During a panel discussion on Monday (13 September), 2219 Media founder Jamie-Lee Abtar said the travel industry had to change its outlook on inclusivity policies to ensure they go from "nice to haves" to "business imperatives". 

"It’s not an overnight journey," she said. "It really is a long game, and that’s why it is important to align it to your overall business goals and your business strategy where you have key targets, goals and performance indicators to really achieve that.

"Of course, it starts with the leaders setting the tone for their organisations and then it trickles down."

Abtar also highlighted the need for staff training to bring wider "cultural change" within organisations.

The panel also highlighted how young people looking to pursue a career in travel were keen to see companies they apply to work for champion "socially responsible" policies. 

"If it doesn’t get measured, it doesn’t get done," Abtar continued. "Once again, it is not an overnight process. It does take time. Hire experts to help you build in those strategies into your overall business."

Whitbread commercial lead Louie Davis, who was moderating the session, claimed 20% of organisations currently track data on diversity and inclusion.

"I’m sure over time will increase, because it is so important to align business strategies and create measurable KPIs to improve the situation," he said.