Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1401511
B M & T ••• July/August 2021 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 34 or two of them, that's enough. We are doing our part.'" If Blacks continue to be overlooked, Jones wouldn't be adverse to a boycott. "If there is a company not doing our company justice, it should be known and we shouldn't participate, buy, or sell their product," she said. "If you hit their pocketbook, they would pay attention. TPOC has done that in the past." DON WELSH, 65, is the pres- ident of Destinations International (DI) and has impressive hospitality/travel credentials. Welsh said within the industry, there was "always good intent" to do the right thing whether it was hotel companies or CVBs having clear DEI lines. "Somehow they would come and go and ebb and flow depending on the CEO at the time," he said. "But they never stayed as a core pri- ority." For the last three years, Welsh said DI has implement- ed a DEI campaign. "The industry has some movement, but we have a lot of work to do," he said. "We're slow because workforce development is critical to EDI. As an industry, we have to do a better job. What gets measured, gets done." MELISSA CHERRY is the COO of Destinations International and recently spoke about the CEO pledge the company imple- mented in early 2020 in response to the turmoil hap- pening in the country. "We wanted to come up with a pledge that would be action- able," she said. "We wanted pledge points that directly correlate with accountabili- ty." Cherry, who has worked in the industry since 1996, said, "The CVB organizational structure is 83% Caucasian/White. There is a very small percentage when it comes to 'of color' at very high leadership positions," she said. "That's the conversation. How do we change that? Bring people in early with an executive mentorship program and an apprenticeship program when someone comes out of college. All of these pledge points are meant to support continuous action that CEOs would have to make. We've been having the conversation, but there has to be action. The commitment and action have to be real." ANDY INGRAHAM is the founder, president, and CEO of the National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators Developers (NABHOOD). His goal when he got into the industry 30 years ago, was to become an entre- preneur and change the travel and tourism market by push- ing multicultural travel. Ingraham said defining DEI is rather simple. "Tourism. We are in the great- est industry in the world," he said. "When you look at most companies you will see the reflection of America. It's about being included. Am I just here for the party, but not the dinner or discussion afterward?" The NABHOOD founder said tying diversity with specific benchmarks is a way to turn the tide. "There are five Black general managers in Florida," said Ingraham. "Two companies have two each - with hundreds of hotels. Why is that? Diversity must be quan- tified and tied into some sort of action. You are talking about changing the whole DNA of an individual who doesn't believe we are all equal and should have the same opportunities." While some are quick to designate "race" as the cul- prit, Ingraham offers another explanation. "It's not racism, but it plays a part," he said. "Racism is never straight. It's classism. It's economics. If I don't know you, I'm not inclined to get to know you and do business with you. The issue is inclusion. Nobody is making an effort to seek out beyond what their immediate environment is. We get comfortable with our existing friends. It's time to expand your network." Ingraham, who studied business administration, said NABHOOD is making a commitment to develop, and curate talent so that there will never be an excuse that they can't find young talented individuals to 'step into a job.' "Only one percent of hotels are owned by African- Americans," said Ingraham. "About 42% are owned by Asians. The industry needs to do more and provide a staircase of advancement for people of color, particularly African-Americans. We know what the problem is, what are we going to do about it?" DZIDRA JUNIOR, 48, is the president of the National Coalition of Black Meeting Professio-nals. An industry professional for 29 years, Junior said, "Unfortunately, some of the obstacles in the hospitality/tourism industry have to do with trust and per- sonal feelings from leadership. Decision-makers and those in leadership promote whom they feel comfortable with which limits minorities' ability