Is Tri-State ready to make tourism industry more diverse?

Greater Cincinnati’s multibillion-dollar travel and tourism industry lacks people of color in leadership roles, and discussions began Tuesday about how to change that.

PROTESTS OVER THE KILLING OFGEORGE FLOYD IN MINNEAPOLISHAVE RE-FUELED ALL TYPES OFDISCUSSIONS ABOUT RACIALINJUSTICE.NOW GREATER CINCINNATI'SFIVE-POINT-THREE-BILLIONDOLLAR TOURISM INDUSTRY ISEMBARKING ON A DISCUSSION OFITS OWN.

REPORTER LUCY MAYFILED THIS REPORT."The entire country is havingthis discussion in everyindustry about diversity,equity, inclusion, and how arecompanies preparingthemselves."JASON DUNN, A GROUP VICEPRESIDENT AT THE CINCINNATIUSA CONVENTION AND VISITORSBUREAU, WROTE AN EMAIL ASKINGLOCAL TOURISM LEADERS TO DOTHE SAME.CONVENTION ANDVISITORS BUREAU CEO JULIECALVERT SAYS THE BUREAU'SBOARD OF DIRECTORS BEGAN THEDISCUSSIONTUESDAY"By the year 2040 theminority is going to be themajority travelers." "We wantto make sure that, that we asan industry, we as a city anda region are reflecting thattravelingpublic."CALVERT AND DUNN SAY HAVING AMORE DIVERSE LOCAL TOURISMINDUSTRY COULD ATTRACT MOREMULTICULTURAL EVENTS -- LIKETHE NAACP NATIONAL CONVENTIONHELD HERE IN 2016 -- AND THESPENDING THEYGENERATE."I'm not sure where the boardwill go from here.

I do knowthat I didpresent someconversation that hopefullywill get sometraction."LUCY MAY, WCPO NINE NEWS.