In hospitality, inclusive leadership and gender balance are becoming important business imperatives, as gender-diverse teams reportedly see up to 19 per cent higher profits. However, gender parity in leadership remains a challenge in this industry, owing to factors such as demanding expectations, work-life balance struggles, and the scarcity of female leaders as role models. A 2022 WTO report noted the insufficient data on women in leadership across Asia-Pacific, and underscored the urgency for action.

At Hilton, we believe in the value and impact of women at every level of our organisation and are committed to amplifying women’s voices within our executive teams. Women currently constitute 55 per cent of our Asia Pacific Executive Committee, and we have set ourselves a goal to increase the percentage of female general managers in this region to at least 25 per cent by 2027.

We also address unconscious bias in talent selection by instituting requirements for gender-diverse candidate slates and interviewing panels in our recruitment process, and implementing compulsory unconscious bias training for our leaders and team members. Our leadership programmes, such as Lead@Hilton in partnership with Harvard University and the SHINE Program for emerging director-level talents, are instrumental in shaping diverse leaders for the future of hospitality.

Embracing inclusion: team members champion inclusivity
Inclusion at Hilton must transcend leadership ranks. That is why we place incredible emphasis on evolving beyond a top-down mandate to foster a shared value embraced by our 62,000 Asia Pacific Team Members. That is when our workplace embodies the very essence of our signature hospitality – powered by humanity, and strengthened by inclusion, wellness, growth and purpose for all.

We empower our Team Member Resource Groups (TMRGs), through our Courageous Conversations to promote diversity within Hilton and beyond. Alongside Women’s and Pride TMRGs, we’re launching Generations and Abilities TMRGs in Asia-Pacific, celebrating the unique strengths of our multi-generational and differently-abled workforce. Led by DEI advocates, our TMRGs drive initiatives for awareness, empathy, and collaboration, cultivating a truly inclusive environment and supportive ecosystem where all team members can thrive.

Amid the challenges of a talent-scarce environment, Hilton proudly distinguishes itself as an employer of choice, having been named the #1 World’s Best Workplace last year, and Asia’s top-ranked hospitality company for seven consecutive years. This validates our commitment to fostering a workplace where every Team Member thrives and is empowered to bring their true self to work.

Hilton’s commitment to transforming its workplace experience also aligns with evolving priorities such as providing work flexibility through an AI-based smart scheduling system and attracting alternative talent sources such as gig and mature workers.

As the boom of travel continues its upward trajectory, it is paramount that our industry remains steadfast in its journey to inspire inclusion. In a post-pandemic world, this signifies our commitment not just to rebuild but to evolve, as we shape the future of hospitality with a workforce as diverse and dynamic as the guests we serve.