EIC Releases Study on DEI in the Global Events Industry

The Events Industry Council, in partnership with its global Equity Task Force, has released the results of the 2022 Equity Benchmarking Study, the first phase of the EIC’s Equity Acceleration Plan. The survey unveils widespread DEI dissatisfaction among event professionals, minority groups and women.

The Equity Task Force was formed in 2020 to address systemic racism and all forms of discrimination in the business-events and hospitality industries. The results indicate most DEI efforts being espoused are not being put into practice, and the EIC says there is an urgent need for organizations to put their aspirations into action, so their DEI structures, policies and initiatives can deliver measurable change.

"It’s crucial that we champion inclusivity in our sector as a means to drive economic and social progress," said Amy Calvert, CEO of the EIC. "DEI needs to be embraced by organizational leadership to be effective. Results from our 2022 Equity Benchmarking Study underscore we have a significant way to go, particularly advancing ethnic diversity, gender inclusivity, and equity in leadership and influential positions. EIC’s Equity Acceleration Plan will enable us to measure progress as well as improve our ability to deliver impact and sustain change."

To compile the Equity Benchmarking Study, a series of EIC leadership focus groups were held, along with an AI-based chatbot survey of 1,404 event professionals across the industry. The current DEI experience in the events industry was measured across four dimensions: ownership, accountability and power of influence, delivering change, and sustaining change. The global survey was conducted by Tharoor Associates and Culturelytics from September 2021 to January 2022. Among the results:

• 61 percent of the respondents identified as white and make up a significant majority across all job grades, with minimal representation from other ethnicities, especially in senior management (15 percent Black) and board positions (6 percent Black).
• Respondents who identify as Black (16 percent) rated their DEI experience 11 percent lower across all four dimensions than respondents who identified as white. 
• More than 75 percent of respondents identified as female, and they are well represented in managerial and senior roles. Sixty-one percent of female respondents are in senior management and board positions; however, they rated their DEI experience 21 percent lower than the male respondents did. 

"Dismal Black and brown representation within the events industry presents barriers to diversity and inclusion in leadership and influential positions needed to impact change," said Jason Dunn Sr., group vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion for Visit Cincy (the Cincinnati convention and visitors bureau), as well as co-chair of the EIC Equity Task Force and past chair of the National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals. "Dispersed power and greater ownership of roles at all levels is rooted in an authentic DEI strategy, which in turn strengthens our industry’s infrastructure and positions us to compete on a global scale. Bottom line, the events industry propels the global economy, through thoughtful, high-impact events. It’s time for us to apply the same commitment, resources and metrics at an accelerated pace to intertwine DEI principles in all that we do. Our task force is committed to addressing these survey findings with actionable and measurable solutions. The journey won’t be easy, but nothing worth having ever is."

The benchmarking study is phase one of the EIC's Equity Acceleration Plan. Phase two includes a leadership workshop to review the study, and to shape resources and deliverables for the benefit of the EIC's membership.

"The next phase of our work will focus on the first two dimensions of the DEI experience: ownership and accountability/power of influence. To create a sustainable environment of change, we must foster a sense of ownership among everyone," said Tina Wehmeir, president and CEO of the AMC Institute, and EIC Task Force co-chair. "Accountability and power of influence is a particularly critical area, based on our survey finding that minority groups showed higher levels of dissatisfaction in larger organizations. This further illustrates the need for organizational leadership to connect DEI principles to actual outcomes. It also reaffirms the importance of assembling the men and women of the EIC Task Force. They are change agents."

The EIC Equity Acceleration Plan aims to support event professionals in creating more diverse and inclusive environments, developing career pathways, and ensuring representation in leadership and supply chains by providing learning and resources intended to reach and support the industry.