Accor, a global leader in hospitality, is making strides in promoting inclusivity. On the 28th European Week for the Employment of People with Disabilities (EWED), the company announced a groundbreaking partnership with Handiwork.
Handiwork, an ESUS-approved training organization, empowers individuals with disabilities through specialized training and workplace support.
The collaboration will roll out the HANDIWORK DÉCOUVERTE program. This initiative will allow individuals from sheltered environments, such as IME, ESAT, and ITEP, to train in the hospitality sector.
Participants will gain hands-on experience in various roles, from hotel services to customer relations.
The program begins in late 2024. It will involve seven pilot hotels in locations like Hauts-de-Seine, Toulouse, and Le Havre. By early 2025, the initiative will expand to Lyon, Bordeaux, and other cities.
Participants will spend ten months immersed in Accor hotels. A Handiwork trainer will guide them, ensuring they acquire practical, job-ready skills. The training will culminate with an official certification.
Accor’s SVP of Social Care & Impact, Anne-Sophie Beraud, emphasized the program’s importance. She expressed pride in giving participants their first professional experience.
Handiwork’s Lionel Satouf, Handiwork’s co-founder, also shared his enthusiasm. He explained how the program allows people to move from sheltered environments into mainstream workplaces.
The diverse roles across Accor’s brands offer exciting possibilities for participants.
This partnership with Handiwork builds on Accor’s long-standing dedication to inclusion. Over the years, the company has launched several initiatives to empower individuals with disabilities.
Each project reflects Accor’s belief in fostering equal opportunities.
In 2023, Accor partnered with Simplon to focus on digital skills training. Simplon specializes in inclusive education for high-demand technology professions.
Together, they designed a program to train individuals with disabilities in application development and design.
The digital training program began in April 2024, following a six-month pre-selection process. Fourteen participants embarked on an 18-month journey to master technical skills.
The curriculum combines classroom training with real-world application, ensuring well-rounded development.
This partnership will run through October 2025. By its conclusion, participants will be ready to join the workforce in meaningful digital roles. Accor’s collaboration with Simplon highlights the company’s efforts to create opportunities in traditional and modern industries.
Another key initiative is DuoDay, which Accor has participated in for seven years. DuoDay pairs employees with individuals with disabilities for a day of mutual learning.
Participants explore roles within the company while working alongside experienced professionals.
In 2023, Accor formed 100 such duos at its hotels and headquarters. This year’s event offered participants valuable insights into hospitality careers.
The program started in France and has since expanded internationally under “Accor World DuoDays.”
Accor’s efforts go far beyond European borders. Since 2016, the company has partnered with local associations and schools in Greater China. These collaborations have introduced hospitality careers to thousands of individuals with disabilities.
Over seven years, Accor organized around 500 events in the region. These events engaged nearly 8,400 participants and involved over 25,000 employees.
The scale of these efforts underscores the company’s commitment to global inclusion.
One standout initiative in Greater China focused on visually impaired youth. In 2022, Accor hosted a special event for the “Blind Empowerment 100-Day” program.
The event offered tailored training, allowing participants to explore hospitality careers.
This program continued into 2023. Accor partnered with the beYoureyeS association to provide another immersive experience. The Pullman Shanghai Jing An Hotel hosted the event, offering participants hands-on learning opportunities.
In North America, Accor has made strides to support neurodivergent individuals. Fairmont Tremblant and the Queen Elizabeth hotels partnered with Giant Steps, a Canadian NGO Specializing in education and professional integration for people with autism spectrum disorders.
This partnership began in 2022 as a pilot project. It successfully integrated 12 autistic adults into hotel teams. Each participant received coaching and support, ensuring a positive employee and guest experience.
These hotels aim to expand the program across Canada. The initiative also focuses on improving guest experiences for neurodivergent individuals and their families.
Accor’s work with Giant Steps reflects its holistic approach to inclusion.
Across regions, Accor has demonstrated a consistent commitment to creating an inclusive workforce. Each program highlights a different way the company empowers individuals with disabilities.
From integration training, Accor ensures meaningful participation in the workplace.
By partnering with organizations like Handiwork, Simplon, and Giant Steps, Accor builds bridges to opportunity. These efforts also inspire other industries to adopt inclusive practices.
The company’s actions make a strong statement: inclusivity is not just a value but a driving force for innovation and success.
As the HANDIWORK DÉCOUVERTE program launches, Accor sets a new standard for inclusive hospitality. Participants will gain essential skills, certifications, and a chance to build fulfilling careers.
With every initiative, Accor proves that hospitality extends beyond welcoming guests—it’s about creating opportunities for all.