The ‘Future Forum’ will be chaired by Kelly-Marie Staunton MIH, assistant front of house manager at Champneys Health Resorts. She said: “I am delighted to be chairing such an important group for the IoH and working alongside such talent.
“This Forum has a great deal to cover in helping move the issue of disability, diversity, and inclusion into the mainstream. It is important that the industry employs a diverse workforce and reflects the society in general and then shares best practices.
“It is also crucial that our employees are properly trained, and we break down some of the barriers that stop people from being employed if it’s perceived to fall into the ‘too difficult category.”
The Forum believes there is an ‘urgent need’ for employers to recognise all types of disability and they have started to gather information across the industry.
The Forum involves nine other hospitality professionals, including:
- Joint vice-chair, Fiona Jarvis, founder of Blue Badge Style and Blue Badge Access Awards
- Joint vice-chair, Dr Maria Gebbels MIH, senior lecturer in hospitality management, University of Greenwich, London
- Sean Wheeler BEM FIH and former Acorn winner, Sean Wheeler Consultancy Ltd
- Past Acorn winner Gabrielle Le Roux (Assoc CIPD) MIH, food & beverage partner, Gleneagles Hotel, Scotland
- Paul Gilley FIH & IoH supervisory board member, managing director, PJ Search
- Gregory Hall MIH, senior operations manager, Bartlett and Mitchell, London
- Elizabeth Mistry, freelance writer and editor, Print and Digital Media Ltd
- James Clark MIH, deputy general manager, Red Carnation Hotel Collection
- Robert Richardson FIH, IoH chief executive
Richardson added: “Establishing the IoH Future Forum, is the logical next step in our diversity and inclusion strategy. We genuinely want to hear from our members and non-members about their stories so we can aim to accommodate and eradicate some of the issues that face this part of our society.
“I am looking forward to seeing the outcomes from the Forum as they begin their work. Our hospitality family embraces change, and I see the IoH Future Forum as a change-maker.”