Don’t miss “Building Bridges, Not Walls: Inclusive Event Design for a Divided World,” 16 May 1:30-2 p.m. at IMEX Frankfurt, Hall 9, The Valley, powered by MPI & ICCA, Stand 9014

In the years immediately prior to the global pandemic, it began to feel as though nearly everything and everyone had become more polarized than ever. Even in some professional settings, one could justifiably wonder if civilized dialogue and debate would soon only be found in history books. At IMEX Frankfurt, Cameron Curtis, CMM, CAE, executive director, LGBT Meeting Professionals Association and Chief Innovator, C2 Association Strategies, intends to assist event professionals navigate this realm for themselves, their peers and stakeholders. Curtis shares some thoughts in advance of her session, “Building Bridges, Not Walls: Inclusive Event Design for a Divided World” (Thursday, May 16).

For anyone at an event who encounters people getting into an aggressive discussion based on opposing views, do you have recommendations on how to best defuse the situation or otherwise support it in a safe and beneficial way?

People see situations through different lenses based on their lived experiences. The best way to diffuse a situation is to calmly step in, find a safe space where both parties feel comfortable, take a moment to breathe, ask both parties to set their emotions aside, and listen to understand both sides of the disagreement. Often there are areas of agreement within disagreements, but we don’t see those agreements because our emotions get in the way. Once you uncover those agreements, you can work to find compromise for the aspects that created the aggressive situation.

Of all the types of inclusivity that planners are building into events, there appears to be a dearth of attention when it comes to inclusivity for immunocompromised individuals. While some venues have really amped up their HVAC systems as a result of the pandemic, it seems as though many facilities and planners have moved on, leaving immunocompromised individuals behind. Are you seeing any noteworthy advances that would benefit this niche of attendees/participants?

I think we, as an industry, took for granted the fact that we went through a pandemic where masks were required, or strongly recommended, and venues were focused on ventilation and cleanliness, and now we’ve moved on and forgotten about people who were and still are immunocompromised. The pandemic required changes to how we do things instead of our industry leading the way when it comes to accessibility for all attendees. When I register for events, the accessibility questions often leave out needs beyond the obvious and include an “other” field as a catchall. I’ve been in this industry for a long time and there is a lot of work still to be done when it comes to creating accessible events. I applaud the event professionals and organizations who are leading the way when it comes to accessibility and hope that our industry puts more of a focus on creating accessible events.  

What about for different types of inclusive event design—is there an example that you’ve you seen or heard about recently that was really impressive?

To me, the four different aspects of inclusive event design are:

• Physical accessibility - Ensuring everyone can participate fully regardless of physical ability.
• Sensory inclusivity – Consideration for individuals with sensory sensitivities by providing quiet spaces, offering fidget toys or noise cancelling headphones, and being mindful of lighting and other visual stimuli.
• Inclusive spaces – Including gender-inclusive facilities, inclusive seating arrangements that allow people to sit where they feel most comfortable, accommodating dietary needs related to cultural, religious, or health reasons, and offering interpretation services in other languages, including ASL.
• Digital accessibility – Technology is crucial to everything we do, so we must provide accessibility solutions like closed captioning, ensuring our websites and platforms are compatible with screen readers, and offering alternative formats for slideshows.

While I’ve yet to see something that really impressed me, I’m hopeful it’s out there.

Overall, what do you hope participants take away from your session?

Our hope is that our session creates an opportunity for continued discussion and innovation when it comes to accessible and inclusive events. Our industry is a catalyst for connecting people and we should be the leaders when it comes to ensuring everyone can participate at the same level. 

What are you most looking forward to during IMEX Frankfurt?

I started with the LGBT Meeting Professionals Association in September 2023 and since then it’s been a whirlwind. We recently launched our new mission: To connect, empower, and advance the events community through LGBT+ advocacy, education, research, idea exchange, and networking; and our new vision: A global events community where all are accepted, equal, and belong. I’m excited to represent LGBT MPA in our booth and during our two education sessions and look forward to engaging with our current members, sharing LGBT MPA’s future focus, and making new friends.