Virgin Atlantic’s maiden ‘Pride Flight’ took off for New York on Friday. Ben Ireland was on board
DJ Jodie Harsh
Sir
Richard Branson
Saara Aalto
‘Travel sector’s battle for inclusivity is not yet won’
V 10
irgin Atlantic hailed its first Pride Flight to New York as a “landmark” moment but said the
batle for inclusivity and equality in the industry is yet to be won. Mark Anderson, Virgin Group
executive vice-president, customer and lead on LGBTQ+, said travel had a good reputation for inclusivity “on the surface”. But he stressed there was still
much further to go, especially in terms of senior leadership roles. “On the surface, travel has this
reputation as being quite inclusive and friendly,” he said. “People on the frontline can be themselves, but many industry leaders are middle- class white men.” Anderson, who joined the travel
4 JULY 2019
industry in 2005 and is gay, said a staff member who recently leſt the company had “only felt comfortable to tell me they were gay when they leſt”. “We take [inclusivity] for granted
at our peril,” he said. Virgin Atlantic’s Pride Flight was
staffed entirely by an LGBTQ+ crew. Passengers were treated to guest performances by drag queens, DJ Jodie Harsh, X Factor finalist Saara Aalto and Broadway star Tituss Burgess. “We looked at how we
could do more to bring to life the way we champion equality and people bringing their whole self to work,” Anderson said. “Tis flight
was our way to champion and celebrate that. It’s particularly special to come to New York 50 years on from the Stonewall Uprising.” Anderson said he was proud
of Virgin’s record on inclusivity, noting the influence it had had in the Caribbean to encourage the region to be more welcoming for LGBTQ+ guests. “Tese were landmark
moments,” he added. “And our first Pride Flight
is another great landmark, but we have to keep progressing. Te travel industry does more than some industries, but it’s not perfect.”
Mark Anderson
travelweekly.co.uk New York takes Pr
New York City hopes hosting this year’s WorldPride celebrations will cement its place as a pioneering LGBTQ+ tourism hotspot. Fred Dixon, president and chief executive
Fred Dixon
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