GITNUXREPORT 2025

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In The Hospitality Industry Statistics

Diversifying hospitality boosts performance, guest satisfaction, innovation, and employee retention.

Jannik Lindner

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Key Statistics

Statistic 1

56% of hotel guests prefer to stay at hotels that demonstrate diversity and inclusion initiatives

Statistic 2

55% of hotel guests value diversity and cultural representation in branding

Statistic 3

Ethnic minorities make up 60% of the global hotel guest market

Statistic 4

85% of hotel brands believe diversity improves guest satisfaction

Statistic 5

58% of hotel guests expect brands to promote DEI in their marketing campaigns

Statistic 6

31% of hospitality companies report that DEI initiatives have improved customer satisfaction

Statistic 7

Employees in diverse workplaces report 60% higher job satisfaction

Statistic 8

42% of hotel employees feel their workplace lacks adequate diversity and inclusion policies

Statistic 9

The percentage of LGBTQ+ hotel employees reporting discrimination is 27%

Statistic 10

40% of hospitality professionals believe that diversity initiatives have positively impacted their company culture

Statistic 11

68% of hospitality industry HR managers believe DEI initiatives improve employee retention

Statistic 12

65% of hospitality employees say inclusive management improves team performance

Statistic 13

52% of hospitality employees feel their company's diversity efforts are not transparent enough

Statistic 14

50% of hospitality employees have witnessed discrimination or bias at work

Statistic 15

47% of hotel management agree diversity and inclusion can lead to better business performance

Statistic 16

63% of hospitality employees feel their workplace culture is more inclusive due to DEI policies

Statistic 17

25% of minority hospitality employees report feeling less valued compared to their majority counterparts

Statistic 18

Only 24% of hospitality industry leadership roles are held by women

Statistic 19

Companies with diverse leadership are 35% more likely to outperform their competitors

Statistic 20

Only 16% of hospitality CEOs are women

Statistic 21

Only 10% of hospitality executive roles are held by minorities

Statistic 22

The number of women in hospitality leadership positions increased by 12% over the last five years

Statistic 23

75% of hospitality companies have implemented diversity initiatives

Statistic 24

48% of hotel staff globally are from minority backgrounds

Statistic 25

37% of hospitality companies report increasing diversity training programs

Statistic 26

Companies with high racial and ethnic diversity are 19% more innovative

Statistic 27

Women represent 46% of the workforce in the hospitality industry

Statistic 28

80% of hotel brands have incorporated diversity and inclusion into their corporate values

Statistic 29

The global hospitality workforce is approximately 45% women

Statistic 30

30% of hospitality companies track diversity metrics internally

Statistic 31

12% of hotel managers identify as LGBTQ+

Statistic 32

70% of millennials in hospitality seek workplaces with strong DEI policies

Statistic 33

Workplace harassment reports in hospitality are reduced by 25% after DEI training programs

Statistic 34

35% of hotel brands have dedicated diversity and inclusion officers

Statistic 35

28% of hospitality industry HR leaders say their companies do not prioritize DEI

Statistic 36

20% of hotel employees experience microaggressions related to their ethnicity or gender

Statistic 37

62% of hospitality companies are actively recruiting more diverse talent pools

Statistic 38

39% of hospitality industry training programs include a focus on DEI topics

Statistic 39

44% of hotel brands have set measurable diversity and inclusion goals for the next 3 years

Statistic 40

22% of hospitality companies report increased revenue after implementing DEI initiatives

Statistic 41

40% of hospitality leaders acknowledge that their DEI efforts are still a work in progress

Statistic 42

29% of hospitality organizations have dedicated employee resource groups for underrepresented groups

Statistic 43

46% of hospitality students see diversity and inclusion as a key factor in their future employer selection

Statistic 44

73% of hospitality executives agree that ongoing DEI training is necessary for sustained progress

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Key Highlights

  • Only 24% of hospitality industry leadership roles are held by women
  • Companies with diverse leadership are 35% more likely to outperform their competitors
  • 56% of hotel guests prefer to stay at hotels that demonstrate diversity and inclusion initiatives
  • Only 16% of hospitality CEOs are women
  • Employees in diverse workplaces report 60% higher job satisfaction
  • 42% of hotel employees feel their workplace lacks adequate diversity and inclusion policies
  • 75% of hospitality companies have implemented diversity initiatives
  • 55% of hotel guests value diversity and cultural representation in branding
  • 48% of hotel staff globally are from minority backgrounds
  • 37% of hospitality companies report increasing diversity training programs
  • Ethnic minorities make up 60% of the global hotel guest market
  • The percentage of LGBTQ+ hotel employees reporting discrimination is 27%
  • 40% of hospitality professionals believe that diversity initiatives have positively impacted their company culture

Despite only 24% of leadership roles in hospitality being held by women, passionate efforts around diversity, equity, and inclusion are transforming the industry—driving higher employee satisfaction, boosting innovation, and aligning with guest expectations that increasingly favor brands committed to representing all backgrounds.

Consumer Preferences and Attitudes toward Diversity

  • 56% of hotel guests prefer to stay at hotels that demonstrate diversity and inclusion initiatives
  • 55% of hotel guests value diversity and cultural representation in branding
  • Ethnic minorities make up 60% of the global hotel guest market
  • 85% of hotel brands believe diversity improves guest satisfaction
  • 58% of hotel guests expect brands to promote DEI in their marketing campaigns
  • 31% of hospitality companies report that DEI initiatives have improved customer satisfaction

Consumer Preferences and Attitudes toward Diversity Interpretation

In an industry where over half of guests rank diversity and cultural representation as key to their choice, hotels ignoring DEI risks not just missing out on a competitive edge but undermining the very inclusivity that now defines guest satisfaction and brand loyalty.

Employee Perceptions and Workplace Culture

  • Employees in diverse workplaces report 60% higher job satisfaction
  • 42% of hotel employees feel their workplace lacks adequate diversity and inclusion policies
  • The percentage of LGBTQ+ hotel employees reporting discrimination is 27%
  • 40% of hospitality professionals believe that diversity initiatives have positively impacted their company culture
  • 68% of hospitality industry HR managers believe DEI initiatives improve employee retention
  • 65% of hospitality employees say inclusive management improves team performance
  • 52% of hospitality employees feel their company's diversity efforts are not transparent enough
  • 50% of hospitality employees have witnessed discrimination or bias at work
  • 47% of hotel management agree diversity and inclusion can lead to better business performance
  • 63% of hospitality employees feel their workplace culture is more inclusive due to DEI policies
  • 25% of minority hospitality employees report feeling less valued compared to their majority counterparts

Employee Perceptions and Workplace Culture Interpretation

While nearly half of hospitality workers see DEI initiatives boosting culture and performance, the persistent gaps—such as LGBTQ+ discrimination and minority employees feeling undervalued—highlight that the industry still has a long way to go before inclusion is truly as welcoming as its globe-trotting clientele.

Leadership Representation and Gender Equality

  • Only 24% of hospitality industry leadership roles are held by women
  • Companies with diverse leadership are 35% more likely to outperform their competitors
  • Only 16% of hospitality CEOs are women
  • Only 10% of hospitality executive roles are held by minorities
  • The number of women in hospitality leadership positions increased by 12% over the last five years

Leadership Representation and Gender Equality Interpretation

Despite a 12% rise in women leadership, the hospitality industry’s stark gender and minority disparities—where only 24% of leadership roles are filled by women and merely 10% by minorities—highlight that the very sector poised to serve diverse guests must first prioritize diversifying its own leadership to truly outperform through inclusion.

Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Metrics

  • 75% of hospitality companies have implemented diversity initiatives
  • 48% of hotel staff globally are from minority backgrounds
  • 37% of hospitality companies report increasing diversity training programs
  • Companies with high racial and ethnic diversity are 19% more innovative
  • Women represent 46% of the workforce in the hospitality industry
  • 80% of hotel brands have incorporated diversity and inclusion into their corporate values
  • The global hospitality workforce is approximately 45% women
  • 30% of hospitality companies track diversity metrics internally
  • 12% of hotel managers identify as LGBTQ+
  • 70% of millennials in hospitality seek workplaces with strong DEI policies
  • Workplace harassment reports in hospitality are reduced by 25% after DEI training programs
  • 35% of hotel brands have dedicated diversity and inclusion officers
  • 28% of hospitality industry HR leaders say their companies do not prioritize DEI
  • 20% of hotel employees experience microaggressions related to their ethnicity or gender
  • 62% of hospitality companies are actively recruiting more diverse talent pools
  • 39% of hospitality industry training programs include a focus on DEI topics
  • 44% of hotel brands have set measurable diversity and inclusion goals for the next 3 years
  • 22% of hospitality companies report increased revenue after implementing DEI initiatives
  • 40% of hospitality leaders acknowledge that their DEI efforts are still a work in progress
  • 29% of hospitality organizations have dedicated employee resource groups for underrepresented groups
  • 46% of hospitality students see diversity and inclusion as a key factor in their future employer selection
  • 73% of hospitality executives agree that ongoing DEI training is necessary for sustained progress

Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Metrics Interpretation

Despite 75% of hospitality companies embracing diversity initiatives, the industry still grapples with microaggressions and underrepresentation, proving that while progress is measurable, achieving true inclusion remains an ongoing journey demanding relentless commitment and meaningful change.