 The SceneDeidre Wengen Online Editor, Lodging The hotel industry is a bustling business, and the people involved have plenty of reasons to cel... |
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HR & Diversity Summit Day One Photo Recap
Thursday, the first day of panels and discussions at the inagural HR & Diversity Summit, was jam-packed with informative sessions and important information about cultivating a diverse culture in the hotel industry. We were snapping photos throughout the day and wanted to share some of the people and events that made the event so special.
The day kicked off with a keynote address from Dr. Sandra Casey-Buford, the director of diversity and inclusion for the Massachusetts Port Authority. Casey-Buford spoke about how Massport utilizes specific business plans and action plans to develop strategic and operational diversity within the organization.
(Dr. Sandra Casey-Buford, director of diversity and inclusion, Massport)
Morning panels included information about specific situations and solutions for building diversity in the hotel industry and how to rev-up women leadership and mentorship within hotel companies.
(Andy Ingraham, NABHOOD, Angela Gonzalez-Rowe, LH&RA, Nancy Johnson, AH&LA, and Christopher Muller, BU School of Hospitality Administration)
(Pragna Patel-Mueller, Samata Management, Zoe Ho, Boston University, Danette Opaczewski, Denihan, and Nancy Johnson, Carlson-Rezidor and AH&LA)
Patricia Harris, vice president and global chief diversity officer for McDonald's Corp., demonstrated the successful steps that McDonald's made throughout the years to become recognized and awarded for its diversity and inclusion efforts around the world.
(Pat Harris, McDonald's Corp.)
During lunch, Hank Thomas, an original Freedom Rider and president of Victoria Hospitality Properties, shared his personal experiences during the Civil Rights Movement and spoke about his current role as a successful African American businessman who owns several McDonald's franchises and Marriott-branded hotel properties. Thomas' speech was a powerful reflection on how the Civil Rights Movement shaped the opportunities for minority business owners today.
(Hank Thomas, Civil Rights activist, president of Victoria Hospitality Properties)
Panels following Thomas' speech included information about creating corporate buy-in of diversity programs, how to build diverse franchise ownership, and the importance of supplier diversity within the industry.
(Bill Fortier, senior vice president, development-Americas, Hilton Worldwide; Mark Williams, vice president, North American development, Best Western International; and Rajiv Trivedi, executive vice president and chief development officer, La Quinta Inns & Suites on the panel Franchising: Building Hotel Diversity Ownership)
Day one finished with a networking reception and tours of the Martin Luther King Reading Room at Boston University's Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center where guests browsed through the extensive personal collections of famous world leaders, musicians, actors, and authors, as well as reflected on the impressive archive of papers, photographs and personal items from Dr. King's life.
(Gathering in Boston University's Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center)
(Edward McNeill, president Mcneill Media Group, Erinn Tucker, Boston University, Hank Thomas, Victoria Hospitality Properties, Christopher Muller, Boston University)
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