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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (June 4, 1999)
/une 4. 1999 * 17 m TTO Tm new s S leeping P eacefully When looking for a temporary home away from home, put your conscience to rest at a queer-friendly hotel by hether you are tired after a long day on a business trip or quickly settling in for a weekend away, as your head meets the pillow you proba bly aren’t concerned with the policies of the hotel chain toward its gay and lesbian employ ees. After a good nights sleep, though, you may begin to wonder. Hilton could be doing more, but recent developments at Hyatt, M arriott and Starwood (owner of Sheraton hotels) mean good news for gay and lesbian employees at these well-known hotel chains. C i finaud ta announce G ip P la ste r I t£e a d d itio n a f Most of the company’s employees are not eli gible for domestic partner benefits, but Hyatt has a benefits program that is being tested for a year in California and may eventually be expanded nationwide. The benefits offered in California include medical, dental and vision coverage, and bereavement leave. arriott International Inc., based in Bethesda, Md., is the second largest hotel chain in the world with more than 1,600 owned and franchised locations. The chain also oper ates under the swanky Ritz-Carlton name and under Courtyard and Residence Inn signs. T he company, which was incorporated in 1929, does not have a gay and lesbian employ ilton Hotels Corp., based in Beverly Hills, Calif., runs and franchises more than 260 ees group. It does, however, include sexual ori hotels and casinos around the world. Bally’s Las entation in its nondiscrimination policy and dis cusses gay and lesbian Vegas is run by it, as is the famous Waldorf-Astoria in Hilton could be doing more, issues in its diversity train ing. New York City. Some of but recent developments T he company began the corporation’s casino offering domestic partner properties float along the at Hyatt, M arriott and benefits in January. river in Missouri and Mis “We just found it the sissippi, too. T he compa Starwood mean good news right thing to do for our ny’s facilities comprise for gay and lesbian employees. Since the start more than 100,000 rooms of our company, our that operate under the employees at these employees have been one Hilton Hotel name as well of our best assets,” says as the H ilton Inn, Conrad well-known hotel chains. company spokesperson International and others. Nick Hill. “We look after The company includes the welfare of our employ sexual orientation in its ees so they can provide the nondiscrim ination policy best service to our guests.” and addresses gay and les bian issues in its diversity tarwood Hotels and training. Resorts, headquartered It does not offer domes in W hite Plains, N.Y., is tic partner benefits nor the world’s largest lodging does it have a gay and les company. Even if you bian employees group, says don’t recognize the Star spokesperson Jeanne Datz, wood name, you will likely who adds: “Here at our recognize its brands. The corporate office there are company owns Sheraton, gay employees. Everyone Westin, Four Points, C ae knows they’re gay. They’re sars and more. not shy about it.” Starwood offers domes The company does not tic partner benefits to its prohibit employees at par gay and lesbian employees, ticular hotels from forming L. J_______ i,-------------- and sexual orientation is groups. W hile gay and les part of its nondiscrimina bian employee groups may tion policy. Yearly diversi exist at some H ilton estab ty trainings that address gay and lesbian issues lishments, Datz says she does not know of any. are required. A n officially recognized gay and lesbian sub n September 1957, Hyatt opened its first group is part of the Starwood Rainbow Team, an hotel at Los Angeles International Airport. employees group. The name became well-known 10 years later T he company is also forming a Diversity when the company opened the 21-story atrium Management Task Force, according to Delores tower lobby at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta. Sanchez, the company’s vice president of com Chicago-based Hyatt Corp., owned by the munications and diversity. Pritzker family, is one of the biggest hotel chains “I will he taking advantage of the domestic in the U nited States. Hyatt operates more than partner benefits for my partner, Melissa, who has 110 luxury hotels and resorts in N orth America her own consulting business; now we can have as well as properties around the world. It runs her covered as part of the family we are," casinos on the ground and on rivers, in addition Sanchez says. “I’m proud to be among the peo to golf courses and retirement communities. ple designing the landscape for our future in Hyatt does not have a companywide gay and diversity management, which benefits gay and lesbian group, although “individual hotels are given the latitude to handle various issues,” lesbian employees, their domestic partners and their children, as well as guests, shareholders, according to spokesperson Gary Ross. vendors and partners.” Sexual orientation is included in the compa She adds: “We are achieving gains because of ny’s equal employment opportunity statement, the full support and participation of Starwood’s and workplace values training, which is con ducted throughout the company, addresses gay senior management. Because of that support, we are truly able to embrace everyone equally." and lesbian issues. 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