Tue. October 23, 2007
They have suites designed by Britney Spears and Kathy Griffin among other gay favorite celebs and in the last year they've also dished up a Summer of Pride promotion that offered discounts during gay pride events in several cities as well as a Boys Gone Wild (No Girls Allowed) package that promised the ultimate mancation. With that kind of commitment to its gay patrons, it comes as no small surprise that the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has announced that Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants earned a 100 percent score on the HRC Corporate Equality Index for a fourth consecutive year.
This latest honor comes just three months after Kimpton won the PlanetOut 2007 Best Hotel Collection Award at the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) convention in Montreal. Even better news for Kimpton is the fact that it is the first hospitality company to ever achieve a 100% score and the only hospitality group to maintain its perfect rating for four years in a row. Recent years have seen, Kimpton initiate some of the most progressive outreach campaigns in North America, including an outstanding LGBT website at www.KimptonHotels.com/lgbt.
One of Kimpton's most popular programs is the Kimpton InTouch guest loyalty program, which encourages people to sign-up for special promotions, parties and offers. In 2007, the company reached a milestone with over 10,000 self-identified gay and lesbian guests that have signed up for the program.
Additionally, Kimpton formed KGLEN, the Kimpton Gay and Lesbian Employee Network in 2004. This committee gives all employees the opportunity to advise the company on personnel and community outreach concerns. Representatives on the committee are from all levels of the company, ranging from sales managers of hotels to senior level executives. The committee meets quarterly and has representation from every region of the country.
In response to this new round of kudos, Niki Leondakis, chief operating officer, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants said "Kimpton prides itself on progressive personnel polices and creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for our guests and staff. Our goal is to deliver on the promise of late founder Bill Kimpton, to cultivate a strong family culture at the company. At Kimpton, family means everyone."
Written By Duane Wells
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