Promoting Workplace Diversity in Travel Business

This research proposal focuses on promoting workplace diversity in the travel business. It covers the benefits, challenges, and ways to promote diversity in the workplace. The project objective and scope are also discussed.

Running Head: Promoting Workplace diversity in Travel Business 1
Research Proposal
Promoting workplace diversity in Travel business

Promoting Workplace diversity in Travel Business 2
Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Project Objective.............................................................................................................................4
Project Scope...................................................................................................................................5
Literature Review............................................................................................................................6
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................13
Reference List................................................................................................................................14
Appendix........................................................................................................................................16

Promoting Workplace diversity in Travel Business 3
Introduction
Promoting workplace diversity has several bottom lines benefits but it is required to approach
the hiring process holistically because retaining employees can be hard than recruitment. The
topic has chosen for executing the research is “Promoting workplace diversity in Travel
business”. Culture is considered as the main force that brings people together and makes
uniqueness. Workplace diversity can be referred as the variety of differences between people in
an organization. Diversity entails gender, ethnic group, personality, tenure, race, education,
background and organizational function. It is necessary for the business to enlarge it by
developing various techniques because workplace diversity can being the new ideas, concepts
and views from different people which can enable organization to reach at the top (Dike, 2013).
The travel business is selected for describing the workplace diversity because it is the business
where many people come from different culture and background. Travel business become
gradually more characterized by diversity regarding to their workforce, retaining, attracting and
utilizing diverse people in an effective manner which have become a priority. Diversity can be
promoted in travel business by developing a hiring strategy, providing training program and
many more which will be described in the literature review section of this research proposal. The
project objective and scope will be mentioned to represent the importance of it on overall
research project.

Promoting Workplace diversity in Travel Business 4
Project Objective
The objective of this research is to find out the various ways of promoting diversity at the
workplace in travel business. There are various benefits of diversity in the travel business that
enhance the revenue of the business significantly. The objective of this research proposal is
mentioned below:
 To find out the several ways of promoting diversity at the workplace in travel business.
 To evaluate the Opportunities and Benefits of Diversity that can enhance the business of
travel industry.
 To analyze the challenges or barriers that can prevent the scope of workplace diversity.

Promoting Workplace diversity in Travel Business 5
Project Scope
The project scope of the topic is wide as it covers various benefits and challenges of workplace
diversity in the travel business. Workplace diversity has been a vital concern to which the travel
business has paid much attention. A lot of research has been conducted regarding managing
diversity at the workplaces and limited attention has been paid to the issue of cultural diversity
(Al-Jenaibi, 2017). Literature review will reflect about the workplace diversity at the workplace
in the travel business.

Promoting Workplace diversity in Travel Business 6
Literature Review
Diversity is considered as the differences among people as the primary dimensions of diversity
involve issues such like gender, race and age. Diversity in the workplace is vital for employees
because it apparent itself in creating an effective image for the organization, leading to enlarged
profitability and opportunities for workers. Workplace diversity is not important for only to the
organization but also for the outside. It has been analyzed that mishandled diversity might
prevent employees from developing their attributes and enhancing their motivation to get things
done. It is being the cause of decreasing their job performance, productivity of the organization
and job satisfaction. On the other hand, it has been stated by Gong, (2008), well managed
diversity might provide businesses with an opportunity to enhance organisational effectiveness
by increasing individual potentials, enhancing productivity and combining individual talents.
There are various benefits of diversity management in the organization as it generates fresh idea
for the organization which can help to develop revenues. Workforce diversity has been
determined by other factors as business diversify physically and the free movement of labour
across national boundaries increases, the need to interrelate effectively with huge area becomes
critical. For instance, service has become a huge part of nation’s economies along with upper
levels of international and national tourism and enhancing competition become vital if businesses
are to understand how to provide and maintain a customer base which is full of diverse (Kim,
2006). Workplace diversity in travel business can be benefitted by various reasons. There is a
different measure to handle diversity at the workplace by different businesses. According to
Grivastava and Kleiner, (2015), the major benefits of a diverse workforce are mentioned below.
Valuable innovation

Promoting Workplace diversity in Travel Business 7
According to De Anca, and Vega, (2016).Diversity motivates to new business innovation in
which employees with different cultural background can bring in the travel business improved
innovation by offering new ideas from different kind of viewpoints. It has been found that
employers should appreciate and understand the various kinds of values of the employee because
it can hugely take gain of the benefits that differences bring in. In comparison of homogeneous
employee groups, diversified employee groups represent the excellent performance in the long
run and accomplish their duties in an adequate manner.
Effective knowledge transfer
Diversity at the workplace can be helpful in knowledge transfer. According to Iguchi, (2016),
when two strangers come together, it is quiet easier for them to resolve the issues of the two have
common backgrounds. It would be easier for the travel business to understand the language of
other employees if an employee has the similar language, same cultural background and think or
behave in similar ways.
Increasing competitiveness
The company’s competitiveness is increased by managing cultural diversity. The travel business
is competitive business in which an organization needs to control labour cost and increase the
range of customers. Workplace diversity can enhance the motivation within the business by
developing cooperation among employees (Henry and Evans, 2007).
Building image
Cultural diversity is helpful to increase the corporation images as the travel business has been
rather reflexive about creating a positive business image for the public (Cui, Jo, Na and

Promoting Workplace diversity in Travel Business 8
Velasquez, 2015). It should take appropriate actions to create an image that this business is eager
to hire more valuable minority employees from diverse cultures. It would enhance the attraction
of number of young people to take travel business as a possible career option (Hunt, Layton and
Prince, 2015).
Different ways to promote workplace diversity in travel business
A diverse workforce facilitates Travel business to understand various clients’ needs and offer
guests with exclusive and diverse experiences. Diversity at workplace provides perceptive
information from different backgrounds contributing to better decision making within the
business. It also facilitates to work with people from diverse background which represents the
unique set of challenges (Hsiao, Auld and Ma, 2015).
Establish task forces
Diversity task forces can be created within the company and each task force will focus on a
specific area such as gender, age, disability, ethnicity and sexual orientation. As per Risberg and
Søderberg, (2008), different views from employees and generate ways to create the company
more diverse in each area. It would be helpful for the travel business to reach more diverse
customers. The business can be enlarged by doing this activity which will increase the image of
the business in the view of outsiders.
Diversity policies and take a proactive approach
As per CHEAH, (2013), travel business need to make diversity policies for catching the attention
of potential customers. Effective diversity management needs that business makes a purposeful
effort to make a quietly and mutually respectful environment. Furthermore, policies of travel

Promoting Workplace diversity in Travel Business 9
business need to be revised in consultation with the staff. Long term plan should be created that
emphasizes the importance of diversity to the business and motivate enclosure every move of the
way in respect to diverse opinions. There should be proper polices for the staff in travel business
as it provides services to the customer 24*7.
Diversity training
The diversity at workplace can be promoted by creating an inclusive diversity training program
that employees take when they join the business. As per Barak, (2016), training would increase
the performance of the employee as they get to know about how to accomplish the task and what
strategies are implemented by the company to maintain the dignity. The business should conduct
additional training on cultural, diversity and interpersonal along with the conflict resolution in
diverse environments (Knights and Omanović, 2016).
Challenges of workplace diversity
Although identification of the possible issues and benefits of diversity has enhances. It has been
found that there are number of organization that has attained disappointing outcomes in their
efforts to handle the challenges of diversity. There are assorted challenges of workplace diversity
which are facing by travel business. It can be communication challenges, training challenges and
discrimination issues. The difficulties in communication can be increased due to various kinds of
languages and cultural backgrounds between employees in the workplace of travel business.
Language is the factor which is always considered as a vital one among different cultural
features that make up cultural identity. As per Greet Hofstede, the differences in language are
often outcome in miscommunication. It has been analyzed that cultural background difference is
the big factor that causes communication gap. Employees of the business with diversity

Promoting Workplace diversity in Travel Business 10
surrounding are hence frequently poorly prepared to manage the upper level of vagueness in
intercultural communication. For instance, migrant worker from Asia may be lack of knowledge
in handling with a local employee of America who was born in the USA. Diverse cultural
backgrounds frequently provoke misunderstanding when communication becomes inefficient
(Baum, et. al., 2007).
Discrimination issue is the other challenge and it cannot be avoided that cultural differences
enhance the possibility of concern of discrimination among workers. It has been analyzed by
Baum, et. al., (2007), that direct and indirect discrimination among workers have constantly
informed in businesses with cultural diversity workforce. Along with those training challenges is
the major reason which can prevent to promote workplace diversity in the business of travel. The
aim of diversity training is to build up respect and enhancing sensitivity for entire differences
among customers and employees. Cultural ethnocentrism and short-sightedness should be
reduced to enhance a diverse workforce. The role of multicultural training is huge to increase the
awareness of cultural diversity in employees and create a culturally improve in company (Ozturk
and Tatli, 2016). Lack of effective diversity training program in travel business may lead
organization in to adverse situation because it is the feature of the business to interact with
different kind of people who belong diverse cultural background. Staff of the travel business
should be effective not only in terms of communication but also managing the diversity.
It has been analyzed Marriott International expands their assurance to create a comprehensive
guest experience to their workforce around the globe (McSweeney, 2016). It is named as one of
the ‘World’s Best Multinational Workplaces by Great Place to Work’ by the world’s largest
study of workplace excellence. It has more than 200,000 employees from all over the world that
show the huge platform with full of diversity (McSweeney, 2016).

Promoting Workplace diversity in Travel Business 11
It has been analyzed that the manager of the travel business should understand and execute cross
cultural behaviour because these has the ability to bring the best out of the staffs which can be
helpful to make a coherent, successful and consistent organization (Minkov and Hofstede, 2012).
Along with that there are various examples of diversity at workplace apart from this tourism
industry such as Coca-cola, Johnson &Johnson, Disney, Sodexo, Mastercard and Accenture that
have employed from different cultures. By considering the top inbound markets for the UK are
Germany approximately 9% and France approximately 12% followed by the USA, Spain and
Irish Republic which brings the difficulties to retain the staff off European with cultural
understanding and language skills (Iguchi, 2016). It shows that the British Staff and managers
will have to build up good intercultural skills so that potential international tourism market can
be catered.
It has been shown by the statistics that 26% of the hospitality workforces are nomad in the UK
and 6% of the nomad population in the country come in employment within the hospitality
industry (Iguchi, 2016). It shows that managers and staff of UK should maintain the good
understanding of cultural diversity within the business. It can be done via intercultural soft skills.
This skill entails positive organizational culture, retaining talent, flexible working arrangements,
improved team effectiveness and customer services. Cultural diversity may allow the full
potential of employees to be realise which resulting in employees feeling motivate and valued. It
is the upper level of psychological engagement that enhance the performance and make a more
responsive and adaptable environment.
It has been analyzed that travel business should manager their diversity in an effective manner so
that retention rates can be improved for various groups of people (Henry and Evans, 2007). The
nature of the tourism business refers flexibility is manifest because of long opening hours and

Promoting Workplace diversity in Travel Business 12
seasonality. Furthermore, as the workforce in the business becomes progressively more diverse
there has been huge strain on business to react by being more flexible in all their systems and
processes. Consequently, several service organizations unavoidably obtain flexibilities regarding
working arrangement such as employee benefits, conditions of employment and holiday. The
customer services can be improved significantly through efficiently managing diversity
businesses. It has been evaluated that business can attain the competitive advantages by
enhancing the employee aptitudes to communicate across cultures which would be helpful to
understand the different customer base.
It has been suggested by Dike, (2013), that effective diversity management will lead to enhance
innovation, creativity and problem solving within the business of travel. Research presents that
heterogeneous workgroups surpass the homogeneous groups. While (Henry and Evans, (2007),
argued that the team effectiveness is relied on several other factors such as ability of the team
members, urgency of the task, and personality of team members and nature of the task.

Promoting Workplace diversity in Travel Business 13
Conclusion
In the limelight of above discussion, it can be concluded that workplace diversity is important for
the business to enhance the productivity of the organization. Diversity should be managed in an
adequate manner because it has been analyzed that mishandled diversity might prevent
employees from developing their attributes and enhancing their motivation to get things done.
The discussion has been made on promoting workplace diversity in travel business. The project
objective and project scope has been mentioned to outline the structure of research in an
adequate manner. Diversity at workplace provides perceptive information from different
backgrounds which is the benefit of cultural diversity that contributes to better decision making
within the business. Different ways to promote workplace diversity in travel business has been
discussed which facilitates to work with people from diverse background which represents the
unique set of challenges. The challenges of workplace diversity has been described in this
research proposal which described that communication issue discrimination issue and training
issue can be the major reason to prevent promote workplace diversity in the business of travel.

Promoting Workplace diversity in Travel Business 14
Reference List
Al-Jenaibi, B., 2017. The scope and impact of workplace diversity in the United Arab Emirates–
A preliminary study. Geografia-Malaysian Journal of Society and Space, 8(1).
Barak, M.E.M., 2016. Managing diversity: Toward a globally inclusive workplace. Sage
Publications.
Baum, T., Devine, F. & Hearns, N. (2007). The implications of contemporary cultural diversity
for the hospitality curriculum. Education +Training, 49(5), 350-363.
CHEAH, L. 2013. Why workplace diversity is important for every organisation. Available on:
http://mystarjob.com/articles/story.aspx?file=/2013/4/20/mystarjob_careerguide/
12948229&sec=mystarjob_careerguide. Accessed on 15th March, 2018.
Cui, J., Jo, H., Na, H. and Velasquez, M.G., 2015. Workforce diversity and religiosity. Journal
of Business Ethics, 128(4), pp.743-767.
De Anca, C. and Vega, A.V., 2016. Managing diversity in the global organization: Creating new
Business values. Springer.
Dike, P. 2013. The impact of workplace diversity on organisations. . Available on:
https://www.theseus.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/63581/Thesisxx.pdf. Accessed on 15th March,
2018.

Promoting Workplace diversity in Travel Business 15
Gong, Y. 2008. Managing cultural diversity in hospitality industry. Available on:
https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?
article=1510&context=thesesdissertations. Accessed on 15th March, 2018.
Grivastava, S. and Kleiner, B., 2015. Managing Cultural Diversity In The Workplace. Journal of
International Diversity, 2015(1).
Henry, O. And Evans, A. J. 2007. Critical review of literature on workforce diversity. African
Journal of Business Management pp. 072-076, July 2007.
Hsiao, A., Auld, C. and Ma, E., 2015. Perceived organizational diversity and employee
behavior. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 48, pp.102-112.
Hunt, V., Layton, D. and Prince, S., 2015. Diversity matters. McKinsey & Company, 1, pp.15-29.
Iguchi, Y. 2016. The benefits of cultural diversity in hospitality. Available on:
https://ehotelier.com/insights/2016/04/19/benefits-cultural-diversity-hospitality/. Accessed on
15th March, 2018.
Kim, B. Y. 2006. Managing Workforce Diversity: Developing a Learning Organization. Journal
of Human Resources in Hospitality & Tourism, Vol. 5(2).
Knights, D. and Omanović, V., 2016. (Mis) managing diversity: exploring the dangers of
diversity management orthodoxy. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International
Journal, 35(1), pp.5-16.

Promoting Workplace diversity in Travel Business 16
McSweeney, M. 2016. 10 Companies Around the World That Are Embracing Diversity in a BIG
Way. Available on: https://www.socialtalent.com/blog/recruitment/10-companies-around-the-
world-that-are-embracing-diversity. Accessed on 15th March, 2018.
Ozturk, M.B. and Tatli, A., 2016. Gender identity inclusion in the workplace: broadening
diversity management research and practice through the case of transgender employees in the
UK. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 27(8), pp.781-802.
Risberg, A. and Søderberg, A.M., 2008. Translating a management concept: diversity
management in Denmark. Gender in Management: An International Journal, 23(6), pp.426-441.

Promoting Workplace diversity in Travel Business 17
Appendix
Figure 1: Diverse Team
Figure 2: Impact of diversity on performance