ITM Bachelor 3. Sem
8076: Human Resource Management in Leisure and Tourism

Equal opportunity & Managing Diversity

 Grundgesetz Bundesrepublik Deutschland: Artikel 3 

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United Nations: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Article 1.

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article 2.

Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

Aspects of Equal Opportunity Employment and Diversity Management:

- Legal aspects

- Ethical aspects

- Business aspects

Reality in Leisure and Tourism Industry:

- App. 70% of workforce in L&T women, BUT mostly underpaid jobs

- Almost no female CEOs in larger L&T companies (in FTSE350 Travel/Tourism in 2005: 0)

- Barriers: Lack of: Childcare, part-time jobs in higher levels, positive role-models

Reality in Leisure and Tourism Industry:

- App. 8% of all Germans are disabled (more than 50% recognized disability) BUT very few work in the L&T industry.

- "Disability" can be turned into ability:

The first "dining-in-the-dark" restaurant opened in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1999, now restaurants like this exist around the world.

From the FAQs of Dans le noir, London:
Is it really a pitch-black dining room?

Yes it is ! The room where the dinner takes place is completely dark! We aren't used to completely dark environment since you hardly find this level of darkness in daily life as, we are used to small rays of light from the streetlights or moonlight but in the Dans le Noir ? restaurant there is no light at all! To keep the room completely dark, you will be asked to place all potential sources of light such as cigarettes, lighters, watches, cell phones or cameras in the free lockers at your disposal in the reception room. You can also use the lockers to drop your coat and/or purse.

How can we eat in complete darkness? Don't we mess? Do we get food all over our clothes?

Once deprived from our main sense, the sight, we tend to rely more on our other senses, sense of hearing, of touch and smell. Thus, they will help you to get by in the dark room to eat but also reach your table. Even though at the beginning it can be daunting, then it becomes more and more enjoyable as you start to relax. Our blind guides are carefully trained to ensure visitors' welfare and will provide you with guidance.

Why are the waiters blind?

Blind people are more competent in the darkness and are the best people capable of doing the job in such context. You will become blind for at least one and half hour and you really must be able to trust your waiter. It is a true "transfer of trust" and an amazing approach to raise awareness about blind disability and disability in general.

Example Meldorf: "Das Besondere am Café NEUE HOLLÄNDEREI ist, dass hier Menschen mit und ohne Behinderungen Hand in Hand arbeiten, um ihren Gästen einen unvergesslichen Tag in der malerischen Nordseestadt Meldorf zu bereiten."

Reality in Leisure and Tourism Industry:

- Majority of workforce in most industrial countries is 40+, BUT  very few work in the L&T industry.

  Contact: Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Georg Arlt FRGS
Bachelor and Master Program International Tourism Management
arlt@fh-westkueste.de, Office 2.018, Tel. 0481 8555-513
Consultation hours (during lecture period): Tuesday 16.00 - 17.00 h