inclusivity
Creating Neurodiverse-Friendly Spaces in Hospitality
Manoj K Mohanty | September 18, 2024
The hospitality industry prides itself on creating welcoming environments for people of all backgrounds. However, what about guests with neurodiverse needs? As awareness grows about the prevalence of neurodiversity—with studies suggesting 15-20% of the global population falls under this umbrella—the industry has a unique challenge in creating inclusive experiences for this significant yet underserved market. What is neurodiversity? Challenges for neurodiverse guests With approximately one billion people with disabilities, they are considered the world’s biggest minority! For neurodiverse tr...
Preparing an Inclusive Next Generation of Hospitality Professionals, Innisfree Hotels Partners With Project SEARCH To Train Young People with Disabili
Innisfree Hotels | July 11, 2024
Innisfree Hotels’ Project SEARCH programs in Florida have graduated over 50 student interns and hired nearly a dozen for full-time employment. GULF BREEZE, Fla. — Innisfree Hotels (innisfreehotels.com) prides itself on being an Employer of Choice in the communities across the Southeastern U.S. where it owns and manages properties. One of the ways it stands out is through an inclusive partnership with Project SEARCH (projectsearch.us), a nationwide program that prepares young people with significant disabilities for success in competitive integrated employment. Innisfree Hotels has hosted Project SEARCH sites since 2018, with current ...
The Hospitality Industry’s Responsibility in Enhancing Disability Accessibility
Tanya Girdhar John | December 5, 2023
By Tanya Girdhar John Disability accessibility in hospitality is one of its most essential needs. According to an article by Skift more than half of hotels around the world don’t make it easy to book a room for senior citizens or guests with accessibility needs. While this may not be true for all hospitality businesses across the globe, the industry stakeholders have a responsibility to create spaces that cater to the diverse needs of their guests.  In today’s inclusive world, ensuring accessibility for all is not only a legal requirement but also a moral imperative. But the concept of accessibility also impacts businesses fr...
Allyship, Psychological Safety and Authenticity Most Valued at IHG
IHG | August 4, 2023
1,200 employees surveyed as hotel giant expands on its inclusive ecosystem Bangkok, Thailand – 4 August 2023: Allyship, psychological safety and authenticity are the most valued workplace considerations by IHG Hotels & Resorts employees in Thailand, according to a new survey. The findings came after IHG, one of the world’s leading hospitality companies, invited Steps to survey 1,200 colleagues1 across five hotels: Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok, Crowne Plaza Lumpini Park, Holiday Inn Bangkok, Sindhorn Midtown Bangkok Vignette Collection and Holiday Inn Silom. The study was conducted as IHG prepares to work with Steps, Thailandâ...
Hospitality Trends: What the Future of Higher Education Looks Like
Tatyana Tsukanova | July 19, 2023
By Tatyana Tsukanova, Lionel Saul Education as a way to sustain the tourism and hospitality industry In some countries, the hospitality and tourism industry is a fast-growing industry that is still very much in the developing stage. To sustain this growth, workers are needed. And to ensure a steady flow of hospitality workers, education and training are essential. Albania, to take an original example, is working on developing its tourism infrastructure, such as local and regional roads financed by European funds. However, the country is also working on aligning the education system to support the development of the hospitality and touris...
Creating Conscious Inclusion in Travel Marketing
Jenn McCarthy | October 10, 2022
By Jenn McCarthy Inclusion is the practice of allowing diversity and local cultures and communities to thrive while ensuring equitable access to travel for everyone. It’s also understanding intersectional identities and embracing people as complex individuals with unique experiences of discrimination and oppression. As consumers increasingly value inclusion and the industry continues to serve a more diverse customer base, inclusion is critical for travel marketers. Our recent Inclusive Travel Insights Report research shows that seven in 10 consumers would choose a destination, lodging or transportation option that is more inclusiv...
Inclusivity Is the Key to Gender Diversity: Open the Door Please!
Marloes Knippenberg | March 8, 2022
By Marloes Knippenberg Belonging to hospitality, the most service, people-oriented industry, you tend to be impacted by everything the world is undergoing at any given time – technological zeitgeists, global economic slowdowns, unexpected weather turbulence, in addition to the human quest for knowledge, disruptions, and innovations. Regardless of the environment, less represented groups on a leadership scale change the social engineering in decision-making. For decades, boardrooms have lacked women inclusivity, but now, industries have adopted and started promoting changes as more women sit at executive boards and rank high on global pro...
How to Properly Integrate Social Responsibility Into Your Hospitality Brand
Amy La Sala | May 28, 2021
By Amy La Sala A sense of social responsibility is an important characteristic to possess on personal and professional levels, and now more than ever these values are integral to success in the future. Brandstanding is an important marketing trend related to brand authenticity, equality, inclusivity and social justice. We’ve been following the #Brandstanding trend for a few years now, and each year it’s picked up steam. Over the past few years, major social justice movements have taken place around the county and the world, and have made history. In light of the events of the past year and ongoing unrest and uncertainty, social justice...
