During a press conference in São Paulo, Indian executive Apoorva Gandhi, vice-president of the Marriott International hotel chain, spoke about the hotel company's inclusion program and the importance of having LGBTs and women on the company's staff. Gandhi made a point of highlighting the awards and certifications received by his company, including the LGBTQ Business Equality Excellence Award. One of the topics most discussed by the executive was the inclusion of women in leadership positions: “We have more than 10 women in management positions within the entire hotel chain. Alone, they generate more than US$100 million between all our sources of profit”, he highlighted. “We would not be involved in a Human Rights audit if it were not to meet the demands of the LGBT public and the cultural diversity that enter our hotels. We serve well precisely to create a good reputation,” he said. With an eye on “Pink Money”, Apporva Gandhi, vice-president of a hotel conglomerate aimed at the A-class public, made incisive speeches about inclusion, but did not present figures referring to the number of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people who work in the company, especially in important positions. Nor did the executive speak about the harsh politics of his country of origin, India, whose culture is against sexual diversity.
in Culture
Vice President of Marriott talks about the importance of including LGBTs among its professionals
