LGBTQIA+ rights and freedom of assembly are still far from universal in many parts of the world, something that of course has a huge impact on both individuals and civil society at large. The Pride movement plays a crucial role in moving society forward.
At Strawberry, we welcome people just as they are. It’s the differences among our people and guests that are the foundation of amazing hotel experiences and memorable meetings. We care about diversity and work hard to promote equal rights and opportunities. This year, we have once again been honoured to sponsor Pride in the Nordics, enabling us to attend and organise events, as well as of course to join the parade.
We decided to have a chat with some people at our hotels and head offices about Pride, diversity and inclusion. So, here you go!
To the left: Oscar Göthe Gissy, People & Culture, in the middle: Ellinor Newall in Front Office, to the right: Martin Edlund, Sales
Why is Pride still so important?
It’s very personal to me. I want to celebrate all the big steps we’ve taken, even just during my own life as a gay adult. When I was a child, you couldn’t marry the person you loved just because they happened to be the same sex as you. How weird is that? Now we take it for granted, but I think it’s something we’ll be celebrating for years to come.
It’s also important to celebrate the position of LGBTQIA+ issues in the political arena. Every year, more and more people feel they can walk down the streets of Stockholm hand in hand, no matter whose hand it is they’re holding. Nevertheless, Pride is important to highlight the numerous challenges we still face. Hate crimes, discrimination, legislative setbacks, the mental health of young LGBTQIA+ individuals, bullying and harassment are unfortunately still a reality. We need to work on tackling these greater challenges, but in the meantime individuals need to feel that they can come out and be their true selves during the rest of the year as well. I’ll never forget my first Stockholm Pride, which helped me understand that I wasn’t the only one who felt different!
How will you celebrate Pride this year?
Now that things are basically “back to normal” after the pandemic, I’ll be celebrating Pride by attending various events, hanging out at the Pride Park and of course partying all night long! During the beginning of the week I’ll be busy with some Strawberry initiatives, but I’ll have some time to enjoy the festivities later in the week and during the weekend.
What do Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion mean to you?
There are so many different aspects to this – LGBTQIA+ is part of it, but of course there are other barriers to overcome as well. This includes language barriers and disabilities, as well as gender and diversity in the management teams. We need to be more progressive on this by trying new ideas and reminding each other to keep these topics top of mind – myself included!
What’s it like working at Strawberry as an LGBTQIA+ person?
It’s never been a big thing. During my first lunch, I told my colleagues about my ex, and when I mentioned “him” there wasn’t any reaction. I’m really proud that our founder Petter A. Stordalen frequently discusses LGBTQIA+ issues – like at our recent Winter Conference in front of 3,000 people! He could have chosen to speak about numbers, hotels or profit, but he put LGBTQIA+ at the top of the agenda! I personally thanked him for that afterwards.
What does Strawberry “Room for All” mean to you?
To me, it’s a strong message from the top that everyone is welcome at our hotels and in our company. Our tagline for inclusion and diversity is very clear – it doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from, what you look like, who you love or what limitations you face – at Strawberry, we welcome you!
How has being an LGBTQIA+ person affected your career choices?
I think I have subconsciously moved towards companies that I perceive having a LGBTQIA+ friendly attitude. Strawberry has been somewhat of a rebel by making bold statements early on, and that’s what attracted me to the company.
How will you celebrate Pride this year?
In September, I’ll be taking part in the Pride Parade in Ålesund with my amazing team. There’ll be great music and we’ll all be wearing our “Room for All” T-shirts. There’ll also be lots of activities throughout the week and the hotel will be beautifully decorated for this colourful celebration of love!
Why is Pride still so important?
Pride is an important demonstration of love and friendship among all human beings. It’s a celebration of how far LGBTQIA+ rights have come and highlights where we still have work to do.
What do Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion mean to you?
Diversity means that we all have different stories and backgrounds, and I love it! We can all work as a team no matter what. Inclusion boils down to the fact that we are all human beings. Everybody is different and we should respect this – that’s what equality means to me.
How do you perceive Strawberrys’ efforts on inclusion and diversity?
Strawberry is very inclusive. We focus on making both employees and guests feel welcome. No matter what experience we have, where we come from or who we love – there is always #RoomforAll. Petter A. Stordalen represents a feeling of inclusion and diversity. He helps people make changes in their lives and gives them a new chance. He really inspires me.
What does “Room for All” mean to you?
It’s an important message to develop now and in the future. We are all human beings and we must make room for all regardless of race, religion, culture, gender or anything else. We are who we are and people should respect that. Just imagine how boring it would be if everybody was the same! We always welcome guests to our hotels with open arms. Everyone is welcome!
How are you celebrating Pride this year?
How much time do you have, haha? There’s a lot going on during Stockholm Pride! As in previous years, I’m hosting the Official Stockholm Pride Party in collaboration with Strawberry early on in the week at Clarion Hotel Stockholm, with a variety of speakers, DJs and performers.
Strawberry has launched a new project together with Stockholm Pride, resulting in a Pride Podcast. And I’m one of the hosts! We are inviting various LGBTQIA+ people and celebs to discuss diversity, inclusion and Pride throughout the week. One of the guests is the Swedish School Minister who is transgender. You’ll also be able to listen to the episodes after Pride week, which means that these important issues can be highlighted throughout the rest of the year. I’ll also be speaking on the stage by Pride Park and will, of course, join the Pride Parade and hang out at various events and parties with my friends as well.
Why is Pride still so important?
There’s still so much to work on. The LGBTQIA+ community is still a minority and we need to fight injustice together. Unfortunately, there are still many horrible attacks on members of our community. Just look at what happened at Oslo Pride earlier this year, in addition to terrible harassment and prejudice around the world.
What do Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion mean to you?
When it comes to diversity, I believe the core is that everyone should be treated equally. And you have to continuously work on various issues and set goals. You have to be active. No one wants to feel excluded, and you have to work every day to make people feel included. I believe it’s also important to learn from each other’s differences. That’s something that Strawberry certainly managed to do.
How do you perceive Strawberrys’ efforts on inclusion and diversity?
I think they are doing a great job, especially when it comes to all the Pride initiatives where we are sponsors around the Nordics. Everything from what Petter A. Stordalen does, to all the hotels and at every level in the organisation – our heart is always in the right place. I think we have a strong zero-tolerance culture where it’s never acceptable to disadvantage someone. I get the feeling that we stand up for one another, thereby making our workplace and culture a safe space.
What does Strawberry “Room for All” mean to you?
I think it’s a striking message for our organisation. You can be whoever you want to be. There’s a high level of tolerance and acceptance throughout the company. Even though we’re a big organisation, decision paths are quite short and people tend to say “yes” a lot!
What’s it like working at Strawberry as a LGBTQIA+ person?
I have largely worked within events and travel, and these are quite inclusive industries. Strawberry has certainly ensured that all my expectations have been met. During the pandemic, I was laid off from my previous role, but was later rehired, and it really felt like “coming home”. Prior to that I’d been working for over five years and had started to take things for granted a bit. It wasn’t until I tried something different and could compare my experience that I realised how good everything was at Strawberry.
How has being an LGBTQIA+ person affected your career choices?
I think I’ve made quite a few subconscious decisions, as I’ve always preferred working in a diverse working environment where there are more or less the same number of men and women. So, I would have rejected a few industries on that basis and because I’m gay. It’s also about my personality sometimes, as it’s not always clear what guides my choices. Throughout my career, I’ve found a few times that people focus more on my sexuality than on my personality. I’ve noticed that I am able to show more of character here at Strawberry and just be me.
……
Want to know more about Strawberry’ Pride celebrations? Check out:https://www.strawberry.se/pride/
Don’t want to miss out on our Pride Podcast? Tune in: https://www.facebook.com/events/456812805907992
(in Swedish)
Want to bring diverse opinions to Strawberry? Explore our jobs and join us: https://jobs.strawberryhotels.com/
Below you can find all our current job openings. If you find one that suits you, let us know by applying today!
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