Hosted and organized by Hilton in partnership with the Dubai Executive Council, the Department of Economy & Tourism, and other major hospitality companies, the inaugural People of Determination in the Hospitality Industry panel event took place at Hilton Dubai Palm Jumeirah on Saturday, 4th February.
Accor, InterContinental Hotels Group, Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, Radisson, and Rotana Hotels & Resorts were among the international hospitality companies that Hilton partnered with for this event.
Read more: People of determination in the region… spearheading a better future
A first-of-its-kind initiative in the UAE for the hospitality industry, the event comprised more than 100 participants including People of Determination, human resources professionals, employers, families, caregivers, and representatives from community organizations such as Al Noor Special Needs, Emirates Down Syndrome Association, ImInclusive, and SEDRA.
The event provided a platform for exchanging ideas and experiences toward creating an inclusive and enabling workplace environment for People of Determination in the hospitality industry.
Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, commented: “As momentum continues to accelerate across travel and tourism in Dubai and the UAE, it is crucial that industry leaders engage in meaningful conversations around diversity and inclusion in the workplace, paving the way for new initiatives that will further enhance the quality of life for People of Determination and create suitable career opportunities within the tourism ecosystem. With the continued support of our stakeholders and partners, Dubai remains committed to providing an enabling environment to ensure inclusivity in all aspects of our destination offering.”
The World Health Organisation has identified that an estimated 1.3 billion people (16% of the global population) – or one in six people worldwide experience significant disability, and have twice the risk of developing health conditions such as depression, asthma, diabetes, stroke, obesity, or poor oral health. According to figures from the United Nations, between 50% and 70% of persons with disabilities who are of working age in industrialized countries are unemployed – that figure rises to a staggering 80% – 90% in countries that are still developing.
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