Community Update: 07.30.2020

Committed to Doing More

We wanted to share with you the progress we’ve made toward ensuring identity-based equity and justice in our workplace.

Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Welcoming our new Vice President of Human Resources and Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion — Victor Simmons

Our people make us who we are, and we must create a space where employees and guests of all backgrounds feel heard, cared for and supported. Victor Simmons, our new Vice President of Human Resources and Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), will lead this charge. Victor will work across all properties as well as in our corporate office to ensure we’re making our workplace a safe and welcoming space for all employees and guests. His position at the top of our management structure was created to ensure all departments within our company are held fully accountable in this ambition.

Victor is highly qualified to lead the Ace team in our DEI efforts. With over 20 years of experience in human resources, Victor most recently served as the Director of Diversity and Inclusion for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, where he designed and implemented global diversity and inclusion strategies. He has also led training initiatives, elevated diversity metrics and served as a voice for underrepresented groups throughout his career. After a complete assessment of our organization Victor will present a suite of strategies in alignment of our brand and core values.

Employee Listening Sessions

Led by an external DEI expert, we recently held the first of our listening sessions with employees in Chicago, New Orleans and Downtown Los Angeles. The purpose of these sessions is to serve as safe spaces for employees to voice their concerns, with the goal of helping us shape a more positive, inclusive and affirming work culture moving forward.

These initial listening sessions have provided Ace with greater insight into the work ahead of us and have presented tangible ways that we can ensure a more equitable workplace for all of our employees.

We are currently working to schedule additional listening sessions with all employees as we continue to reopen hotels and teams return to work. In the coming weeks, employees will receive further information on how to participate.

Management Training in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

As we begin reopening properties, Victor Simmons and an external DEI expert will also implement inclusivity training for management and staff. This comprehensive training began July 27, 2020 in a session attended by all Atelier team members, Ace property General Managers and the managers of Ace Hotel New Orleans. This course covers social identity, the creation of psychological safety for all, and how best to address and eliminate implicit and systemic biases.

Community Engagement

Ace Hotel is a collection of individuals, multiple and inclusive, who strive to celebrate the cities we inhabit. We’re a community made greater by the sum of its parts. The new Community section of our virtual magazine Ace Reader will serve as a place of accountability, where we will continue to provide updates on the progress we’re making to support and sustain the voices of all of the staff, partners and artists responsible for making Ace what we strive to be.

We remain committed to the work of creating a more equitable environment for all. We know that these issues will require more than a simple fix, and we hope that you will continue to hold us accountable as we humbly approach this mission over the long haul. If you have additional feedback or suggestions to help us along this journey, please email your thoughts to listening@acehotel.com.

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