Businesses and community members are continuing to celebrate NAIDOC Week this week, including Accor who have committed to improving inclusivity and growing Indigenous culture in its hotels.

And this week Accor welcomed five new first nation trainees to its Port Douglas team.

As Accor celebrates NAIDOC week nationally, Accor Pacific CEO Simon McGrath is actively encouraging its team members to simply “take this moment to appreciate the richness and beauty of our First Peoples culture and resilience, and their generosity to educate, engage and share with our business.”

Simon McGrath said in 2019, the company asked its 500+ Indigenous team members what they wanted to see from Accor.

“The feedback is that they want to see more visibility for Indigenous culture in our hotels,” he said.

“We are committed to this vision, and continually work hard to both listen to our people and to improve our Indigenous engagement throughout the year.”

In partnership with Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia and Mossman Gorge, the team in Port Douglas this week welcomed five first nation employees on a twelve-month traineeship.

This will see the trainees exposed to all aspects of hospitality over the year with an emphasis on food and beverage, housekeeping and front of house.

The trainees will study a SIT30616 Certificate lll in Hospitality in collaboration with the National Indigenous Training Academy and William Angliss Institute RTO ID 3045.

It is hoped that the trainees will stay on in Accor’s Port Douglas Hotels and Resorts after graduation.

The trainees have the ability to take their new ‘portable’ skills and work within an Accor hotel or resort across Australia and the globe.

Simon McGrath commented, “Accor welcomes this fantastic opportunity to invest in developing talent and we wish the trainees all the best for their careers.”