IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world's leading hospitality companies, today announces a new sponsorship and partnership with UK Black Pride, Europe's largest celebration for LGBTQI+ people of African, Asian, Caribbean, Latin American and Middle Eastern-descent.

Led by IHG's employee network for ethnic diversity, EMbrace, IHG Hotels & Resorts is proud to sponsor the return of UK Black Pride's annual in-person protest and celebration on Sunday 14 August 2022 at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London, which is this year themed 'Power'. It will also partner with the organisation to promote and educate on the safe expression and celebration of identities and cultures.

Yasmin Diamond and Karin Sheppard, Co-Executive Sponsors, EMbrace employee network, IHG Hotels & Resorts, commented: "At IHG Hotels & Resorts we're proud that our commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) is at the beating heart of our purpose to deliver True Hospitality for Good. For this partnership with UK Black Pride to be driven by our employee networks speaks to the passion and drive of our people to not only create a meaningful impact on the world around us, but to also encourage a culture at work where everyone - of all cultures, religions, races, sexualities, abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and intersects - is welcome.

"This fully supports the actions we take as a business to champion a diverse culture where everyone can thrive. A few key, recent milestones include the launch of our inclusion index in our employee engagement survey, embedding inclusive hiring practices among our hotel and corporate teams, enhanced mental health guidelines, and new programmes to support the development of our ethnic minority talent in the UK and US. We have also introduced 'myWellbeing' - our commitment to support our people in a range of important areas, including their health, lifestyle and workplace."

The EMbrace network for ethnic diversity, along with Out & Open for LGBTQI+ colleagues, are two of nearly 30 employee network chapters at IHG, which are voluntary groups that provide platforms for its colleagues and promote workplace diversity across areas including sexuality, ethnicity, gender, disability, wellbeing, family and early careers.

Lady Phyll, Executive Director and Co-Founder, UK Black Pride, said: "As the visibility and reach of UK Black Pride increases every year, we strive to include a broad range of individuals, organisations and groups who aim to support our diverse communities. We are delighted to be partnering with IHG Hotels & Resorts to not only help bring to life our first annual event since the pandemic, which is volunteer-led, but to also be building longer-term education, outreach, advocacy and networking through our work together."

UK Black Pride supports and celebrates all sections of the UK's culturally diverse Black LGBTQI+ community. The organisation advocates a safe space to celebrate diverse sexualities, gender identities, cultures, gender expressions and backgrounds as they foster, represent and celebrate Black LGBTQI+ and QTIPOC culture through education, the arts, cultural events and advocacy.

One of IHG's four strategic priorities as a company is to care for its people, communities and planet, supported by its 2030 responsible business plan, Journey to Tomorrow. This plan includes specific diversity, equity, and inclusion ambitions and targets, which IHG will work to achieve over the next decade, supported by its people, programmes and policies.

Read more about diversity, equity & inclusion at IHG here.