THE LANGHAM, XINTIANDI HOSTS SHANGHAI'S FIRST ANNUAL LGBT CORPORATE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION CONFERENCE

(Shanghai, 31 March, 2014) On 27 March, 2014, The Langham, Xintiandi, Shanghai joined hands with Shanghai LGBT Professionals to host Shanghai's first groundbreaking LGBT Corporate Diversity and Inclusion Conference in the hotel's grand ballroom with 140 LGBT and non-LGBT professionals in attendance, including consul generals from the British, Canadian, New Zealand and Netherlands Consulate Generals in Shanghai, and members of the British and American Chambers of Commerce in Shanghai. (LGBT: Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgender)

This unprecedented event brought together human resources (HR) professionals and LGBT business executives from local and international firms to discuss how changing social attitudes towards gays and lesbians in China are influencing HR policies.  Founder of Shanghai LGBT Professionals Steven Bielinski opened the event with a welcome speech, followed by John O'Shea, general manager of The Langham, Xintiandi, venue sponsor and host, and Brian Davidson, consul general of the British Consulate General in Shanghai.

Keynote presenters in sequence of appearance are: Amanda Yik and Kevin Burns, program managers from Community Business Hong Kong who are also authors of the recently published Creating Diverse and Inclusive Workplaces for LGBT Employees in China; Lily Low, vice president global business partner of IBM Greater China who shared business-to-business case study presentations; and Eugene Chen, partner of Hogan Lovells Law, Shanghai. Issues pertaining to LGBT equal rights and inclusion in the workplace were addressed as China is seeing a growing trend toward increasing employee productivity while enhancing the ability of firms to attract, retain and engage top talent including LGBT in a highly competitive environment.

 “While gay and lesbian employees in China number in the tens of millions, an amazing 93 percent have not shared their identity with anyone at work, citing fears of being fired and adverse career impact,” said Steven Bielinski, founder of Shanghai LGBT Professionals, quoting a 2013 survey by local LGBT non-profit organization Aibai. “Companies who take the lead in China on LGBT workplace equality issues will find their employees happier and more productive, and corporate recruitment and retention efforts more effective in a tight labor market.”

John O'Shea, general manager of The Langham, Xintiandi, Shanghai, venue sponsor and host, remarked, “The Langham, Xintiandi, Shanghai as part of Langham Hospitality Group is a global company that embraces diversity, equality and inclusion. As partner for this first LGBT corporate forum, we're happy to welcome friends of the LGBT community in Shanghai, one of China's most progressive cities rooted in conservative Asian values but where the LGBT community is gradually coming out to be heard.”

“IBM's diverse and inclusive culture includes LGBT, and we seek to build workplaces where LGBT employees are valued, empowered to think freely and encouraged to express themselves fully,” added Lily Low, vice president IBM Greater China. “This culture frees our colleagues to think creatively, producing dramatic and innovative outcomes for our clients.

A roundtable panel discussion on the most relevant HR strategies for LGBT employees in China featured Peter Chang, head of human resources at HSBC China, and Michael Piker, vice president of Global Total Rewards at Lenovo, along with keynote speakers. The strategies discussed included implementing equal opportunity policies, offering diversity training, and setting up a diversity structure. Expressly prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation as employment policy was one first step recommended. After a lively conversation on opportunities and challenges around LGBT workplace equality in China, gay Chinese employees shared their experiences with HR leaders from more than 50 Fortune 500 firms in Shanghai during a networking mixer.

The Langham, Xintiandi, Shanghai as a progressive company in Shanghai, China is proud to be the pioneering hotel in Shanghai to recognise and welcome LGBT to the hotel, working alongside Shanghai LGBT Professionals and its cooperative partners.

About The Langham, Xintiandi, Shanghai

Located in the elegant and lively Xintiandi district, the 24-storey luxury The Langham, Xintiandi is the flagship Langham property in China and features 357 elegant rooms including 23 suites with charming yet practical touches that have been a hallmark of The Langham since it was founded in 1865. 

The hotel offers the signature Chinese restaurant T'ang Court, the international all-day dining restaurant Cachet, the lifestyle bar XTD elevated, the Lobby Lounge that serves the signature Langham afternoon tea, the outdoor terrace Alfresco and the Martini Bar for evening drinks.

Guests can also experience pampering treatments in Chuan Spa, the signature spa of The Langham that is based on the healing properties of Traditional Chinese Medicine, or relax in the indoor pool and 24-hour Health Club. The Langham, Xintiandi features a modern high-ceiling grand ballroom and an additional 8 large meeting spaces that can be tailored to high-level events and meetings.

About Shanghai LGBT Professionals

 Shanghai LGBT Professionals is a business network for gay andlesbian employees in China and a platform for dialogue and partnership with companies in China on LGBT corporate equality issues. Shanghai LGBT Professionals organizes bimonthly networking mixers for gay and lesbian employees, as well as programs which highlight the business case for LGBT initiatives within human resources, corporate social responsibility, marketing and branding, and other company functions.

About Langham Hospitality Group

As the wholly-owned subsidiary of Great Eagle Holdings, Langham Hospitality Groupencompasses a family of distinctive hospitality brands which include hotels, residential serviced apartments, restaurants and spas, located on four continents. The Group currently owns and/or manages 19 hotels under The Langham, Langham Place, Eaton and 88 Xintiandibrands with more than 20 hotel projects currently either confirmed or in a developed stage of negotiation from China through Asia and India to the Middle East. For reservations, please contact a travel professional or access the website at www.langhamhotels.com.