enhancements, including the redesign of Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas’ 424 rooms and suites; the recent addition of Retro by Voltaggio; the debut of Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar and the upcoming opening of Swingers, an immersive adults-only golf experience and Orla, a new Greek concept by celebrated chef Michael Mina. The addition of The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas to the MGM Resorts portfolio allows the company a tremendous opportunity to expand its offerings for premier meetings and events — all within close proximity to Bellagio, ARIA, Vdara and Park MGM. A $110 million transformation of all rooms and suites within Bellagio’s Spa Tower will be completed soon. MGM Grand also remodeled its Studio Tower, giving all 700 rooms a refreshing retro desert feel with a modern, stylish design, ideal for both business and leisure travelers. New York-New York recently completed a $63 million room remodel of all of its 1,830 rooms and 155 of its suites earlier this year. “The most significant trend we’re seeing related to meet- ings and conventions is that attendees want to participate in events that are not only productive, but also meaningful,” Glanzer said. “With everyone’s time and resources at a pre- mium, planners are looking to develop programs that allow groups to do business while also building team culture and giving back to the communities in which they’re visiting. Planners have been getting very creative in how they utilize our resorts and maximize our unique venues and amenities for a more meaningful experience.” To stand out from the competition as a premier event space that embraces the health and wellness market, the MGM team has seen groups offer yoga or meditation at Man- dalay Bay Beach, which is a great way to start a busy day of meetings. Remembering the importance of the “wow factor” — what makes their hotel unique — they also offer a team- building scavenger hunt of the vast MGM Resorts Fine Art Collection, which takes them throughout many of the resorts. “We work closely with each planner to discover what’s important to them and what their hot buttons are for their particular group to ensure we can address all areas and cus- tomize a successful, productive event,” Glanzer said. “We want planners to remain focused on dreaming up the most memorable and exciting experiences for their attendees while our team works closely alongside them to execute each event with top-notch service and incredible attention to detail.” Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is the world’s largest hotel franchiser with approximately 9,100 hotels around the globe and 24 iconic brands, many that cater to planners by making it simple to organize multiple, multi-year meetings — whether it’s a major convention or intimate board meet- ing. Two years ago, the company rolled out The Meetings Collection, and today that includes more than 200 hotels in sought-after destinations that offer discounts, streamlined Courtesy Photo Harrah’s Las Vegas Courtesy of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Wyndham Grand Clearwater TheMeetingMagazines.com | Corporate & Incentive Travel | October 2023 41contracting, top-of-the-line technology, exclusive destina- tion experiences and more. As Kelly Patrick, group vice president, global sales at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, in Auburn, AL, explained, with more than 15 million sf of meeting and event space, Wyndham has some standout locations in its port- folio, like Galt House Hotel, Trademark Collection by Wyndham in Louisville and Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach down in Florida, and they’re always look- ing to expand what they can offer. “Recently, we’ve added The Courtland Grand Hotel, Trademark Collection by Wynd- ham that has expansive meeting space in the heart of Atlanta, as well as over a dozen new hotels com- ing to the Trademark brand with LuxUrban in key cities like Miami and Los Angeles,” Patrick said. The collection also just unveiled the first Wyndham Alltra in the Dominican Republic with the stunning 404 room Wyndham Alltra Samaná. “Bleisure travel isn’t going away anytime soon, and these destinations not only answer the needs of meetings planners, but also deliver exceptional experiences for today’s travelers looking to extend their trips outside of their work week,” Pat- rick said. “Many millennials make up today’s workforce, and we know that they value experi- ences above anything else.” As part of The Meetings Col- lection’s benefits, planners can actually unlock custom destina- tion experiences depending on their level of spend like golf get- aways at Grandover Resort & Spa or beer and wine receptions at Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek, to name a few. This experience-forward trend has also encouraged hotels to offer a variety of indoor and outdoor spaces beyond just boardrooms and conference centers, allowing for work to get accomplished while also letting attendees enjoy and take in their surroundings. Cheyenne Mountain Resort, A Dolce by Wyn- dham is a perfect example of that. “The addition of hotels like Wyndham Alltra in Domini- can Republic or those that are coming with our LuxUrban partnership bring attendees to locations they want to be in, and we’re focused on continuing to up the ante when it comes to all that Wyndham can offer to meeting plan- ners,” Patrick said. Earlier this year, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts announced the upcoming integration of Groups360, which brings instant online, multi-room bookings to their hotel reservation system and makes the booking process more seamless for planners. Omni Hotels & Resorts Omni Hotels & Resorts recently opened Omni PGA Frisco Resort and Omni Tempe Hotel at ASU, and are about to celebrate the grand re-opening of The Omni Home- stead Resort after a $150 million, three- year restoration project. Additionally, they are in the middle of $1.5 billion in portfolio investments that include reno- vations at Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia, Omni Tucson National Resort, and Omni La Costa Resort and Spa in San Diego, CA. “We have also recently launched a brand evolu- tion to go along with the significant growth we’re seeing in our company with nationwide portfolio enhancements, ser- vice training and marketing investments,” said Omni Hotels & Resorts chief sales officer, Dan Surette. “This is a new era for the brand and marks the first major shift in visual identity in more than a decade.” Last year, Omni Hotels & Resorts saw a great deal of pent- up demand from corporate planners. This year, they are see- ing less short-term RFPs for 2023, but noting a significant uptick in new opportunities for the next couple of years. They are also noticing room strong pick-up with F&B spend on par with pre-pandemic num- bers, but their investments in new and re-imagined event spaces are probably the most exciting news, explained Surette. At the new Omni PGA Frisco Resort, for example, they feature a two-acre putting course and a 10-hole short-course for groups to use for team-building and net- working events. In the middle of this space, they also have a huge big screen and stage area for video content and entertainment. “We have also added event pavilions at some of our resorts (Omni PGA Frisco Resort and The Omni Homestead Resort) where planners can use the flexible indoor and outdoor spaces,” Surette said. The Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel will be opening in late 2025, featuring 800 rooms and over 80,000 sf of event space located adjacent to the expanding Fort Lauderdale Convention Center. Caesars Entertainment Caesars Entertainment has long been synonymous with innovation within the meetings and events space. The Courtesy of Omni Hotels Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel is set to open in late 2025. 42 October 2023 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.com When you need a team that gets the little details and the big picture, IT MATTERS WHERE YOU STAY. From Team Members who say, “Hi, happy to help!” to Trusted Advisors, an exclusive group of sales professionals, we go beyond what’s expected. We’re passionate about spreading the light and warmth of hospitality. That’s why we listen to what you need and work together on new ways to bring your vision to life, so that it all comes together exactly as planned. Your greatest stays are the moments we live for. Learn more at events.hilton.com. © 2023 Hilton “Many millennials make up today’s workforce, and we know that they value experiences above anything else.” When you need a team that gets the little details and the big picture, IT MATTERS WHERE YOU STAY. From Team Members who say, “Hi, happy to help!” to Trusted Advisors, an exclusive group of sales professionals, we go beyond what’s expected. We’re passionate about spreading the light and warmth of hospitality. That’s why we listen to what you need and work together on new ways to bring your vision to life, so that it all comes together exactly as planned. Your greatest stays are the moments we live for. Learn more at events.hilton.com. © 2023 Hiltoncompany is continuing to reinvent itself with new offerings, updated properties and innovative advancements through- out its portfolio of properties. “With over 50 properties, there’s always something new or changing at Caesars. Most recently, we’ve had a number of new celebrity restaurants open at Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, including Martha Stewart’s first-ever restaurant, The Bedford,” said Kelly Gleeson Smith, Caesars Entertainment vice president of sales in Las Vegas, NV. Harrah’s Las Vegas, which is directly connected to the company’s newest conference center CAESARS FORUM, has also undergone significant renovations, including a new restaurant from Chef Gordon Ramsay and updated hotel lobby and rooms. “The meetings and events industry is at a really interest- ing junction right now as we’re seeing a lot of big trends and changes catching interest,” Gleeson Smith said. “The two that are most interesting and relevant for Caesars Enter- tainment are the growing demand for personalization and sustainability.” Personalization has gained immense traction and attend- ees now expect events tailored to their preferences and needs. With its vast number of resources and venues that they can utilize to meet virtually any request, this is a trend that Caesars Entertainment is uniquely suited for. “Sustainability is a crucial concern for both attendees and corporate planners today,” Gleeson Smith said. “Caesars Entertainment has been ahead of the trend here for a while with our long-running commitment to sustainable practices. We can organize eco-conscious events by implementing sus- tainable practices, such as reducing waste, promoting local sourcing for event materials, assisting with volunteer oppor- tunities and more.” What excites Gleeson Smith the most about Caesars Entertainment’s offerings in the world of meetings and events is the vast range of what they have to offer and the number of possibilities for personalization. “We have properties on both coasts and throughout the middle of the country, so planners have their pick of loca- tions. In some areas, such as our Las Vegas, Reno, or Atlan- tic City locations, planners can put together cross-venue events utilizing spaces across different properties through our ‘One Contact, One Contract, One F&B Minimum’ strat- egy,” Gleeson Smith said. “It allows for a really deep level of personalization for each event and provides the attend- ees an all-inclusive destination experience, unique to Cae- sars Entertainment.” Loews Hotels According to Christi Davis, senior vice president, sales & marketing at Loews Hotels & Co, in New York, NY, Loews is focused heavily right now on the opening of Loews Arling- ton Hotel, its second hotel in Arlington, TX. The hotel will officially debut early next year and will feature more than 200,000 sf of meeting space, multiple food and beverage out- lets, a resort-style pool and more. Loews Hotels is mindful that this is a transformational moment for the meetings industry, and they are helping in- person events to come back better than ever. Providing new venues and special experiences, listening to the planners to stay ahead of emerging trends and priorities, they are posi- tioned for this kind of big-picture thinking. “Our food and beverage team has made great strides in supplier diversity, bio-dynamic offerings and sustainability. Most recently, we rolled out a hand-crafted mocktail pro- gram, leaning into our brand values of locally hand-crafted, but also recognizing that having multiple curated creations for all is a value add,” said Davis. Courtesy Photo Loews Arlington Hotel and Arlington Convention Center Harrah’s Las Vegas has undergone significant renovations, and now features a new restaurant from Chef Gordon Ramsay. 44 October 2023 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.comAccording to Davis, today’s meeting planners are budget- conscious while looking for even bigger and better events. One of Loews Hotels’ goals is to customize and tailor each meeting to the individual planner’s needs. “At Loews Hotels, we always want to provide an elevated experience regardless of the budget,” Davis said. “There are many ways we assist in doing this from the creation of flex- ible menus, to engaging our preferred partners, like Encore, in offering discounted AV.” The Loews team has also seen a new trend. Meeting plan- ners want their attendees to embrace the distinctly local flair and flavor, and incorporate personal experiences with their business travel. Programs like Flavor by Loews Hotels are a value add with no incremental costs. Flavor integrates each destination’s most creative food and beverage artisans into the culinary offerings and experiences at their hotels. “Flexibility, customization and creativity, it’s never a one-size-fits-all approach to executing meetings and events at Loews Hotels,” Davis said. “We look at each event as a unique one-of-a-kind experience, tailored to the group’s specific needs.” Hilton Hotels & Resorts With more than 600 hotels across six continents, Hilton Hotels & Resorts has served as the backdrop for many global meetings and events. The brand continues to innovate in that space, expanding in prime destinations around the world to meet the needs of business travelers. According to Leonard Gooz, global brand leader, Hilton Hotels & Resorts in McLean, VA, following an extensive ren- ovation, Hilton added theWit Chicago, a Hilton Hotel to the company’s portfolio this spring. With newly appointed guest rooms and suites, a new lobby and upgraded amenities and services, theWit continues to push the design envelope with upscale elements offering a refreshed twist to embody the home of a worldly collector. Located in the heart of Chicago’s downtown Loop, theWit offers 7,000 sf of state-of-the-art meeting and event spaces, a business center and onsite experience concierge along with the premier rooftop restaurant and bar, ROOF on theWit, one of Chicago’s most sought-after rooftop destinations. This elevated spot offers sweeping skyline views and a retractable roof to keep the space accessible year-round. Hilton University of Houston recently underwent a four- year expansion to allow for enhanced meetings and events. “The recent expansion of Hilton Columbus Downtown to become Ohio’s largest hotel has boosted group bookings year over year by groups that have not previously consid- ered Columbus a leading convention destination,” Gooz said. Hilton Columbus Downtown now boasts 1,000 guest rooms, over 75,000 sf of meeting and ballroom space, and four new food and beverage concepts across both of its towers. A sky- bridge connects the hotel’s two towers, as well as the Greater Columbus Convention Center, which offers an additional 1.8 million sf of meeting space available to visiting groups. “As a customer insights-driven company, we are always working to evolve alongside our customers’ changing prefer- ences and desires,” Gooz concluded. Hilton’s 2024 Global Trends Report will be released soon, which combines insights from Hilton experts and thousands of travelers across the world to spotlight emerging trends and preferences of the evolved traveler. This report will allow Hilton, as well as other brands, to look inward, reflect and provide a glimpse into the creative and innovative solutions — the “wow factor” that brands can offer attendees year after year. C&IT Courtesy of Hilton Hilton Columbus Downtown (left) and theWit (right). TheMeetingMagazines.com | Corporate & Incentive Travel | October 2023 45I t’s never been more essential to build a supportive and inclusive workforce. Corporations and companies of all sizes nationwide are focusing on diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) and multiculturalism. In the meetings industry today, events professionals know that building an inclusive culture leads to higher attendee interest and team engagement. But how can they effectively integrate DEI initiatives in their events planning? Organizations understand that diversity means more than race, ethnicity, language, class and gender. For that reason, they are not only proactively creating meeting environments where a variety of different voices are encouraged and heard, but considering the full breadth of diversity within the meet- ings and events space. This include, thinking style, genera- tion, disability, personality type and sexual orientation. Workplace behavior, including at corporate meetings, is rapidly changing to become more inclusive and diverse than a few years ago. Part of this change is a result of a fear of lawsuits, but another part of this shift is the natural result of having a more diverse workforce and roster of attendees, presenters and vendors. Sandie Briscoe, MBA, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, chief execu- tive officer at The HR Initiative in West Palm Beach, FL, said that, in recent years, the focus on DEI within the corporate sector has grown substantially. Previously, DEI was often seen as “check the box,” primarily for compliance. “Today, however, there’s a growing understanding of the intrinsic value that diverse perspectives bring to problem- solving, innovation and decision-making,” Briscoe said. “Furthermore, with increased visibility and a more vocal workforce, organizations are recognizing that fostering an inclusive environment is not just the right thing to do, but is also vital for attracting and retaining top talent, and even for driving profitability.” A study by McKinsey Global Institute, a global company providing a fact base to aid decision making on the economic and business issues most critical to the world’s companies and policy leaders, found that “nearly 40% of respondents say they have turned down or chosen not to pursue a job because of a perceived lack of inclusion at the organization.” As Briscoe explained, meetings and events are a great opportunity to showcase a company’s commitment to DEI, as corporate gatherings are a direct reflection of a company’s values, culture and brand. “By prioritizing DEI in these settings, corporations can ensure diverse perspectives are heard and reinforce their commitment to these principles to both employees and cus- tomers,” Briscoe said. “Additionally, diverse representation in events often leads to richer discussions, better outcomes and more innovative solutions.” The Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM), as well as Charles Schwab conferences, do a remarkable job of having a diverse panel of speakers. More conferences have Building an Inclusive Workforce Leads to conversations with a wide range of voices BY MAURA KELLER 46 October 2023 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.com PLANNER FOCUSexpanded their panels to be more inclusive. Briscoe has seen companies make sure that their meeting venues are acces- sible to people with disabilities. “While onstage, we have always tried to have diversity,” said Leann Bonnano, senior vice president of ForbesLive & Marketing in Boston, MA. “Pre-pandemic, it was diffi- cult to find vendors who also reflected that. While not impossible, it made the pro- cess more difficult and required more research. Post-pandemic, there has been a large shift, not only in terms of inten- tionality of the entire industry to ensure we’re using diverse vendors, but plan- ners are also connecting with and sharing those vendors across different platforms.” Bonnano further stressed that, in the events space specifically, DEI is not just “nice to have,” but rather a crucial component to achieving success in both a company’s event and organiza- tion as a whole. “That said, there can’t be a disconnect between your event and the values that you represent as a company. DEI is important across all facets of an organization,” Bonnano said. “As planners, we have many people to serve, but the core is our audience whom we provide with relevant content and impactful experiences.” Forbes has taken strides in this space with the launch of ForbesBLK which works to champion and amplify the voices of black professionals, leaders and creators. “Our audience development team works diligently to ensure that the events we host have a representative audience across the board, and our programming teams apply a DEI lens to discussion to both speaker recruitment and topics when developing agendas,” Bonnano said. The ForbesLive team, which executes all of Forbes’ events, has worked to ensure that DEI is deeply ingrained in the ethos and core values of all of the events they execute. Their programming team works in tandem with editorial to ensure that they have diversity of Photo by Colin Baldwin for Forbes / Courtesy of Leann Bonnano TheMeetingMagazines.com | Corporate & Incentive Travel | October 2023 47 “As planners, we have many people to serve, but the core is our audience.” Two of Forbes’ large international events, the Forbes 30/50 Summit in Abu Dhabi and the Forbes Under 30 Africa Summit in Botswana utilized local planners, businesses and resources to ensure that the culture was woven into different parts of each event’s agenda. Leann Bonnano , Senior Vice President, ForbesLive & Marketingthought and speakers on stage, while their logistics team is committed to hiring vendors that are minority owned, as well as ensuring that their venues can accommodate differently- abled attendees — whether that’s by providing sign language interpreters or special seating. It’s important to note that often companies approach diversity in a reactive sense. They think about it once there’s been an adverse event. Instead, today’s companies should think ahead to the kind of attendees they want to attract to corporate meetings, and consider things like where the event is located, the presenters who will be included, and what kind of accessibility needs are being met so those with disabilities, sensory challenges, etc. will be able to attend a corporate event with little or no apprehension. Recruiting, selection and support systems should be built into a corporate meeting to enable the populations identified to attend. Bringing diversity policies into every single step of the event planning is crucial. And, it’s not only about how you showcase diversity externally, but about power in the deci- sion-making process internally. In light of that, today’s cor- porate meeting planners should focus on generational diver- sity and dynamics within the corporate meeting setting. In fact, at many companies, generational diversity is a new, permanent and large component of diversity training, and because many employers are just now awakening to it, such inclusive strategies within corporate meetings are surging. As Bonnano explained, having a DEI footprint is also hugely important, and it also means giving back to the community by driving and celebrating business success among the local population where an event takes place. Two of Forbes’ large international events, the Forbes 30/50 Summit in Abu Dhabi and the Forbes Under 30 Africa Summit in Botswana utilized local planners, businesses and resources to ensure that the culture was woven into different parts of each event’s agenda. In addition to hosting events specifically targeted for underrepresented groups, it is important for Forbes as an organization to incorporate DEI as a horizontal strategy across all 100+ events that the company produces each year. For example, in its upcoming Sustainability Summit, Forbes will be hosting a conversation around how businesses can build resilience for people and the planet. “The conversation will explore the responsibility to pro- vide access to a living wage, supporting inclusive and diverse suppliers, among other relevant topics,” Bonnano said. “We have also greatly revamped and amplified our virtual offer- ing in order to serve our audiences that are unable to attend events in-person.” Embracing Challenges DEI within the meetings and events environment is a relatively new concept. As a result, planners may face some unique challenges, resulting in some unavoidable mistakes when orchestrating a DEI-focused event. In fact, a common mistake the Forbes’ meetings and events team sees is when DEI is not authentically integrated into the event with real purpose that ties back to the mis- sion of the event. “In addition, make sure that your event’s website, mar- keting and graphics showcase inclusive images. If the audi- ences you are marketing to do not see themselves in the event line-up, they will be less likely to get engaged and partici- pate,” Bonnano said. Being myopic when it comes to DEI is also a big mis- take. There are plenty of examples where an event will focus on diversity in one aspect and fail in so many others. “DEI should be a part of the planning process from inception to execution,” Bonnano said. “For example, while we aren’t involved in the events of Fashion Week, it is a great source DepositPhotos.com Today’s corporate meeting planners should focus on generational diversity and dynamics within the corporate meeting setting. 48 October 2023 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.comof inspiration and ideas. However, the conversation around lack of diversity from makeup artists to models has contin- ued throughout the years. At some point, either a goal is cre- ated or a consultant must be brought in.” One of the greatest challenges Bonnano faces when incorporating DEI in events is ensuring authenticity to the subject, community or audience, and making sure there is collective buy-in from all stakehold- ers that are involved in the planning so everything is aligned in accomplish- ing the same goal. “Another challenge planners face is ensuring that your company stays committed and incorporates measur- able goals for DEI,” Bonnano said. “We see that during times of eco- nomic uncertainty, DEI initiatives can slow down; however, we need leaders to stand by their commitments.” Identifying diverse vendors in leg- acy parts of the business is not easy. Audiovisual (AV) is a prime example of this, particularly if you’re not in a large venue or hiring your own free- lance crew. For instance, it’s tough finding a female who does AV. Based on her expertise of incorporating DEI initiatives within the corporate sector, Briscoe said there are two common mistakes she sees event planners make as it relates to DEI within the corporate meetings environment. These include not continuously soliciting and acting on feedback from diverse attendees to ensure inclu- sivity measures are effective and tokenism, or including diverse individuals merely for appearances or to check the DEI box without valuing their input or giving them genuine responsibilities. In that light, it’s imperative that planners receive the appropriate coaching and training on how to be an inclusive meeting planner. Corporate executives, business owners and leaders with a meetings and events department should also receive coaching on how to be an inclusive leader. Together, planners and their team members, including management level staff, can share best practices and help create ongoing DEI strategies for future corporate events. Down the Road Diversity and inclusion are topics that should be front and center of your events planning team. It should start behind the scenes, where the people making important event planning decisions are diverse. Building a team that brings together different back- grounds, networks and points of view will contribute to a richer a event. “In terms of evolution,” Bon- nano said, “the conversation around belonging is going to get louder and really push all planners to think about DEI on a broader scale.” As society continues to evolve and interconnect, her hope is for companies to move from just representation to ensur- ing deep-rooted equity and genuine inclusion. “This could involve more sophisticated training, advanced technologies to aid in inclusion, and a more holistic integra- tion of DEI principles into every facet of corporate operations, including meetings and events,” Briscoe said. “Furthermore, feedback mechanisms will become more robust, and corpora- tions will employ data analytics to measure and enhance their DEI initiatives.” In the end, the more diverse a company is, the more diver- sity you will find in the venues, suppliers, speakers and con- tent topics featured at the events. C&IT Photo by Colin Baldwin for Forbes / Courtesy of Leann Bonnano In addition to hosting events specifically targeted for underrepresented groups, it is important for Forbes as an organization to incorporate DEI as a horizontal strategy across all 100+ events that the company produces each year. TheMeetingMagazines.com | Corporate & Incentive Travel | October 2023 49 “Feedback mechanisms will become more robust, and corporations will employ data analytics to measure and enhance their DEI initiatives.” Sandie Briscoe, MBA, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, Chief Executive Officer, The HR InitiativeNext >