How can you stay up-to-date on best practices for vendor diversity and inclusion in event planning?

1 Join professional associations

One of the best ways to stay up-to-date on vendor diversity and inclusion is to join professional associations that support and promote this topic. For example, you can become a member of the National Association for Catering and Events (NACE), which has a Diversity and Inclusion Committee that offers webinars, articles, and events on this subject. You can also network with other event planners and vendors who share your values and learn from their experiences and recommendations.

2 Follow industry leaders

Another way to stay informed on vendor diversity and inclusion is to follow industry leaders who are experts and advocates on this topic. You can subscribe to their blogs, podcasts, newsletters, or social media accounts and get insights, tips, and updates on how to plan diverse and inclusive events. For example, you can follow Liz King Caruso, the founder of Liz King Events and techsytalk, who regularly shares her knowledge and opinions on vendor diversity and inclusion. You can also follow Diversity Ally, a consultancy and training company that helps event professionals create more diverse and inclusive workplaces and events.

4 Read industry publications

A fourth way to stay informed on vendor diversity and inclusion is to read industry publications that feature articles, interviews, case studies, or reports on this topic. You can browse magazines, journals, newsletters, or blogs that cater to event professionals and look for stories, trends, or best practices that showcase vendor diversity and inclusion. For example, you can read Special Events, a magazine that covers event planning and design, and find articles on how to work with diverse vendors or how to create inclusive event experiences.

5 Take online courses

A fifth way to stay up-to-date on vendor diversity and inclusion is to take online courses that teach you the skills, knowledge, and tools you need to plan diverse and inclusive events. You can enroll in courses that are offered by reputable institutions, organizations, or platforms that specialize in event planning or diversity and inclusion. For example, you can take the Event Planning Certificate Program from Cornell University, which includes a module on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Events. You can also take the Diversity and Inclusion for Event Professionals course from EventMB, which covers topics such as cultural competence, unconscious bias, and inclusive design.

6 Seek feedback

A sixth way to stay informed on vendor diversity and inclusion is to seek feedback from your clients, guests, vendors, and peers on how you are doing and how you can improve. You can use surveys, interviews, reviews, or testimonials to collect data and opinions on your performance and impact. You can also ask for suggestions, recommendations, or referrals on how to find, work with, or support diverse and inclusive vendors. You can use this feedback to identify your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges and to make adjustments or changes accordingly.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?