To coincide with World Pride 2023, taking place in Sydney from February 17 – March 5, HM’s Pride at Work series is celebrating LGBTQIA+ workers in the hotel industry and shining a spotlight on inclusivity in both the employee and guest experience.

In the final instalment of this series, Marriott International Area Director of Revenue Strategy – Australia, New Zealand and Pacific, Will Blakelock, discusses the importance of having diverse career mentors and role models.

Are there any ways you think the industry can improve in terms of being more welcoming and inclusive of LGBTQIA+ employees and/or guests?

I think society in general has come a long way in being more welcoming and inclusive however as an industry still feel that there is room for improvement in the space of gender identity. For example, in the areas of allowing employees to wear clothing they feel best represent them regardless of their gender or gender identity. Whilst this seems like a given to many in the LGBTQIA+ community, the fact that this still remains a conversation piece shows that there is still room for progress.  

Also, ensuring we address a guest using the correct pronouns is so important but also being able to convey the message to our employees that it’s ok to ask a guest how they wish to be addressed is ok.

Do you feel like you can bring your whole self to work?

I’ve worked for Marriott International for almost 19 years in over six countries and can truly say that in every place I have worked, the company culture has really made me feel that I can be my true self. If I look back at my younger self, fresh out of university, stepping into my first job, I was cautious about how I would be perceived or whether I would be taken seriously. I quickly came to realise that regardless of what I identified as, all that mattered was my ability to perform the job and my attitude towards it. I think our industry naturally brings a blend of people from different cultures and beliefs and therefore as hoteliers we tend to be more accepting and open to things that are unfamiliar.

Are there any ways that you support other, perhaps younger, members of the LGBTQIA+ community in the industry/your workplace? 

Growing up in the UK in the 90s, I always felt that I never had a true representation of who I was. Most gay men were depicted in the media as comedians and often not taken seriously. As I started my career, I never felt I had a true role model to look up to or someone I aspired to be from a career perspective. Being an Area Director for Marriott International, I like to think that I can be that role model for younger members of the LGBTQIA+ community and offer advice or career guidance.

How will you be celebrating World Pride 2023 in your workplace?

I’m really proud that W Hotels, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio, is a major sponsor of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and World Pride 2023. I took part in the parade, together with other employees, on Saturday February 25. It’s a chance for us all to celebrate who we are and what Marriott International represents for us in terms of inclusivity and support for the LGBTQIA+ community. For me, it’s so important to reflect the progress our community has made.