Contiki Named Champion of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at International Women in Travel Forum

Last updated: 10:00 PM ET, Thu June 29, 2023

WHY IT RATES: The awards reaffirm Contiki’s continued strides in DEI and allyship with expansion of LGBTQ+ pride trips and amplification of diverse voices across product, operations and charities.

Contiki, the social tour company for travelers 18-35, was recognized as a Champion in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) at the first International Women in Travel and Tourism Forum (IWTTF) awards run by social enterprise Women in Travel CIC at an awards ceremony hosted by Expedia and held in London June 21-22, 2023. The award celebrates DEI in the travel, tourism and hospitality industries and highlights the wider contribution women make in the travel industry.

“Travel is all about celebrating and learning about the differences that make each part of the world special. As a social travel company, our hope is that throughout our journeys, we also cherish what makes each of the people we meet along the way uniquely themselves,” says Adam Armstrong, CEO of Contiki. “It’s important that we continue to welcome and celebrate a diversity of perspectives that our guests and employees bring to the travel space. We’re proud to be recognized as a company that not only prioritizes diversity and inclusion within its own spaces but also works to uplift other organizations throughout the world whose voices deserve to be heard.”

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion has long been a priority for Contiki. The IWTTF judges noted that 63% of leadership positions within the brand are held by women. Contiki’s other notable DEI policy achievements include:

● Launching a suite of Pride trips for LGBTQ+ travelers and allies to travel and celebrate at Pride festivals around the world

● Engaging with female-led organizations to provide financial support through on trip experiences offered to Contiki travelers

● Contracting expert voices to represent diverse groups, such as its LGBTQ+ ambassador Aisha Shaibu-Lenoir

● Supporting charities such as Rainbow Railroad both financially and through amplification on social channels to spread information about causes worldwide

● Drawing up extensive DEI guidelines for casting and visual and verbal tone of voice

● Conducting DEI training for all staff and holding frequent working groups to discuss, share and tackle issues relations to DEI

● Hiring underrepresented groups as production crew as well as talent in front of the camera

Contiki’s Brand Director and primary DEI champion Rachel Storey was recognized by IWTTF with a personal acclamation in the Allyship Category.

“I’m very proud to have been recognized with a personal commendation, but it’s a consequence of working for a company such as Contiki, and the wider Travel Corporation, who genuinely care about Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Throughout my time at Contiki, especially over the last few years, we've worked hard continuously to improve, refine and innovate on DEI. I’m delighted that Contiki now has the industry recognition it deserves. Our global teams genuinely share the same values and we know from traveler feedback that our Contiki audience feel the same way. I’m looking forward to seeing how we can continue to champion the causes we care so much about, raise the voices of people making incredible change around the world and attract more travelers from underrepresented communities.”

SOURCE: Contiki press release.