BAME in Hospitality rebrands as Be Inclusive Hospitality

Non-profit organisation BAME in Hospitality has rebranded as Be Inclusive Hospitality as a rallying cry to the industry.

In an email to subscribers, founder Lorraine Copes (pictured) said: “The turning point for me has been undergoing several data-driven projects that capture the experiences of the diverse communities within hospitality and recognising how disparate the journeys of the people from various Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, are.”

She added: “Furthermore, as a Black woman, I am deeply troubled at the acronym BAME being weaponised, resulting in the observed erasure of Black people and the specific inequalities that Black people face.

“Ultimately by conflating the experiences faced by Asian, Black and minority ethnic communities, we complicate the ability to create specific remedies and initiatives that will solve the unique challenges faced by the communities we serve.”

The group was launched by procurement specialist Copes this year to address the absence of Black, Asian and minority ethnic people within positions of influence in hospitality.

As well as hosting events and running a mentorship scheme, the organisation is asking people working in the sector to share their experiences of race, ethnicity and culture within the industry through this survey.