Accor announces partnership with IGLTA

Hospitality group Accor has announced a partnership with the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA), a member-based global organisation dedicated to advancing LGBTQ+ tourism.

The collaboration is the first step in demonstrating the new pillar within Accor’s diversity and inclusion commitment: to increase momentum in welcoming and valuing LGBTQ+ team members, clients and communities.

With an annual reach of more than four million LGBTQ+ consumers, the platinum-level partnership with IGLTA will commit Accor to promote LGBTQ+ tourism and signal the group’s values as an open and inclusive company to LGBTQ+ communities.

John Tanzella, president and chief executive of IGLTA, said: “We have long admired Accor’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and are thrilled to expand our relationship to an integrated, year-round approach to advancing LGBTQ+ travel. Accor’s commitment to creating safe, welcoming experiences for LGBTQ+ travellers and to championing diversity within their team perfectly aligns with IGLTA’s mission and the work of our global partners.”

Steven Daines, Accor’s chief talent and culture officer, said: “We are immensely proud to be joining an incredible group of global firms in celebrating and advancing LGBTQ+ tourism. With more than 260,000 Accor team members in 110 countries, diversity makes us who we are; it forms our very identity and defines our people-first culture. As a group we are whole-heartedly committed to ensuring the LGBTQ+ community feels welcome. We hope our collaboration with IGLTA today will further consolidate our aspiration to be the reference point in the hospitality sector for LGBTQ+ employees and guests.”

Anne Sophie Beraud, vice-president of group diversity and inclusion at Accor, said: “Diversity and inclusion week is an incredibly important time for Accor to celebrate our people and our differences. It is also a crucial time to focus on next steps and to continue to evaluate where we can improve. We strive to continuously build upon and develop initiatives to ensure the LGBTQ+ community feels supported to travel and experience the world, and our new pillar within our group policy reflects our commitment to this essential area.”

Duncan O'Rourke, chief executive of Accor Northern Europe, added: “It is the people, both employees and guests, who make our business. With more than 260,000 employees globally, we have just as many ambassadors who carry our mission and values to the outside world every day. We are now using this influence to set an example for equality and diversity with IGLTA, not only within the travel world but as part of a global community."

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