Inaugural Hospitality Awards, supported by the National Action Plan Against Racism, Celebrate Cultural Diversity in the Sector

The successful growth of the hospitality industry depends upon a commitment to the integration of international workers and the celebration of diverse cultures according to Frank Fahey, Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Equality & Law Reform.

Launching the Irish Hospitality Industry Diversity Awards today, the Minister commended the programme's recognition of initiatives, policies and practices which promote diversity within the sector. The Awards are funded by Planning for Diversity the National Action Plan Against Racism (NPAR) and supported by a number of professional hospitality organisations.

International workers account for 29% of the hospitality and tourism industry at present and will be an integral part of the projected 35,000 extra workers required to drive the projected growth in the sector by 2010.

The Diversity Award's aim to reward cultural integration, recognise the work done to welcome international workers to Ireland and acknowledge awareness training that has been carried out by the industry. The awards will help to showcase the benefits from such initiatives and will seek to offer examples of best practice for other Irish businesses to follow.

"Irish companies are now recognising the global trend of promoting and encouraging diversity within a workforce," said Minister Fahey. 

"In an ever-increasing intercultural Ireland, integration is a growing element of achieving success in the marketplace.  Companies throughout the hospitality sector in Ireland are using this to define their competitive advantage," he added.

"The Irish Hospitality Industry sees International workers as 'the New Irish' who will contribute to Ireland's future success in the hospitality and tourism sector", said Adrian Cummins, Chief Executive of the Irish Hospitality Institute. 

"By rewarding and highlighting the work of champions of diversity and interculturalism we hope to demonstrate the huge benefits of embracing diversity in the workforce and in so doing encourage others, both within and outside the hospitality sector, to emulate this approach".

"Leadership within a company has a significant impact on how successful integration can be within a team of employees," said Sister Breege Keenan, member of the Strategic Monitoring Group for the National Action Plan Against Racism. 

"Support and development of integrative initiatives from management drives their success throughout any given business. These awards challenge all levels of the workforce to get involved and welcome international employees into their workplace and recognise those who are leaders in this space".

"NPAR is delighted to support this initiative and we look forward to seeing the examples of best practice which emerge throughout this process," she added.

The development of the awards is a direct result of the strategy and implementation programme of the working group of the Irish Tourism and Hospitality Industry (2005).  It is open to any tourism company or employee.


April 25th, 2006

 

Note to Editors

The Awards are funded by the National Action Plan Against Racism (NPAR).  They are supported by: