The city of Washington, DC has just won the 2023 Innovation Award for their “Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Business Fellowship” model at the Global Destination Sustainability Forum in Valencia, Spain.
The Innovation Award recognises and showcases a destination using innovative solutions to drive sustainability performance.
A finalist in 2022, and winner this year, Destination DC shared that their submission for the program recognised the team’s effort to not only engage businesses outside traditional tourist zones and sharing best practices to replicate and scale with other DMOs, but also integrating with city programming including grants, awards and certifications, as well as stimulating training programs and employment pipelines.
What sets Washington, DC apart from other cities in terms of DEI is that the company is welcoming to all, regardless of sexual orientation, gender presentation, or abilities. Destination DC created their DEI Business Fellowship in 2021. With an eye on socio-economic equity, the program supports small businesses in the local travel and tourism industry owned by people of color, LGBTQ+ persons, women, disabled persons and their allies. This program has been designed with three outcomes in mind: drive business to and increase the capacity of participating Fellows, drive membership at DDC, and increase overall satisfaction among DDC members.
www.washington.org
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