Spinal Cord Injuries Australia’s employment service, EmployAbility, and IHG Hotels & Resorts have joined forces to provide career opportunities within the hotel group across Australia for people with disability.
“We want to showcase what’s possible for people with a physical disability and not focus only on office-based roles but also roles within our hotel operations too,” IHG head of human resource operations for Australasia & Japan, Lynda Ugarte said.
According to InterContinental Sydney Double Bay general manager, Ralf Bruegger there are plenty of job opportunities for people with a disability and not to stereotype and make things more complicated than they need to be. “I am proud to be part of the change in providing better opportunities for people with disability and I hope this encourages other organisations to do the same.”
EmployAbility manager, Phat Ngo said it is a relatively new service that has been designed specifically to support people with physical disability on their journey to work. “Many people with physical disability, particularly those who have had to reassess their employment choices after an accident or injury, often choose not to apply due to concerns the employer would deem them unable to perform because of their disability. At EmployAbility we work with a number of Employers, like IHG Hotels & Resorts, who are developing career opportunities, not just a job, and willing to support the needs of people with physical disability,” he said.
The partnership came about through a mutual connection with Kerry William, founder of The Accessible Group travel consultancy that provides people with accessible accommodation and experiences in Australia. Williams made the initial introductions and conversations soon commenced with IHG and EmployAbility, around creating employment opportunities for people with physical disability in their hotels.
A pilot program with EmployAbility has already kicked off in a number of IHG Hotels, which will see EmployAbility working closely with InterContinental Sydney Double Bay, Crowne Plaza Darling Harbour, Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley and IHG Sydney Support centre, to increase their recruitment and employment of people living with physical disability.
Photo: IHG restaurant greeter