A total of 12 hotels and hotel companies received perfect 100-point scores on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2018 Corporate Equality Index. The index is a rating of workplaces in regard to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer equality. Companies were evaluated on four different criteria, including prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation, which extend to its supply chain, and positively engages the LGBTQ community.
In this 16th edition, a total of 947 companies were rated and 609 businesses met every criteria, earning a 100-percent rating and the designation of being a "Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality."
The number of employers offering transgender-inclusive health care coverage leapt from 647 last year to 750 this year, including 58 percent of the Fortune 500-ranked businesses.
In addition, more than four-hundred and fifty major businesses have adopted gender transition guidelines for employees and their teams to establish best practices in transgender inclusion.
Meanwhile, 230 of the Fortune 500 businesses ranked received a 100-percent rating (199 last year), with 14 of the top 20 Fortune-ranked businesses at this top score. Ninety-one percent of the Fortune 500 include “sexual orientation” in their nondiscrimination policies and 83 percent include “gender identity.”
The HRC Foundation’s CEI rating system is designed for mid to large businesses (500 full time employees and
above) and divided into four key criteria categories:
- Non-discrimination policies across business entities;
- Equitable benefits for LGBTQ workers and their families;
- Internal education and accountability metrics to promote LGBTQ inclusion competency; and,
- Public commitment to LGBTQ equality.
A total number of 2,205 received invitations to take part in the survey. Of that number, 776 submitted surveys, and 947 were officially rated. Last year, a total of 2,106
businesses were sent invitations, 750 submitted surveys and 887 were rated. Sixty-five businesses participated for the first time this year, increasing the total number of rated businesses.
How Lodging Fared
The following hotels and hotel companies received perfect 100-percent ratings (alpha order):
- Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa
- Caesars Entertainment Corp.
- Choice Hotels International
- Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
- Hilton
- Hyatt Hotels Corp.
- IHG
- Kimpton
- Marriott International
- MGM Resorts International
- Wyndham Worldwide
- Wynn Resorts
Of IHG's achievement, Elie Maalouf, CEO, The Americas, said: "IHG proudly promotes an environment where all our guests and colleagues feel welcome. We are grateful for this important recognition from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, and thankful for its steadfast commitment to championing diversity and inclusion for all."
You can access the entire Corporate Equality Index, here.