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When the Holiday Inn Dandenong by IHG opened its doors in 2023, it also opened new opportunities for women from migrant and refugee backgrounds.
Located just a short walk from the SisterWorks Dandenong Empowerment Hub, the hotel embraced workforce diversity from the start — with 90% of its 50 staff coming from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, including China, Chile, and Afghanistan.
Following outreach from the SisterWorks Employment Support Team, a partnership quickly formed. Today, the hotel employs four Sisters, with two having been there since opening. But this relationship is more than just jobs — the hotel’s staff regularly volunteer as guest speakers for our hospitality training programs and offer their venue for community events.
Pete Ravenscroft, Human Resources Manager, says the benefits have been clear:
“What we get from SisterWorks is far more than the employee — it’s the ‘freebies’ that come with it, like cultural diversity and a better understanding of our community. I couldn’t speak highly enough about it. These women bring inclusivity, fun, and a sense of family to our workplace.”
Driving Team Performance
Despite being a smaller hotel in a unique local market, Holiday Inn Dandenong is consistently a top performer in IHG’s staff retention and satisfaction metrics. Pete attributes this to the value of diverse hiring practices and the work-ready talent provided by SisterWorks.
Creating Career Pathways
One Sister is currently part of the hotel’s ‘Journey’ development program and is on track to becoming a supervisor. This has inspired leadership to rethink staff development, ensuring career progression pathways are accessible and inclusive.
Building Inclusion Beyond the Job Description
From language-sharing to “Eat Around the World” events where staff share traditional foods, inclusivity is woven into daily life. These small but meaningful interactions foster connection, understanding, and team cohesion.
Pete sums it up:
“It’s easy to say SisterWorks needs to do XYZ, but we need to make sure the experience in employment is supportive too. We think about what we can do to help a Sister’s transition.”