NAACP says Hotel and Resort Companies Need to Work On Diversity and Inclusion
The NAACP says several large hotel and resort companies are not up to par when it comes to diversity and inclusion. The organization released an opportunity and diversity report card on the industry Friday Nov. 30 as part of a conference for the National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners at the downtown Marriott Marquis.
Of the five major hotel and resort companies that were examined Marriott performed the best. The company received a B for having a diverse governing body, the number of promotions for people of color and supplier diversity. Meanwhile, the Hyatt and Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide received C’s and were among the worst. Benjamin Todd Jealous is national NAACP president and CEO.
“Folks who got a C this year should not be proud. … Every single one of these companies is on notice that as of right now if nothing changes they will receive an F in 2015.”
Jealous was especially critical of the Wyndam hotel group which also received a C.
“Wyndam hotels could only give us information on 2 percent of their properties. You do not have a commitment to diversity if you are only tracking it on 2 percent or 20 percent of your property.”
To help the industry improve, Jealous says the NAACP plans to meet with companies who performed poorly. Jealous is also calling on meeting planners, people of color and others who are concerned about diversity to ask for EE0-1 reports from companies before planning a meeting, conference or staying at the hotels in question. The reports provide details about the companies’ workforce composition to the federal government.
Reverend R.L. White is president of the Atlanta NAACP.
“What I will be doing in our local area is getting together with people who are responsible in these corporations and letting them know I will hold them liable.”
Meanwhile, the Wyndam Hotel Group and the industry trade group the American Hotel and Lodging Association say the industry has made tremendous progress when it comes to diversity. Both dispute the report card’s findings and methodology.
In a statement, the Wyndam Hotel Group says “We proudly support global diversity and inclusion. Diversity enriches our performance and services, the communities where we live and work, and the lives of our employees and customers. From the recruitment, professional development and inclusive environment provided to all associates, the company fosters a workplace in which all individuals are treated with respect and can achieve both personal and professional ambitions. Furthermore, our parent company has been named among the Top 25 Noteworthy Companies by DiversityInc., ranked in the top 10 for supplier diversity by DiversityInc, and among the top 50 companies by the National Association of Female Executives.
In a November 30 statement, Hyatt says it had not seen the report. But the hotel company says “We are honored to be consistently recognized as a leader in promoting and nurturing a diverse workforce. Our diversity and inclusion vision supports an inclusive environment in which our associates are embraced and valued for who they are and have the opportunities to reach their full potential.
Hyatt has been honored by the NAACP, Hispanic Business magazine, and Human Rights Campaign (HRC) for our hiring of African-American, Hispanic and GLBT associates. For the ninth consecutive year, Hyatt was named one of the “Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality,” earning a 100 percent rating on the 2013 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) administered by the HRC.”
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