Tonya Hempstead of American Express GBT discusses how the organization is building a more mature diversity and inclusion strategy, and how others can do the same.
 
Diversity within the meetings and travel industries has long been lacking. Although a wave of industry organizations have made public pledges to do better, turning these promises into progress is easier said than done.
 
On this episode of Eventful: The Podcast for Meeting Professionals, Northstar Meetings Group's senior associate editor, Elise Schoening, sat down with Tonya Hempstead, vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion at American Express Global Business Travel, to discuss how the organization is building an inclusion ecosystem to ensure a long-term commitment to DEI. Hempstead explained the many partners involved with bringing the strategy to life, and why a regional-based approach is key.
 
Other topics of discussion include:
 
How to address staffing shortages and attract diverse talent (10:40)
 
The role suppliers can play in driving change (12:10)
 
The value of DEI certifications and whether they will become must-haves in the industry (14:10).

Tonya Hempstead of American Express GBT discusses how the organization is building a more mature diversity and inclusion strategy, and how others can do the same. &nbsp; Diversity within the meetings and travel industries has long been lacking. Although a wave of industry organizations have made public pledges to do better, turning these promises into progress is easier said than done. &nbsp; On this episode of Eventful: The Podcast for Meeting Professionals, Northstar Meetings Group's senior associate editor, Elise Schoening, sat down with Tonya Hempstead, vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion at American Express Global Business Travel, to discuss how the organization is building an inclusion ecosystem to ensure a long-term commitment to DEI. Hempstead explained the many partners involved with bringing the strategy to life, and why a regional-based approach is key. &nbsp; Other topics of discussion include: &nbsp; How to address staffing shortages and attract diverse talent (10:40) &nbsp; The role suppliers can play in driving change (12:10) &nbsp; The value of DEI certifications and whether they will become must-haves in the industry (14:10).

Hosted by Northstar Meetings Group, Eventful invites you to listen in on insightful conversations about hot topics in the meetings and events industry. Tune in for interviews and analysis of the editorial coverage in Meetings & Conventions, Successful Meetings, Meeting News and Incentive.