The Visit Beloit board of directors recently took steps to begin working on a new goal added to the organization’s strategic plan. The strategic plan provides a framework for both the board and staff to collaboratively advance the mission and vision of the tourism industry regionally. The goal is to be a model organization for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the community and in the industry. With the addition of this goal, the board took the initial steps of forming a DEI ad hoc subcommittee to lead the way, as well as be a group to receive feedback from tourism-related businesses, stakeholders, and residents. The committee is in the initial stages of creating further action plans to fulfill the agreed upon goal.

“The work of our organization in telling Beloit’s story accurately is critical to our region’s success,” stated Celestino Ruffini, Visit Beloit’s CEO. He continued with “the board and staff’s commitment to becoming a model organization demonstrates a clear understanding of our impact on not only the future of the tourism industry, but also on our residents and visitors.”

Visit Beloit, the destination marketing and management organization for the Beloit region, has served as the official tourism entity locally since 1987. Its work is heavily focused on promoting the tourism-related assets of the greater Beloit region to visitors from throughout the Midwest. Nonetheless, it has become a significant priority of the organization to ensure that its brand voice, marketing collateral, sales efforts, and community partnerships are clearly reflective of the needs of our area businesses and of the residents who make this area a dynamic place to learn, work, live, and play.

Anyone who has ideas or input on Visit Beloit’s DEI efforts can send those suggestions to diversity@visitbeloit.com. For more details on the impact of the tourism industry and the work of Visit Beloit, go to www.visitbeloit.com.