This International Women’s Day, millions of people around the world will celebrate the unique contributions of women and reiterate commitments to diversity and inclusion under the theme #BalanceforBetter. Hilton has long held that helping Team Members achieve balance – in mind, body and spirit – and celebrating the unique contributions each Team Member brings to our company enables us all to thrive.
At Hilton, we’ve seen firsthand the impact women have across the organization and we know that that empowering women results in greater performance and more importantly, creates a more dynamic and resilient workplace for our more than 400,000 Team Members around the world. In 2016, Hilton set a goal to increase diversity in corporate leadership, including empowering more women and ethnically diverse leaders. Additionally, we set regional goals to increase representation of women in our global General Manager ranks, especially in markets where women have traditionally been underrepresented in the workforce. As Hilton celebrates 100 years of hospitality in 2019, we’ve deepened our commitment and pledged to ensure Hilton is a place where all women can thrive – from frontline Team Members to corporate leaders – by investing in every stage of career development.
In fact, we are doing more than ever to help women reach for their full potential at work and in their personal lives. Our workplace programs have led to more positive, engaging work environments – and that’s no accident. As a global company, it’s clear that giving women the tools and resources to advance their careers at every stage is a critical part of our success. Across the business, we’re creating these opportunities through a wide array of partnerships, new management development programs and structured mentorship opportunities. For example, our external development programs with top universities like Harvard and Cornell connect Team Members with networks, tools and resources that will help them become more effective leaders. And, to drive critical conversations around the unique experiences of diverse Team Members and guests, our Team Member Resource Groups help us evaluate and evolve the way we work and lead.
Additionally, when we designed our industry-leading maternity and adoption assistance programs, we worked diligently to ensure the changes would be beneficial to Team Members at all levels, including hourly and corporate positions. This benefit, combined with increased scheduling flexibility has allowed Team Members to plan their lives around what matters most to them. At our core, we are a business of people serving people and when we apply that principle beginning with our Team Members, it translates into happier and more productive teams.
We’re continuing to make great strides, though our journey continues. At such a historic moment in time for our company and women more broadly, it’s critical that we continue to have deliberate conversations about gender diversity and what it means to be a woman in the workplace. With properties and Team Members in 113 countries and territories, we know that diversity is fundamental to our success and it is what helps us create an exceptional workplace for all. As we open our doors to people from around the world – each one different and unique – our diversity makes it possible to deliver the light and warmth of hospitality on a truly global scale.