Accor and LGBTI+ Business and Rights Forum Promote an Event to Discuss the Eradication of LGBTI+ Phobia
The program covered topics such as the limits of what can no longer be tolerated, the challenges faced by LGBTI+ people in the job market and hospitality as a tool for inclusion.
During the opening ceremony, Antonietta Varlese, Senior Vice President of Sustainability and Communications at Accor Americas, reinforced the company's commitment to the subject: We understand that welcoming and respecting differences is essential to creating memorable experiences and safe environments, both for our customers and our employees. After all, hospitality is about people. We are committed to promoting a culture of respect and appreciation for diversity, strengthening efforts to ensure that LGBTI+ people have their human rights fully recognized and guaranteed in society.
The first conversation, 'Panel with CEOs - Let's change what we can no longer tolerate', was led by Caio Magri, President of the Ethos Institute, and Reinaldo Bulgarelli, Executive Secretary of the LGBTI+ Forum. The debate was attended by executives such as Thomas Dubaere, CEO of Accor Americas; Rodolfo Eschenbach, President of Accenture in Latin America; Rogerio Barreira, President of the Brazil Division of Arcos Dourados; and Elayne Correa, General Director of Saint Gobain PPL.
At the opening, Bulgarelli reinforced the importance of the event to mobilise leaders and members of the industry to create inclusive, safe and respectful environments for all people: This event allows us to work together with our signatories to promote truly inclusive practices in large corporations. The practice of discriminating against LGBTI+ people needs to be eradicated. We can and must promote a safe and healthy environment for everyone , said Bulgarelli.
Also present at the event was Raphael Calumby, Coordinator of Policies for Sexual Diversity - Secretariat of Justice and Citizenship of the State of São Paulo, who emphasized the fight against prejudice, as well as the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) actions in companies and in society so that all people can feel included. And Regina Célia Silveira, Municipal Secretary of Human Rights and Citizenship of the City of São Paulo, who emphasized the relevance of the presence of the LGBTI+ Forum in Brazil and the constant fight for spaces that need to be increasingly occupied within the Secretariat and organizations by diverse people, emphasized the care and support needed for people from the LGBTI+ community in situations of vulnerability and called on companies to join forces with the Secretariat of Justice and Citizenship of the State of São Paulo to develop social and economic development proposals to eradicate prejudice.
The program continued with two more panels. The second, 'I, LGBTI+, in the workplace', brought together representatives from initiatives such as the UNHCR Refugee Business Forum, the Social Inclusion Business Network, the Generations and Future of Work Forum, the Voluntary Board of the Women's Movement 360, the Business Initiative for Racial Equality and the LGBTI+ Business and Rights Forum. In the second meeting of the day, Reinaldo emphasized the spaces that Brazil can occupy in advancing DEI practices. The panel brought debates about the fundamental role of leadership as a bridge for positive transformation against discrimination, including the American vs. Brazilian political-economic context regarding the need for quotas to include people with disabilities and black people in universities and the workplace.
The last meeting of the day, 'The art of hospitality: Welcoming LGBTI+ travellers' featured Ricardo Gomes, President of the Brazilian LGBT Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, Cesar Ferragi, Adjunct Professor in the Tourism Course at UFSCar, Bruno Chateaubriand, Journalist and former gymnast, and Jorge Souza, Marketing Director at Orinter.
About Accor, a world-leading hospitality group
Accor is a world-leading hospitality group offering stays and experiences across more than 110 countries with over 5,600 hotels and resorts, 10,000 bars & restaurants, wellness facilities and flexible workspaces. The Group has one of the industry's most diverse hospitality ecosystems, encompassing around 45 hotel brands from luxury to economy, as well as Lifestyle with Ennismore. ALL, the booking platform and loyalty program embodies the Accor promise during and beyond the hotel stay and gives its members access to unique experiences. Accor is focused on driving positive action through business ethics, responsible tourism, environmental sustainability, community engagement, diversity, and inclusivity. Accor's mission is reflected in the Group's purpose: Pioneering the art of responsible hospitality, connecting cultures, with heartfelt care. Founded in 1967, Accor SA is headquartered in France. Included in the CAC 40 index, the Group is publicly listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and on the OTC Market (Ticker: ACCYY) in the United States. For more information, please visit group.accor.com or follow us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok.
View source
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hospitality Net
11-08-2025
- Hospitality Net
Accor Plus to Rebrand as ALL Accor+ Explorer across Asia-Pacific
Accor Plus, a travel loyalty subscription programme in the Asia-Pacific region, will rebrand and transition all existing memberships to a new format under the ALL Accor+ Explorer subscription from October 1, 2025. The updated subscription will include guaranteed ALL Accor Gold status or higher within Accor's global loyalty programme, two complimentary nights per year, and wider global discounts. Existing members will automatically be upgraded to the ALL Accor+ Explorer membership. The shift aligns with the broader growth of subscription models globally. ALL Accor+ Explorer will provide members with access to two free nights annually across Asia-Pacific, hotel stays at up to 50 per cent off under the Red Hot Rooms offer, and a 15 per cent discount off public rates at over 4,500 hotels worldwide under more than 30 hotel brands. Dining discounts include 30 per cent off food and 15 per cent off drinks at more than 1,600 restaurants and 1,200 bars across the region. Members will also receive 30 Status Nights annually, securing ALL Accor Gold status, which includes benefits such as room upgrades, early check-in and late check-out, where available. Additional benefits include priority access to limited-time offers and member-only events. Accor Plus stated that the upgraded membership benefits were informed by research conducted with more than 7,000 members and 200 hotels across 12 countries in October 2024. CEO Emilie Couton said the company reviewed data and feedback over the past 18 months to align the subscription with current member expectations. The rebranded subscription will be integrated into the wider ALL Accor global loyalty platform, allowing members to use benefits while earning and redeeming ALL Accor Reward points and Status Nights through a single booking system and app. In 2024, Accor Plus members stayed five times more nights than non-members, with more than 3.1 million room nights booked. They also redeemed over one billion reward points and accessed more than 2,300 exclusive offers. ALL Accor+ Explorer will apply across more than 25 Accor hotel brands in Asia-Pacific, including Raffles, Fairmont, Sofitel, MGallery, Pullman, Swissôtel, Mövenpick, Novotel, Mercure, Tribe, ibis and others. It also offers a 15 per cent discount on stays at over 30 brands globally and includes ALL Accor Gold status or above. All active Accor Plus members will be automatically upgraded from October 1. New members can subscribe at S$299 (US$222) per year. About Accor, a world-leading hospitality group Accor is a world-leading hospitality group offering stays and experiences across more than 110 countries with over 5,600 hotels and resorts, 10,000 bars & restaurants, wellness facilities and flexible workspaces. The Group has one of the industry's most diverse hospitality ecosystems, encompassing around 45 hotel brands from luxury to economy, as well as Lifestyle with Ennismore. ALL, the booking platform and loyalty program embodies the Accor promise during and beyond the hotel stay and gives its members access to unique experiences. Accor is focused on driving positive action through business ethics, responsible tourism, environmental sustainability, community engagement, diversity, and inclusivity. Accor's mission is reflected in the Group's purpose: Pioneering the art of responsible hospitality, connecting cultures, with heartfelt care. Founded in 1967, Accor SA is headquartered in France. Included in the CAC 40 index, the Group is publicly listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and on the OTC Market (Ticker: ACCYY) in the United States. For more information, please visit or follow us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok.
Hospitality Net
03-07-2025
- Hospitality Net
Innovation in Hotels Is about People, not Tech
Hotel innovation is a people problem before it is a tech problem. Since HITEC, I've been reminiscing less about the tech I saw and more about the people I met. Yes, AI was everywhere, literally everywhere, predictive analytics, plenty of stuff some good - but not only. But the biggest takeaway wasn't a product. It was this: success doesn't come from the tech, it comes from the people. Note, you could get insights, subscribe to my email: On day one, I got a demo of how to really turn the whole hotel tech stack into a mobile customer-first experience from Shiji⁺, I bumped into Richard from Mews and we had a long chat about how visionary Accor has been, but how much harder it is to actually scale vision, I had a chat with Josiah at Actabl on various marketing ideas, and discussed hotel to automate hotel chains with RobosizeME⁺. I got invited to an AI round table with Ideas, and had a great spontaneous dinner with LodgIQ⁺, some friends from Cendyn and HospitalityNET (and superb wine that we didn't get to drink). But after the conversations started, it quickly became clear (again) that innovation isn't about having the smartest system. It's about having the right people behind it. One conversation cemented this. We were discussing hotel automation, and I tossed out the usual question of "where to start?" (start with repetitive tasks and build from there, was my obvious response). But my counterpart from a hotel chain had a better take: start with the easiest thing. Something small, non-critical, that won't break too much when it goes sideways. Prove it works. Then build. I hadn't thought of that, but it makes sense. Because the goal isn't just fixing problems, it's building trust. With the process, with the tools, and with your team. But then he added the key point, you need to find people who are curious, who like to test things, who don't freeze and stop everything when the first result breaks something. And I realized that's what I go to HITEC for, not the flashy demos, the people giving the demos, the hallway chats, the random introductions, the late-evening debates that remind me there amazing people in this industry who are excited to try something new. You could implement an AI concierge today. You could plug a custom GPT for your hotel into your booking confirmations. The tech is ready. But it only works if someone is willing to own it, improve it, and bring others along. So yes, technology is needed to innovate. But as far as I'm concerned, innovation is a people thing. Because the right people: the curious, the collaborative, the optimistic (who are OK to make a few mistakes as they try things) they are the ones who'll make that tech actually deliver. Thanks for reading. Subscribe for free to receive new posts. About me: I'm a fractional CMO for large travel technology companies helping turn them into industry leaders. I'm also the co-founder of a hotel news media that is unsensational, factual and keeps hoteliers updated on the industry. ⁺ for companies with current or past business ties View source
Hospitality Net
12-06-2025
- Hospitality Net
Emblems Collection Announces First Flagship with Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa
A British heritage icon is set to become the inaugural property of Accor's newest luxury collection brand, embodying Emblems' vision of timeless elegance, character-rich design, and intimate hospitality. Currently operating as a renowned country house hotel, Lucknam Park will officially join the Emblems Collection in Q4 2025. This landmark moment will see the British icon as the first Emblems property celebrating intimate luxury, unique character, elevated design, and bespoke service - marking a significant milestone in the global journey of the Emblems brand. Emblems is Accor's most exclusive collection brand, designed to craft tomorrow's legacy through addresses of exceptional character. With a highly selective approach focused on the world's most coveted locales, Emblems seeks intimate, human-scale properties with a residential flair. These include emblematic suites and villas, and personalized service tailored to aesthetic-minded travellers and locals alike. The brand celebrates timeless beauty, artistic mastery, and place-driven design - where each hotel becomes both a cultural landmark and a sensory experience. Lucknam Park, Emblems Collection will join the Heritage category - celebrating its glorious past while ushering in a new era of contemporary relevance. The property will undergo thoughtful enhancements that preserve its identity while aligning with the Emblems ethos of "Artisans of the Extraordinary" — offering guests an experience where luxury is personal, storied, and sensorial. Located just six miles from the UNESCO-listed city of Bath, Lucknam Park blends classic English charm with standout features: a Michelin-starred restaurant, an award-winning wellness spa, a renowned equestrian centre, and 500 acres of landscaped parkland. Its 42 individually designed rooms and nine luxurious cottages make it a sought-after countryside escape for discerning travellers. Emblems Collection looks forward to unveiling Lucknam Park, Emblems Collection, in late 2025 - offering guests a renewed invitation to experience one of Britain's most cherished estates, now part of a charismatic and refined global collection. Hotel website
