Pro-invest Group is broadening its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy, through a new series of ‘Social’ initiatives designed to foster inclusion, diversity, and equality within the hospitality industry.
The four cornerstone programs – RISE, CARE, Pro-Women Leadership Alliance, and Radiate with Pride – aim to create more inclusive environments for guests and team members.
“At Pro-invest Group, we’re deeply committed to making sure our business strategy truly benefits everyone and doing the right thing for the communities we’re part of,” said Pro-invest Group General Counsel, Anthony Ursino.
“As part of our broader ESG strategy, we’re excited to introduce new initiatives including RISE and CARE. These programs are designed to make a real difference, promoting inclusivity and opportunity across the board.
“We’re aiming to lead by example in social responsibility, creating better environments for our guests, our team, and the communities we serve.”
RISE (Reaching for Inclusion through Scholarships and Experiences) is a collaboration with Southern Cross University and The Hotel School Australia, offering scholarships to students from low socio-economic backgrounds wanting to study tourism and hospitality.
Scholars will benefit from paid internships, mentorship, and potential ongoing employment opportunities at Pro-invest.
“This collaboration will be transformative for scholarship recipients who can immerse themselves in university life and embark on an exciting career, without financial hardship,” said Southern Cross University Chief Marketing Officer, Dean Gould.
“It will also prepare more students to be innovators in the tourism and hotel sector and allow the industry to benefit from fresh talent.”
Supported through fundraising initiatives, the Pro-invest Group RISE Hotel Management Scholarship will see the first three Pro-invest students receive their scholarships and internship offers this year.
CARE (Creating Accessible Roles and Experiences) is a strategic partnership with MAX Employment focused on providing employment opportunities within Pro-invest Group for persons with disabilities. The initiative will facilitate accessibility for people looking to work in the sector, while supporting the company’s ongoing need to recruit talent.
The Pro-Women Leadership Alliance is a new program designed to empower and support the professional growth of women within the organisation through mentoring, tailored skill-building workshops, networking events and forums to connect with senior leaders, and advocacy efforts.
Radiate with Pride, a partnership with the Welcome Here Project, is focused on discriminatory-free environments for LGBTIQA+ guests and employees, including training and certification, and obtaining ‘safe space’ certifications at all its hotels and offices.
Led by industry veteran, Ronald Stephen Barrott, Pro-invest Group is one of the largest, and most sustainable, operating platforms in Australia, with 32 assets (6,000 keys) open and in development across all major markets, and AU$3 billion of assets under management.
The latest initiatives are integrated with Pro-invest Group’s broader ESG strategy – a holistic that spans funding and asset development to management and guest experiences.