LGBT Meeting Professionals Association

Strategic Priorities

ADVOCATING FOR THE LGBTQ+ GLOBAL EVENTS COMMUNITY

1. Serve as the voice of the LGBTQ+ events community by taking a position against anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and responding to incidents that occur within the LGBTQ+ events community.
2. Compile a list of leading trusted resources/orgs related to key issues for LGBTQ+ professionals (e.g., employment, workplace issues, etc.).
3. Amplify advocacy priorities and opportunities by developing an advocacy section for newsletters and other key marketing and communication channels (e.g., current events, legislative updates, etc.).
4. Create resources that support event professionals and attendees in navigating potentially unwelcoming destinations.
5. Develop best practices and recommended guidelines for protecting safety, privacy, and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ individuals within the events industry.

EDUCATING DIVERSE AUDIENCES

1. Develop in-person and virtual education and training sessions for event professionals on creating and executing inclusive conferences, events, meetings, and tradeshows.
2. Develop resources for event professionals and organizations to utilize that outline best practices in supporting LGBTQ+ attendees at conferences, events, meetings, and tradeshows.
3. Develop guidelines and standards for Destination Management Organizations (DMO), Convention & Visitor Bureaus (CVB), hotels, convention centers, etc., on creating inclusive event spaces for diverse audiences.
4. Develop guidelines for event professionals to utilize when sourcing and working with destinations for LGBTQ+ events.

ENHANCING PARTNER RELATIONS

1. Provide brand exposure for our partners to the membership and global events community.
2. Provide business guidance, thought leadership, and training to our partners on best practices in supporting LGBTQ+ event professionals and LGBTQ+ conference attendees.
3. Facilitate connections and business development opportunities, e.g., buyer education trips, think tanks, and focus groups, between our partners and organizations representing LGBTQ+ members and organizations and event professionals seeking destinations and venues that support the LGBTQ+ community.
4. Collect data to create market insight tools and research opportunities that support our partner needs.
5. Develop a robust Industry Partner Alliance to create opportunities for collaboration between our annual partners and board leadership.

GROWING & ENGAGING MEMBERSHIP

1. Determine our member value proposition through surveys and focus groups.
2. Promote our mission, vision, priorities, and industry impact to expand our reach.
3. Provide networking engagement opportunities in conjunction with in-person industry events and online through our virtual member community.
4. Develop and lead experiential opportunities that connect members with each other and with our partners and supplier members, e.g., destination education trips, study tours, and behind the scenes education opportunities.