WASHINGTON -- The National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People welcomed "diversity initiatives" adopted by some
hotel companies but will keep up the pressure and publish its
second hotel "report card" in June.
The first report card graded hotel chains on hiring, promotion
and investment opportunities for African-Americans. At a press
conference here, NAACP president Kweisi Mfume announced that an
advisory task force was formed to maintain oversight of the hotel
industry, chaired by Valerie Ferguson, American Hotel and Motel
Association chairman.
Mfume provided a positive update of the NAACP's year-long effort
as follows:
Cendant (formerly HFS) launched a $20 million diversity
initiative.Doubletree added an African-American to its board of
directors.Marriott, Hyatt and Omni hired marketing firms to advise them
on how to target minority consumers.Most chains increased job recruitment efforts, advertising and
procurement goals for the African-American community.Mfume said that since June the NAACP distributed more than
40,000 "hotel consumer choice guides," which travelers have used to
decide whether to stay at particular hotels.
Asked by Travel Weekly whether any hotels lost business for lack
of attention to the black community, Mfume replied, "We think so,
but all say they didn't." He said that the NAACP's next target is
the telecommunications industry.