DIVERSITY, INCLUSION AND EQUALITY
February 17, 2016

045 | Hospitality Passion, Education and Diversity with Greg DeShields

DIVERSITY, INCLUSION AND EQUALITY

Gregory L. DeShields, CHO, CHE currently serves as the Executive Director at PHLDiversity Multicultural Affairs Congress a division of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB), adjunct instructor for Temple University School of Tourism and Hospitality and Hospitality Educators.

A graduate of Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island, Greg earned an A.S. Degree in Hotel & Restaurant Management, and a B.S. Degree in Hospitality Management. His professional certifications include: American Hotel & Lodging Association, Educational Institute – Certified Hospitality Educator – 2013 Asian American Hotel Owners Association – Certified Hotel Owner 2013 – Leadership Philadelphia – Greater Philadelphia Leadership Exchange.

Recently Greg served as Managing Director of Business Development for Temple University Fox School of Business & School of Tourism and Hospitality Management. Professionally, Greg has been a manager in the hospitality industry for such companies as Hyatt Hotel, Omni Hotels, Sheraton Hotels, Korman Company, General Manager of Philadelphia OIC’s Opportunities Inn: Hospitality Training Institute.

Greg’s Board membership and committee chairs include: Asian American Chamber of Commerce Advisory Board (Philadelphia), Center City District (Philadelphia), Center City Proprietors Association (Philadelphia), COMHAR Inc. (Philadelphia) Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Independent Business Alliance (Philadelphia), Philadelphia Opportunities Industrialization Center, Responsible Hospitality Institute (Philadelphia) – National Board and SKAL International (Philadelphia) Greg is an active member of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, National Association of Black Hotel Owners Operators and Developers, and Asian American Hotel Owners Association.

In This Episode, Greg Talks About:

  • His passion for hospitality, and how he’s been able to pave a diverse career in the industry, from hotels, to classrooms, to CVBs.
  • Diversity – the importance of having a diverse, inclusive culture within your organization, and the benefits that can have to your bottom line.
  • Why some diversity programs fail, and he provides practical ways companies can sustain them.
  • Education – how it has evolved to include a multi-platform, blended learning approach to keep students motivated, stimulated and engaged.
  • Technology – how it has affected students’ attention spans, and the benefits of delivering content in microbursts of compacted information so they can receive and retain it.
  • A poignant moment early in his career that opened his eyes to the challenges he would face in hospitality industry, and how ultimately, that experience prepared him to be more successful.

Resources & Links

Greg DeShields

  • Email: Greg[at]discoverphl.com
  • LinkedIn

PHLDiversity / Philadelphia CVB

PHLDiversity
A Division of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau
1601 Market Street Suite 200
Philadelphia, PA 19103
p 215-636-4433

DIVERSITY, INCLUSION AND EQUALITY

  • 329 | Ruff and Ready: ADA gives hotels a short leash when accommodating guests with service animals

    Many hotels these days have made room for guests with disabilities. Hotel managers and staff should also know what the Americans with Disabilities Act says about accommodating guests with pets. During the pandemic lockdowns, a lot of people added a pet to their household and now they’re bringing Fido along on vacation. Hotel employees need to know how to cater to both consumers who are pet owners as well as guests who travel with a trained service animal. Episode 329 of Lodging Leaders podcast reports on how the ADA defines a service animal and how a hotel is legally obligated to serve a guest who comes with a dog or any other animal.

  • 328 | Curb Appeal: Hotels’ refreshed images designed to attract road trippers

    Nearly 48 million Americans plan to travel over the Fourth of July weekend, predicts AAA. Most of them will drive and many of them plan to stay in hotels. What makes a travel consumer choose your hotel? Price can be a factor but so can the story the property tells through its online photos and its real-life curb appeal. First impressions of a hotel set the tone for the guest’s entire stay. Its roadside image is more important than ever as the lodging industry this summer hangs its hopes on a comeback driven by domestic travelers. Lodging Leaders podcast explores the importance of a hotel’s curb appeal as hoteliers think of ways to attract travelers seeking safety and assurance as the nation emerges from the coronavirus pandemic.

Back to Top