Amadeus supports opportunities for LGBTQIA+ community in India with opening of Pride Cafe

June 28, 2023

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As we celebrate Pride this year, I take this opportunity to highlight a first-of-its-kind initiative by Amadeus Labs in India. Within our Bengaluru office, we have been supporting a unique initiative known as the Pride Café, in collaboration with the Solidarity Foundation - a non-profit organization based in Bengaluru.

The Pride Café is made up of two mobile food trucks and central kitchen – sponsored by Amadeus, wherein a 16-member team from the LGBTQIA+ community, cooks up a storm of exquisite meals every day. Our vision for the Pride Café, has been to empower the LGBTQIA+ community and provide them with livelihood opportunities.

However, our participation doesn’t end with simply providing the operating model of the Pride Café. Amadeus is committed to supporting the Pride Café and ensuring it is successful as a commercial venture. Our aim is to reduce social exclusion and promote equal employment opportunities for the LGBTQIA+ community, which is crucial considering the discrimination and human rights abuse that community members often face in their education and employment journey.

While recruiting members of the community to join this initiative, we carefully selected individuals who displayed interest in the hospitality sector and expressed their willingness to be part of this project. Taking it a step further, we provided comprehensive training to the new recruits through AGAPE Hospitality Consultants in culinary skills, customer service, English language proficiency, information technology, financial literacy, and mental wellbeing – all these skills are necessary to have a flourishing life at work and outside of it.

With the Pride Café we aim to provide a welcoming and inclusive working environment, promoting equality and empowerment. The mobile cafés, beautifully painted by the Aravani Art Project, are located at WeWork Galaxy on Residency Road in Bengaluru. They offer a diverse menu, serving breakfast, lunch, snacks, and tea and coffee throughout the day.

Presence in Indian Community

Amadeus has established a strong presence in Bengaluru, a city known for its leading travel technology developers. We deliberately chose this location to showcase the progress of LGBTQIA+ rights in India. In recent years, there have been notable strides, including the repeal of legal punishment for homosexuality in 2018. However, there is still much work to be done to foster acceptance of same-sex relationships, both in India and globally.

Our efforts in India go beyond the Pride Café. We actively strive to empower underprivileged members of LGBTQIA+ communities by helping them in establishing sustainable businesses that improve their incomes and quality of life. By showcasing the contributions of LGBTQIA+ individuals to the economy, our goal is to change societal perceptions and create a more inclusive society. The success of Pride Café also serves as a promising model for potential replication in other locations.

As we celebrate Pride month, Pride Café is currently exploring partnerships with various vendors to procure bulk everyday orders for their companies. Additionally, the venture has successfully catered to three large-scale events. This month, they have been approached by ten companies to set up stalls in celebration of Pride.

Supporting diversity – all year round

At Amadeus, we are committed to promoting diversity and cultivating an inclusive culture all year round. We understand that a diverse workforce is a valuable asset for our organization. To this end, Amadeus Proud, an employee resource group for LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies, set up its first chapter back in 2016. This group operates in cities worldwide, including Bangkok, Bengaluru, Madrid, Nice, London, and the Americas. They provide support and allyship to our employees.

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion has received recognition from external institutions as well. Since 2020, Amadeus has consistently been named a Financial Times Diversity Leader, a testament to our ongoing efforts. Additionally, we take pride in being featured on Forbes' 2023 compilation of America's Best Employers for Diversity.

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