Call for Manuscripts: Special Issue on Creating Meetings and Events that are Diverse, Inclusive, and Accessible for JOURNAL OF CONVENTION & EVENT TOURISM (JCET) Guest Editor Dr. Eric D. Olson, Iowa State University, USA, olsoned@iastate.edu Editor - in - Chief Dr. George G. Fenich, East Carolina University, USA, fenichg@ecu.edu Managing Editor Dr. Amanda Cecil, Indiana University, USA, akcecil@iupui.edu Purpose Events and conventions have the power of bringing diverse peopl e together In recent years, meetin g and convention planners have developed a number of initiatives aimed at improving diversity, incl usion, and accessibility. This special issue examines the creation and execution of meetings and events that are diverse, inclusive, and accessible. This special issue invites contributions in a broad spec trum of topics and ideas including, but not limited to: Serving d iverse populations of meeting and event attendees, covering personal differences in culture, race, ethnicity, ability, language, gender and sex identity, sexual orientation, Veteran status, religion and spiritual practice, age, socio - economi c status, as well as geographical or sociological characteristics. Diverse meetings and events such as conventions and events that target diverse populations, diversity association events, rural events, small business and entrepreneur events, events for marginalized communities, and diverse and inclusive destinations. Event experience barriers and triumphs to planning inclusive and diverse meetings and events, including, but not limited to , functional skills such as registration, working with diverse stakeholders and suppliers , education and training , language and mindset , safety and security, discrimination (blatant, subtle, and positive), inclusion of divergent viewpoints in event programming , awards and recognition, and event d esign issues and challenges The impact of recent diversity and inclusion movements on meeting and event planning, including LGBTQIA+ issues, #MeToo , Black Lives Matter, transgender rights, immigrants’ rights, anti - bullying , and anti - harassment initiatives. Evaluation and impact of diversity, inclusion, and accessibility efforts on meetings, events, suppliers, destinations, and society Additionally , we welcome manuscripts with experimental and innovative methodologies. Review Process To submit an abstract for consideration to this special issue, please submit a 200 - 300 abstract by email to Dr. Eric D. Olson ( olsoned@iastate.edu ). Please include the title, authorship, author affiliation(s), and contact information. The abstract will be reviewed by the guest editor for suitability for this special issue. If the abstract i s consistent with this special journal’s mission, the author(s) will be invited to submit a full paper that will be submitted for a double - blind review process. The guest editor and editor - in - chief will then decide whether the manuscript should be accepted , revised, or rejected. Submitted abstracts and manuscripts should not have been previously published or submitted to another academic conference or journal. It is expected the special issue will be fast - tracked for publication. Please follow JCET instructions for authors: https://www.tandfonline.com/action/authorSubmission?show=instructions&journalCode= wcet20 when preparing your manuscript. Ti meline Abstract submissions: December 15 , 2019 (email to olsoned@iastate.edu ) Abstract decisions: January 15 , 2020 Full paper submissions: May 31, 2020 Revisions and d ecisions: August 2020 Publication: Late 2020/Early 2021