IHG® (InterContinental Hotels Group) has again been named as a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality, earning a perfect 100 percent score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index (CEI) for the fifth year running.
Elie Maalouf, Chief Executive Officer, Americas, IHG, said: “As a global hospitality company, we nurture a diverse and inclusive culture, where our guests and colleagues feel respected and valued. We are proud to promote inclusion and respect in the broader business community and applaud the tireless efforts of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation in LGBTQ equality.”
IHG has hotels and corporate offices in more than 100 countries and our colleagues represent multiple nationalities, cultures, religions, races, sexualities, backgrounds and beliefs. In 2018, we became a signatory of the UN LGBTI Standards for Business, which focus on tackling discrimination against lesbian, gay, bi, trans and intersex people.
We also continue to develop a culture of inclusion through key initiatives in the US and around the world:
• Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), such as IHG Out & Open, provide colleagues with a forum to get involved in LGBTQ-focused conversations and activities.
• Local Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) Councils are IHGmade up of senior leaders from across the business and allow us to develop our culture and D&I agenda across different regions.
• Support for the LGBTQ community in Atlanta, headquarters of IHG’s Americas business, includes Rainbow-level sponsorship of the annual Atlanta Pride Festival; Gold-level sponsorships of the Georgia Diversity Council and Atlanta Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, and membership in Georgia Prospers.
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s CEI is a national benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices relating to LGBTQ workplace equality in the US. This year it rated more than 900 businesses in its report, which evaluates LGBTQ-related policies and practices including non-discrimination workplace protections, domestic partner benefits, transgender-inclusive health care benefits, competency programs and public engagement with the LGBTQ community.
