NEWS ROUND-UP
COMMENT: “Don’t be surprised if everyone flocks back to Turkey, Egypt and Tunisia” Noel Josephides, page 38
Altham urges travel firms to learn about LGBT issues
Jennifer Morris
jennifer.morris@
travelweekly.co.uk
The boss of Hoseasons has called on travel companies to “get educated” on diversity after the sector failed to feature in Stonewall’s 2016 Top 100 Employers report.
The LGBT campaign group
invites submissions each year for its Workplace Equality Index, giving organisations a chance to show what they have been doing to be more inclusive for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender staff. Out of 415 submissions, no standalone travel firm made it into the top 100. The Co-operative Group, which has a travel division, was 72nd on the list. Hoseasons managing director Simon Altham said: “The lack of travel companies featured is disappointing. Many think these methods are just for big business, but the principles remain for all.” Hoseasons’ parent company,
Wyndham Worldwide, joined Stonewall’s Diversity Champions
VisitBritain among UK attendees set to be at IGLTA conference
VisitBritain staff are among 30 UK attendees due to attend the 33rd International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association global conference in Cape Town in April. The annual event, which connects
gay, lesbian and gay-friendly travel suppliers and buyers, will honour human rights activist and former archbishop Desmond Tutu with the association’s Chair Award.
CAPE TOWN: Host for April event John Tanzella, president of
IGLTA, said: “More businesses from the mainstream need to consider LGBT. It’s a very lucrative and fast-growing market, but also one that not everyone has woken
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travelweekly.co.uk 28 January 2016
ALTHAM: ‘The lack of travel firms featured is disappointing’
Altham said: “All travel firms should consider joining to get educated on these issues, which can be complex and unobvious.” The top three in the 2016
Workplace Equality Index were MI5, Lloyds Banking Group and the National Assembly for Wales. Vicky Constance, account manager for travel at Stonewall, would not reveal how many travel firms had applied for the index. She said the representation from the travel sector was “disappointing” but added: “The travel sector is perceived to be very LGBT-friendly.” Referring to UK workplaces as a
“All travel firms should consider joining to get educated on these issues, which can be complex”
coaching programme last year and plans to submit to the Equality Index in 2017. British Airways, Eurostar and Thomas Cook Airlines are also members of the scheme.
whole, she added: “In a survey of over 60,000 employees, 33% of gay men reported feeling comfortable being out with colleagues and managers. However, this figure drops to 23% for lesbian women and 12% for bisexual people.” Jo Rzymowska, Celebrity Cruises’ managing director for the UK and Ireland, said the company was not aware of the Stonewall report, adding: “We welcome more opportunities for the travel sector to shout louder about its diversity and inclusion efforts.”
MOVERS SHAKERS
&
Cook appoints Stafford as manager for Luton central
Thomas Cook has appointed Andrea Stafford as regional manager for Luton central. Stafford joins Cook from Royal Caribbean International, and will report to Torey Kings-Hodkin, head of retail south. Stafford’s career has included stints as a store manager for Thomas Cook in Essex and a regional sales manager for Tui.
Carnival UK names Riley as retail partnerships director
P&O Cruises and Cunard have appointed Shane Riley as director of retail partnerships. Riley joins from Princess Cruises where he was sales manager. He has worked at Carnival UK since 2010. Carnival UK has also appointed Nathaniel Sherborne, who has been with the company since 2007, as director of national partnerships.
JacTravel recruits Davies as UK and Ireland head of sales
Former Magic Rooms head of sales Peter Davies has joined accommodation wholesaler JacTravel as UK and Ireland regional head of sales. Davies will oversee the recently expanded group’s trade partnerships and XML distribution activities, working with technology partners and commercial teams.
up to see the opportunities.” This year’s conference will be
the first to be held in Africa. Tanzella said as well as being
a top tourist destination, South Africa was one of the most progressive nations on the continent for LGBT rights, having legalised gay marriage in 2006. About 300 people are due
to attend the conference on April 14-16, which will include buyer and supplier speed meetings and volunteering
activities in townships.
iglta.org/convention
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