It’s no surprise that hospitality and entertainment brands are among the leaders for diversity. According to a survey of more than 1,800 U.S. companies, DiversityInc has identified its Top 50 leaders for diversity.
Marriott International Inc. leads the way among hospitality providers with a No. 9 ranking. Wyndham Worldwide checks in at No. 27, The Walt Disney Company is at No. 38 and Hilton Worldwide was rated No. 42.
In its 17th year, the free report card assesses performance based on four key areas of diversity management:
-Talent Pipeline: workforce breakdown, recruitment, diameter of existing talent, structures
-Equitable Talent Development: employee resource groups, mentoring, philanthropy, movement, fairness
-CEO/Leadership Commitment: accountability for results, personal communications, visibility
-Supplier Diversity: spend with companies owned by people from underrepresented groups, accountability, support
The survey, which ranks Kaiser Permanente No. 1, revealed that the Top 10 rated companies feature diverse senior management, with women making up 39.2, and Blacks, Hispanics and Asians at 18.3 percent. For the top 50, those numbers dipped to 33.3 percent and 15 percent. Among all companies surveyed, women in senior management accounted for 28.2 percent and Blacks, Hispanics and Asians made up 13 percent.
Marriott’s Top 10 ranking is a result of ongoing efforts to be inclusive. In a statement, the company says “At Marriott International, we leverage our core values to embed diversity and inclusion so deeply that it is integral to how we do business globally.”
Commitment to diversity is reinforced by Marriott’s Committee for Excellence. Established in 2003, this group of senior-level executives meets regularly to help identify diversity objectives throughout the organization. The company also has 18 Diversity and Inclusion Councils and Associate Networks that meet annually with Marriott President and CEO Arne Sorenson.
Marriott excelled in several areas, especially in diversity among managers. Its total of blacks in management is 68 percent higher than the Top 10 and twice the Top 50 average. Total Latinos in management is double the Top 10 average and more than double the Top 50 average.
Marriott has more than 4,400 properties in 87 countries and territories. It reported revenues of more than $14 billion in fiscal year 2015, and recently completed negotiations to acquire Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. The Marriott-Starwood marriage has created the world’s largest hotel company.
