Alliance for Hospitality, Equity & Diversity (AHED)

A bold, intentional initiative is underway across the United States between higher education institutions and top hospitality stakeholders to build a strategically aligned foundation, to address the needs of and create a pathway for talented, lower socio-economic, underrepresented minority students to pursue a hospitality management degree and become future leaders in the industry.

AHED will provide a path for high school and community college students to gain access to leading hospitality education programs in the pursuit of ultimately attaining positions in executive-leadership—where Black professionals represent less than one percent of all industry CEOs and presidents and women less than 12 percent—and/or an academic career leading to professorships in hospitality management with an esteemed institution.

Group photo of diverse young professionals

Our Mission

To intentionally transform the hospitality industry to uplift and amplify a culture representative of untapped talent.

Our Vision

To create a hospitality workforce of diverse, equitable, and inclusive leaders

Our Strategy

To catalyze hospitality DEI action through recruitment, scholarship, advocacy, mentorship, and partnership—elevating measurable belonging and accountability

Support us today

Did you know?

  • <1%Of hospitality industry CEOs/Presidents are black
  • <12%Women in hospitality industry leadership positions
  • <11%Hispanic/Latinx professors in hospitality higher education 
  • 40%The drastic drop of female employees moving up to mid-level management positions

The Alliance for Hospitality Equity & Diversity (AHED) will seek to: 

  • Establish the Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits (SGWS) Endowed Professorship
  • Create pathways and scholarships for underrepresented minorities and in gender diversity 
  • Generate new hospitality industry research
  • Offer mentorship program with diverse Alliance-member executives 
  • Build inclusive, committed partnerships with other hospitality programs
  • Develop a recruitment team to identify potential students and future leaders in our industry.

AHED Council Members

The Alliance for Hospitality Equity & Diversity council is made up of academic, industry, and associations professionals in the hospitality field.

 

Support the Alliance

Action and support are needed to effect change in the world and make a real difference in DE&I. You can play an important role in the future of DE&I in the hospitality industry by becoming a member of the alliance and giving to DREAM, Dedicated Recruitment for Hospitality Educational Equity, Alliance & Mentorships. Become a supporter today.
  • For donations by check

    Please have the check written out to FIU Foundation Inc. and include "D.R.E.A.M. at FIU" in the memo line. Checks should be mailed to the following address:

    Florida International University
    FIU Foundation
    Attn: D.R.E.A.M. at FIU
    11200 SW 8th St MARC 5th Floor
    Miami, FL 33199

  • Other types of support

    You may also support this effort with donations of cryptocurrency, wire transfers, stock, real estate, estate planning, IRA, donor advised funds, trusts, life insurance. For more information or any questions, please contact:

    Shivani Joshi
    sjoshi@fiu.edu
    Mobile:305-753-8940

    Kasey Lohn
    kcortesl@fiu.edu
    Mobile:786-457-0272

    FIU Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management
    Office: 305-919-4500 

Partnership Alignment

We are confident that our partnership opportunity can help reshape the DE&I demographic landscape within the Hospitality and Tourism industry.