To coincide with World Pride 2023, taking place in Sydney from February 17 – March 5, HM’s Pride at Work series is celebrating LGBTQIA+ workers in the hotel industry and shining a spotlight on inclusivity in both the employee and guest experience.
Here, A by Adina Sydney General Manager, Jay Hore, share his experience of homophobia and bullying in the workplace and speaks to the importance of seeing diverse representation in leadership.
Do you think the accommodation industry in general is inclusive and accepting of the LGBTQIA+ community?
I feel the hospitality industry is one of the most accepting and welcoming industries to work in. I grew up in a small country town in regional NSW and felt I didn’t really fit in. Once I moved to Melbourne (and joined TFE Hotels), I never felt more accepted and comfortable. It wasn’t necessarily what was said, but what wasn’t. Everyone is treated equal regardless of their background.
Have you ever experienced homophobia while doing your job?
In my younger days, working as an Apprentice Chef in another company, I was bullied and picked on. At the time, the culture among this team was to try and “one up” each other. The gay slurs and comments were common – perhaps they weren’t meant to be malicious, but more due to ignorance and lack of exposure to the LGBTQIA+ community.
I remember going into the bathroom and crying because someone whom I really respected in the team jokingly joined in, completely unaware of the impact of their words. That was a really hard day.
The person I am today would handle things very differently but, at the time, I was young and didn’t really know who I was yet or what was appropriate workplace behavior and what actions helped form an inclusive culture.
Do you feel like you can bring your whole self to work?
Absolutely! I have been with TFE Hotels for 15 years now and from my early days as a receptionist to now as a Hotel General Manager at the flagship A by Adina Sydney, I have never had to second guess my actions, contributions, or my worth in the company. I feel accepted for who I am and what I can bring to the team and to the environments I work within.
How does your workplace make you feel valued and supported?
I have always had a voice at TFE Hotels and that makes me feel valued. Inclusion is something that we, as a company, take very seriously and we involve the wider team –whether at a hotel level or a corporate level – in decisions that matter. A great example was with World Pride where we were encouraged by senior management to embrace, shine, and celebrate in any way we wanted. There was no specific instruction or direction, it was really celebrating how your team and hotel brand wanted to.
Are there any ways you think the industry can improve in terms of being more welcoming and inclusive of LGBTQIA+ employees and/or guests?
I think it is important to continue profiling people and sharing success stories from all walks of life. Whether sexual orientation, cultural, age or gender, people know they belong when they see others that are the same as them being given a platform and succeeding. As human beings, we naturally gravitate towards those that are like us, and those who accept us, and that’s how friendships (and strong foundations in the workplace) are built.
Are there any ways that you support other, perhaps younger, members of the LGBTQIA+ community in the industry/your workplace?
I was lucky enough to be selected as a TFE Hotels’ Brand Ambassador for our Find More careers campaign. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. I’m proud to have become a role model, with many team members commenting on my video and campaign story. Knowing that sharing my journey and being myself has inspired others is a powerful thing! I am always available for anyone struggling in our industry and happy to lend an ear whenever needed.
How will you be celebrating World Pride 2023 in your workplace?
Sitting high in the clouds on Level 22 of A by Adina Sydney, it was only fitting that we created an official cocktail for World Pride. Dean & Nancy on 22’s “Pride of the Phoenix” is a deliciously fizzy whisky highball made from a light Japanese-blended whisky (Toki) with peaches, apricots and Verjuice to balance the sweetness. The drink has an amazing gold sparkling effect and is garnished by a colorful feather which represents the iconic rainbow flag’s individual colours.