One of the leaders in the hospitality industry, IHG Hotels & Resorts, has announced its innovative IHG LIFT programme to promote diversity between hotel owners.
IHG plans to allocate more than $30 million over the following five years to the programme, which helps, access to funding, and support throughout the hotel lifecycle to owners who meet the requirements in the United States and Canada.
The acronym IHG LIFT represents Leadership, Inclusivity, Facilitation, and Transformation to reflect the necessary transformation and the industry’s ongoing progress.
IHG has a history of promoting organisations which encourage diversity, such as NABHOOD and the Latino Hotel Association, and the extension of this programme adds on that legacy.
IHG will devote more than $30 million over the following five years to the programme, which offers assistance, access to funding, and support throughout the hotel lifecycle to owners who meet the requirements in the United States and Canada.
The acronym IHG LIFT stands for Leadership, Inclusivity, Facilitation, and Transformation to signify the necessary transformation and the industry’s ongoing progress.
Julienne Smith Stated:
IHG Hotels & Resorts’ Chief Development Officer for the Americas, Julienne Smith, provided her perspective on the significance of this change: “Diversifying our ownership base is essential in our growing sector. It’s important to remove the obstacles these groups face when gaining access to essential assets like money and professional networks. In order to get rid of these barriers and improve the overall hotel industry, IHG LIFT was created.
Jyoti Sarolia owner of IHG of California Stated:
“A programme like IHG LIFT is important to our hotel industry,” said Jyoti Sarolia, CEO of Ellis Hospitality and owner of IHG properties in California. These initiatives will contribute in expanding our community of owners, which should to have a variety as varied as the visitors we serve on a daily basis. IHG’s dedication and emphasis on changing the world really connect with me as an owner.
How long have plans for the IHG LIFT programme been in place?
IHG LIFT extends a focus along the hotel lifecycle and is a continuation of the company’s continuous and steadfast efforts to diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI). This includes engaging with architectural, design, and construction firms who have DEI commitments within their company and expanding the pool of diverse suppliers through the EPIC Supplier Diversity Programme.
IHG LIFT seeks to entice owners from a variety of backgrounds who are underrepresented in the hospitality sector and IHG’s owner community. IHG has a history of promoting owner diversity, and this includes years of close collaboration with the Asian-American hotel franchising industry.
IHG’s support for underrepresented groups has extended beyond the diverse owners in its current portfolio and has included conference sponsorship, speaking engagements, and technical assistance for groups like the Latino Hotel Association and the National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators, and Developers (NABHOOD), among others.
IHG also supports initiatives like She Has a Deal and AHLA’s Forwards to provide possibilities for women looking to invest in or own hotels.
In the hotel business, where representation and empowerment are essential elements of long-term success, the IHG LIFT programme represents a huge step forwards in establishing a more inclusive and varied landscape.
