WORLDWIDE: The Sustainable Hospitality Alliance has formed a partnership with the Tent Partnership for Refugees (Tent).
Both organisations will work together to educate the world’s hospitality industry on how they can help connect refugees to work in the industry and support their economic integration.
With more and more refugees displaced for longer periods of time, businesses can play a critical role in helping refugees integrate economically in their new communities. The local hospitality sector will be encouraged by the Alliance to identify ways in which they can support Tent’s missions and programmes.
Tent was launched in 2016 by Hamdi Ulukaya, the CEO and founder of Chobani – a multibillion dollar food company in the US. The idea was to mobilise global businesses to help connect refugees to work.
UK director for Tent, Jen Stobart, said: “Hiring refugees is not only the right thing to do, it’s also the smart thing to do from a business point of view. In many countries, the hospitality sector is suffering from labour shortages, while many refugees are eager to find a job and rebuild their lives. We are proud to partner with the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance to encourage more companies in their network to hire refugees.”
The Alliance has a wide reach in the hospitality sector, representing over 50,000 properties and 7 million rooms globally. The Alliance’s members include world-leading companies including Choice Hotels International, Marriott International, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, BWH Hotel Group and Radisson Hotel Group, as well as regional brands. In its work with refugees the Alliance has helped to create Hospitality Unite, a hub, which hosts hospitality jobs for refugees and displaced people.
Sustainable Hospitality Alliance CEO, Glenn Mandziuk, said: “We are delighted to be working with Tent in helping and empowering refugees. We look forward to sharing knowledge and resources with Tent with the aim to encourage the hospitality industry to make a difference. As we implement our new 5-year strategy, our work with important partners such as Tent can help make Net Positive Hospitality a reality – where the industry gives back more than it takes.”
Some hotel groups involved with Tent (information taken from the Tent website here)
This year, Accor Group committed to train 1,500 Ukrainian refugee women and other refugees in France, Germany, Switzerland, and Spain over three years. Accor is exploring supporting refugees in various countries and has started programs to hire refugees in France and the United Kingdom. Additionally, Accor committed to hiring 150 refugees in its hotels and operations in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Peru by 2021. To ensure their successful integration in the company, Accor will provide training to their refugee employees and cultural sensitivity coaching for their managers. Accor is part of the Tent Coalition for Refugees in the U.S., exploring hiring and training opportunities for refugees across the country.
Concord Hospitality is part of the Tent Coalition for Refugees in the U.S., exploring hiring and training opportunities for refugees across the country.
This year, Hilton committed to hire 1,500 refugees, including Ukrainian refugee women, over three years across its European operations. This commitment builds on Hilton’s efforts to hire 400 refugees in Europe between March 2022 and June 2023. Hilton is helping provide better access to employment and supporting the economic inclusion of Ukrainian refugee women in Europe through Tent’s Sunflower Project. In 2022, Hilton committed to hiring 1,500 refugees over three years in the United States. Hilton has also committed to building on existing efforts to impact 16,000 refugees by 2030. Hilton is part of the Tent Coalition for Refugees in the U.S. and Canada, exploring hiring and training opportunities in those countries.
In 2022, Hyatt Hotels committed to hiring 500 refugees into full-time or part-time roles over three years in the United States and globally. This commitment builds on Hyatt’s efforts hiring over 100 refugees in the US to date. Hyatt is part of the Tent Coalition for Refugees in the U.S., exploring hiring and training opportunities for refugees across the country.
In 2022, IHG committed to hiring 100 refugees over three years in the United States. IHG will provide its refugee resettlement partner organisations with access to its online learning platform, IHG Skills Academy, a free resource for professional development and training for refugees. IHG Hotels & Resorts is part of the Tent Coalition for Refugees in the U.S. and Canada, exploring hiring and training opportunities in those countries.
In 2022, Red Roof committed to hiring 100 refugees over three years in the United States. Red Roof Hotels is supporting the career development of its refugee employees by offering access to debt-free General Educational Development and other certification programs. Red Roof is part of the Tent Coalition for Refugees in the U.S., exploring hiring and training opportunities for refugees across the country.
In 2023, Marriott International committed to hire 1,500 refugees, including Ukrainian refugee women, over three years across its European operations.
This commitment builds on Marriott International’s efforts to hire over 970 refugees in Europe between March 2022 and June 2023. In 2022, Marriott International committed to hiring 1,500 refugees over three years in the United States. Marriott is also committed to supporting refugees in their career journey by creating a culture of inclusion. Marriott International is part of the Tent Coalition for Refugees in the U.S., exploring hiring and training opportunities for refugees across the country.
It is free to become a member of Tent. For more information on hotels involved with Tent click here.
Image: Pexels, Alexandre Fourier