Global Traveler launched awards last year to recognize airlines, cruise lines and hotel brands that most effectively promote diversity and inclusion in the travel industry. Returning for a second year, the awards evaluated many travel companies to determine which ones have made meaningful progress toward building more diverse and inclusive organizations.
Within travel, diversity addresses gaps across race, ethnicity and other demographics by providing resources to leaders, creating educational programs and introducing new initiatives that encourage industry-wide change. Inclusion means creating welcoming environments for everyone—regardless of ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, disability or age—and ensuring equal access to the tools and opportunities needed to participate fully in company life.
Evaluating carriers, cruise lines and hotel brands for their commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is complex. Many organizations have taken important steps forward. Global Traveler staff and Advisory Board members nominated travel providers and reviewed a broad range of factors related to equity, diversity and inclusion. Our Globility Board, a focus group of subscribers, also weighed in. After research and assessment, Global Traveler is proud to announce this year’s winners.
This year, United Airlines receives Global Traveler’s award for Outstanding Diversity & Inclusion in Travel, Airline. The airline earned recognition for concrete measures to create a more diverse and inclusive workplace and customer experience.
United continued to advance the company’s DEI initiatives from 2021 and maintained focus on reliability even through a challenging travel season. The airline introduced an Aviate pilot career program and a flight-training academy, alongside strengthened employee engagement and talent development efforts. United has worked to embed DEI into its organizational DNA—encouraging authenticity and safety for employees while striving to deliver an inclusive experience for customers.
PHOTO: © HILTON
The Outstanding Diversity & Inclusion in Travel, Hotel award goes to Hilton. Over the past year, Hilton expanded internationally, growing notably in the Caribbean and Latin America and adding 190 hotels in 2022. Today approximately 15 percent of Hilton’s portfolio is located outside the United States.
Hilton has been highly ranked on DiversityInc’s Top 50 Companies for Diversity and led specialty lists for Latino, Native American, Pacific Islander employees, people with disabilities and veteran executives. The company has set specific goals—aiming for global gender parity and 25 percent ethnic diversity among U.S. corporate leadership by 2027—and ties progress to leadership accountability.
Hilton partners with historically Black colleges and universities and minority-focused organizations to build diverse talent pipelines. The brand supports nine Team Member Resource Groups across 39 chapters, which help drive innovation and cultural change internally. Hilton also stands out for publicly sharing internal diversity metrics to measure progress and linking those results to executive compensation. The company’s early adoption of video interviews broadened candidate access even before remote hiring became widespread.
PHOTO: © LESLIE HSU OH
In the cruise category, Hurtigruten wins the Outstanding Diversity & Inclusion in Travel, Cruise award. Best known for educational Antarctic expeditions, the cruise line recently formed a Black Travel Advisory Board focused on advancing diversity and inclusion across the company. The six-member board includes respected leaders such as Martinique Lewis, president of the Black Travel Alliance; Stephanie Hones, founder and CEO of Cultural Heritage Economic Alliance; and Naledi Khabo, CEO of the African Tourism Association.
Hurtigruten has committed to working with Black content creators in every media campaign to amplify the voices of Black travelers and employees. The cruise line also pledged funding to support Black-led organizations in tourism, providing resources to ventures chosen by inaugural advisory board members.
United Airlines, Hilton and Hurtigruten have set a higher bar for diversity, equity and inclusion across travel. Their initiatives not only benefit employees and customers but also serve as examples that can inspire other airlines, cruise lines and hotel brands to adopt similar practices. While this year’s winners point the way toward a more inclusive industry, lasting change requires broad commitment. When companies embed DEI into their operations and culture, the entire travel sector becomes more accessible and welcoming for everyone.
OUTSTANDING DIVERSITY & INCLUSION IN TRAVEL
AIRLINE
United Airlines
NOMINEES:
Delta Air Lines
Hawaiian Airlines
Southwest
HOTEL
Hilton
NOMINEES:
Hyatt Hotels
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
MGM Resorts
CRUISE
Hurtigruten
NOMINEES:
Norwegian Cruise Line
Virgin Voyages
Carnival Cruise Line