Diversity, Equity & Inclusion | www.opensesame.com | (503) 808-1286 | 2
When viewed on the global scale, hospitality,
especially the enormous tourism sector,
present specific DEI challenges because they
often operate within existing structures of
multiculturalism. For domestic businesses
challenges are numerous though less in part
to multiethnic dictates, but more to myriad
market considerations, not the least of which
are restrictions created by the COVID-19
pandemic.
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)
had predicted the number of potential tourist
arrivals globally at 1.5 billion-plus by 2020
1
– until COVID-19 arrived and everything and
everyone in the industry tried to adapt to a
changing dynamic.
Unlike most organizational initiatives,
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion programs
and processes are fluid, open-ended
endeavors that evolve to meet
changing needs. When it comes to
creating industry-specific solutions,
there is no one-size-fits-all,
particularly for an industry as
broad and inherently diverse
as hospitality.
1
"Radically Remaking the Future of Hotel Industry Post COVID." David Nitkin. November 2020.
Prior to
2019 the global
tourism industry was
experiencing rapid
growth and driving the
overall expansion
of the hospitality
market.