INNSiDE Newcastle completes DEI course for guest inclusivity

by: Felicity Cousins | January 25, 2024

UK: Staff at INNSiDE Newcastle, part of the Meliá Hotels International group, have completed a training course which teaches the hotel industry about guest inclusivity.

Maiden Voyage, which specialises in inclusive travel and safety, runs the Inclusive Guest Excellence training course for those working in the hotel sector.

The course addresses and provides solutions for the challenges faced by different groups of travellers, such as women, men, LGBTQ+, disabled and neurodiverse persons and those from different racial and cultural backgrounds. 

The training also educates hospitality and travel professionals on how to take an inclusive approach to corporate bookings, including large scale meetings and events. 

Hotel staff take a series of short modules, written by industry experts, with topics including ESG, the social impact of hospitality, legal requirements and inclusive service recovery.

INNSiDE Newcastle follows INNSiDE Manchester, which was the first hotel to receive the training after the course launched last year. 

The team at the Newcastle hotel also engaged in a wider training course by Maiden Voyage designed to ensure all travellers “feel safe and empowered” when away from home.

Scott Brown, UK director of sales at Meliá Hotels International said: “It was great to welcome the team back, this time to INNSiDE Newcastle for a broader course considering each guest’s individual needs.” 

Hotels which complete courses by Maiden Voyage are featured on the website so travellers, corporates and TMCs can identify them as a hotel with a deeper level of guest inclusivity and safety training. 

Carolyn Pearson, CEO of Maiden Voyage, said: “We’re thrilled to be working with another INNSiDE by Melia property. The culture is so vibrant, open and passionate about guest excellence so it’s an easy win to add an extra layer of guest inclusivity on top. 

“The group has had a long-standing commitment to being the very best at creating an inclusive environment and our respective organisations have grown and evolved together in this space.”

The course is available worldwide and is delivered in person, or virtually, by Maiden Voyage’s team of hotel trainers.

Maiden Voyage recently partnered with travel management company BCD Travel. The partnership gives BCD Travel’s clients access to a range of educational tools to support their ESG and DE&I initiatives. Read more below.

Maiden Voyage partners with BCD Travel for DE&I courses

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