Elliott L. Ferguson II, premier industry voice for diversity, equity and inclusion, will be the keynote speaker next month at the Event Service Professionals Association’s 2023 annual conference, where the group will kick off its 35th anniversary.
The president and CEO of Destination DC will open the three-day conference at The Westin Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on January 20-22. As a 33-year veteran in the travel and hospitality industry, Ferguson’s timely presentation, Event Services – Making the DEI Connection, will educate event service professionals on how to serve as ambassadors for diversity when working with meeting planners and event organizers.
“Diversity allows everyone to be seen and included,” says ESPA President Paola Bowman, who is director of client services & events at the Arlington Convention and Visitors Bureau in Arlington, Texas. “As a child of Mexico, I was raised in hospitality, watching my family work in hotels. Today, as a naturalized US citizen, I bring a diverse perspective on how to create and deliver memorable events. When we celebrate our uniqueness, we enrich every experience.”
ESPA’s 2023 Annual Conference is action-packed when it comes to sharing knowledge, building new relationships and fostering existing ones. It also offers up to 12.5 hours of continuing education. To register for ESPA’s annual conference, visit espaonline.org/conference.
