The International Society of Hospitality Purchasers (ISHP) has formed an important committee whose goal is to recommend and implement programs for increasing minority participation and employment in the hospitality purchasing industry. The committee members are a distinguished group of hotel professionals including Doug Veihland, president of the American Hotel Foundation; Sharon Beach, vp/purchasing for Bristol Hotels & Resorts; Roy Wolcut of the National Association of Black Hospitality Allies (NABHA); Kim Moore, president of the minority-owned Karmik Purchasing Group; Frances Richards, director of diversity for PurchasePro.com; and Neil Locke, chairman of ISHP. I will serve as chairman of the committee. Recently, MGM Grand Detroit built a casino where the development agreement required a minimum of 30% participation by certified minority subcontractors and suppliers. During construction, it became painfully evident that it is almost impossible to find carpet suppliers, furniture suppliers, lighting or any other furnishings or operating suppliers anywhere in the country that are minority owned. While no studies such as the recent AHF hotel diversity studies have been performed on the purchasing industry, it is safe to say that minorities are vastly under-represented. Additionally, while most purchasing companies and corporate purchasers are diverse in their ranks, middle-and upper level management is grossly under-represented by minorities. Hospitality purchasing agents are responsible for buying billions of dollars of furnishings and operating supplies annually. It would be a daunting task for anyone, much less a disadvantaged minority, to break into the ?suppliers club? without some help. Hospitality purchasing agents are in the best position to effectively change what has otherwise not occurred in the industry. The Minority Business Career Development Committee of ISHP will explore ways to increase diversity awareness in hiring suppliers as well as encourage members to promote purchasing as a career to disadvantaged minority people. Already, committee members have begun discussions with the Education Institute of the AH&MA to help in rewriting portions of their purchasing textbooks to include a new section on diversity in hiring. Other ideas being discussed focus on creating internships for high school or college students, gathering support for AHF programs through donations and mentoring programs for suppliers. Additionally, ISHP members will encourage the vendor community to put in place programs for minority hiring, partnering and mentoring within their own firms. The ISHP also will create a website where minority suppliers can see what they might be able to bid on and who the buyers are. The site would also be used to advertise jobs and internships to minority people. Most corporate and independent purchasers tell the minority community, ?Come sell to me and we might consider buying.? The purchasing leadership must throw a better challenge to minority firms and employees. Purchasing leadership needs to let those firms know what our volumes are, what standards we require, and what opportunities exist to let that community into the ?club? of understanding. In this way, minority firms can understand what the industry wants so they can begin to meet those needs. For more information on the committee call me at 972-239-5555 or e-mail me at [email protected].
