Across Kerry Convention Bureau (KCB) and Kerry Tourism Industry Federation (KTIF), a range of DEI Actions have been acted on in 2024 including:

  • DEI Training for the team

  • 7 Communications (articles) on the Discover Kerry website

  • Flexible and inclusive working policies in place

  • Current employee mix of 33% non-national and 67% national.

 

Communication & Awareness

Communication and awareness are valued as vital ways KCB and KTIF can keep diversity and inclusion issues at the forefront of the organisation. Being part of a network of partners with the unified Kerry place brand, partners and stakeholders contribute to reflecting the ongoing efforts across the destination to increase awareness.

 

Strategic Outcomes

Kerry Tourism Industry Federation’s Strategic Outcomes are embedded in their activities at Board, Sub-Committee, company culture and marketing activities. They are:

  • One Coherent Brand

  • The Outdoor County

  • Always Something Happening Somewhere

  • Sustainable & Green

  • Always Open

  • Accessible & Inclusive

  • Wonderful Attractions

  • Friendly, Welcoming, Skilled, Informed Workforce

  • Connected - IT & Infrastructure

 

A Culture of Inclusivity

For those strategic outcomes to be achieved, there is a fundamental interplay required between public and private stakeholders, and further still, commitment from all involved in the wider Discover Kerry marketing project that Diversity, Equity and Inclusion be celebrated and actively demonstrated. 

DEI Training has been valuable in supporting managers in their leadership roles to promote a diverse and inclusive workplace, and this extends practically into a flexible and inclusive workplace, communication and awareness raising, and a diverse staff of 83% women and 7% men. 

All teams work from home, and as the teams are in a network of hospitality and tourism providers, when it comes to event hosting and off-sites, the high standard of accessible and inclusive venues throughout the destination offers every team member the ability to engage and be included in a flexible way, even if that means a team member needs to connect hybridly to participate. 

The culture of the intergenerational workforce from the paid staff to the voluntary Board and Sub-Committtees allows for an open-minded and accepting place to share views, collaborate and learn from each other. 

 

Looking Outwards

A ‘best practice’ mindset has been embedded in the organizations, and again because of the collaborative nature of Discover Kerry itself, and how it has expanded to become the home for the unified place brand for Co. Kerry, several concerted efforts are underway to communicating the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion message including a major accessibility feature set update taken from a best practice model set by tourism bodies in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland since late 2023, and upholding accessibility standards in the redevelopment of the www.discoverkerry.com website which launched in 2024.