Hospitality industry launches resource hub to aid refugees

Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, the network for responsible hospitality, has launched a new guidance and resource hub for hotels seeking to support refugees and internally displaced people.

Hotels across the UK and Europe, from global brands to small independent operators, have been opening their doors to support people fleeing the conflict.  

The Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (the Alliance) has been working with its members to gather on-the-ground experience and share learnings. It has launched a set of guidance for hotels to support the recruitment of refugees and internally displaced people, as well as providing accommodation for people in transit.

The Alliance has curated a resource hub which aims to “provide links to job opportunities for people fleeing conflict, and access to training resources to enable refugees to re-skill themselves for jobs in the industry”. 

It urges the industry to be aware of the increased risk of exploitation and human trafficking caused by displacement, and recommends every hotel reviews and strengthens their due diligence and protection measures across operations and supply chains.

Glenn Mandziuk, CEO of the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, said: “Through conversations with our members, we recognised that every hotel was inspired to action by the crisis in Ukraine, and felt an urgent need to show their support and solidarity to colleagues and others impacted by the conflict.

“By sharing their real-life experiences and resources, it enables us to provide guidance and training to the wider industry that’s applicable not just to this present crisis, but the ongoing situations that refugees and internally displaced people continue to experience across the globe.”

The working group has included the local experience and expertise of the members of the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, including Accor, Four Seasons, Hilton, IHG Hotels and Resorts, Marriott International and Radisson Hotel Group.