Hilton EMEA President: Diverse customers need a diverse team

Simon Vincent is an executive vice-president at the Hilton hotel group and as president of EMEA is responsible for around 1,000 hotels in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

He joined Hilton in 2007 and in his current role looks after more than 85,000 employees, 18,000 of whom are based in the UK, in the 200 hotels it operates here.

The secret he wanted to share for our My Business Leader Secret series is all about staff diversity and inclusion.

“One of the great things about a global hospitality company is that it has diverse customers,” says Vincent. “They come from many different cultures and many different backgrounds, so it’s important that our team members reflect that diversity.”

“Another great thing about hospitality as an industry is that we offer opportunities for young people of all abilities,” explains Vincent.

One of the initiatives he is most proud of, he says, is the partnership with the charity The Down's Syndrome Association and its WorkFit scheme. It finds work opportunities for people with Down Syndrome. At the Waldorf Hilton and several other hotels in the Hilton chain there are employees with Down Syndrome who work in the kitchens and in customer-facing roles, such as serving food., he says.

“These people add a richness to our culture,” says Vincent, “and are often the most popular team members, both with customers and our own team members alike. It’s something I’m proud to see and really proud to promote within the industry.”