Hotel CEOs Navigate Trump's DEI Crackdown
Photo Credit: A panel of hotel CEOs at the ALIS hotel lodging conference in Los Angeles run by Northstar on January 28, 2025. ALIS
Skift Take
The Trump Administration says many DEI initiatives are illegal, and hotel groups are among the many companies evaluating their efforts. Both the Oval Office and C-suites are leaving the details on changes for a later time.
Trump’s Impact on Travel
Read how the first 100 days of U.S. President Donald Trump’s actions and policies are shaping the future of travel, and get insights into the industry's evolving response.As U.S. businesses evaluate their diversity initiatives in light of scrutiny from the Trump Administration, CEOs of the largest hotel groups positioned the overall concept of diversity as essential to their businesses of serving global travelers.
"It is ultimately a business imperative," said Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta, referring to how the hotel industry serves about a quarter billion people annually.
Nassetta's comments were echoed by leaders of Marriott, IHG Hotels & Resorts, and Wyndham Hotels, who addressed the topic at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit in Los Angeles.
Since his second inauguration, President Donald Trump has indicated that the White House considers any program with preferences based on gender or race to be illegal for both federal agencies and private companies.
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