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Diversity, Equity & Inclusion | www.opensesame.com | (503) 808-1286 | 8 Prioritizing DEI efforts and connecting them to real, measurable business needs embeds DEI practices into the everyday. These methods then serve to communicate a strong DEI ideals both inside and out of an organization. One challenge is the ability to effectively relate to a diverse customer base. Connecting to both employees and customers from different groups requires cultural competency and sensitivity. Guests may represent not only diverse cultures but various religious groups, ethnicities or ages, genders, and sexual orientation. Understanding and appreciating how diverse the world is and responding with staff that can be welcoming, accommodating, and relatable is not only essential for good business, it benefits and enhances the organization as well. Improved communications reinforce an organization's strong identity and mission around DEI culture and values and creates a strong distinction and presence in its market. Meeting Hospitality Needs in a Post-Pandemic World The pandemic has already dramatically changed the way hoteliers, restaurateurs, tour and travel operators, and the scores of trade business owners who support the industry conduct operations. Social distancing requirements, new adaptive technology, cleaning and disinfecting protocols and virus testing have rewritten staffing and training needs, and the way employees interact with guests. Hiring initiatives will take on greater importance with a need to focus more on prioritizing the skills required of hospitality's new normal. Beyond standard considerations of workforce like capacity and cost, hiring managers will need to expand their typical new hire profiles to include the ability to be adaptable, digitally savvy, and the previously mentioned capacity to be culturally sensitive. STRATEGY 3 Prioritize Your DEI Efforts Based on Business Needs Meeting DEI goals and addressing the daily issues and pain points unique to hospitality are not mutually exclusive.

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