Celebrating Progress and Inspiring Change: Highlights from the IWTTF 2023 Event

We’re still riding the wave of inspiration and empowerment after the fourth annual Women in Travel CIC International Women in Travel and Tourism Forum (IWTTF) held in London last week. It was a sold-out event that celebrated the remarkable achievements of women in the travel industry while shining a light on the challenges that still need our attention.

If you couldn’t make it, don’t worry; we’re here to give you a taste of what you missed.

A Record-Breaking Event

IWTTF 2023 was nothing short of incredible, drawing the largest crowd to date—over 400 people across two events. This year, we added something special: the first-ever IWTTF Awards evening hosted by Expedia, followed by a full day at Google HQ filled with presentations, panels, and thought-provoking discussions, all with ample time for networking in between.

Keynote Speaker Jaz Ampaw-Farr: Be Brave, Bring Joy, Add Value

A true highlight was our keynote speaker, Jaz Ampaw-Farr, who encouraged all of us to be “positive disruptors” by being “just 10 per cent braver.” Her moving speech, filled with personal anecdotes and resilience, left us inspired to add value and bring joy to the travel industry, which has the power to change lives.

Neurodiversity: Talent’s Final Frontier

The most talked-about sessions of the day were the two on neurodiversity. Panelists shared their lived experiences, from ADHD to autism, and how workplaces can better embrace people with neurodiversity. The key takeaway? Neurodiversity needs to be on your radar. When accommodated, neurodiverse employees can drive innovation and be more productive than neurotypical employees.

Sustainability: The Climate Crisis Is Impacting Women in Travel

Despite the challenges posed by the climate emergency, our panel of experts offered hopeful perspectives. They emphasized the need for more women educated in STEM subjects to address the climate crisis. The bottom line? Climate action must be a shared responsibility within the travel and tourism sector.

Technology: Empowering Women Entrepreneurs

Tech has been a boon for women in travel, enabling innovation and entrepreneurship. Diverse experiences have inspired women to explore niches of specific interests in travel, with much success.

DEI: On a Journey to Inclusion

Creating inclusive environments that value all individuals was a key theme throughout the conference. Companies need to make diversity a priority, look at unconscious bias in the workplace, track efforts, and lean into programs that work.

Allyship: Unveiling the Power of Allies

We presented findings from the first-ever investigation into allyship in the travel and tourism industry. The results were clear: allyship is highly valuable in the workplace. Collaboration and allyship are crucial to drive meaningful change and we are standing at the front of the industry with our Male Allyship Network Programme.

Meaningful Networking

Meeting innovative entrepreneurs and industry leaders was a highlight. The energy and passion in the room were electrifying.

In closing, Finnbar Cornwall of Google Travel summed up the day, “If I could bottle the energy in this room today, I’d have the most powerful energy drink in the world.”