NRA Recognizes Kimpton for Efforts to Promote Diversity and Inclusion

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. October 14, 2008

WASHINGTON, DC, June 16, 2008. The National Restaurant Association (NRA) honored Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, headquartered in San Francisco, as the recipient of its Faces of Diversity Award in the Inspiration category at a ceremony held during the Association's 2008 Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show. The restaurant and foodservice industry is one of the most diverse industries in America, and through this award, the Association highlights companies that embrace diversity and inclusion.

"This year's winners represent the many incredible success stories of our industry and the commitment of companies in the restaurant industry to embrace diversity and inclusion. We are proud to celebrate their accomplishments," said Dawn Sweeney, President and CEO of the Association. "Just like the company values the uniqueness of each location it operates, Kimpton also recognizes the uniqueness in each of its employees and continues to build success through a culture of inclusion."

When financier Bill Kimpton created the boutique hotel concept in 1981, he knew he needed to hire the best people he could find. As an investment banker, he had no preconceived notion of what that talent should be.

He valued individuality, creativity, community and the environment. And he wanted employees who shared those values. As the company grew, so did its emphasis on individuality. At Kimpton, each restaurant is unique, and every hotel tells a story. Each hotel and restaurant reflects the energy, personality and pulse of its location, history and architectural style.

Kimpton taps into the creativity and self-expression of its 6,200 employees to get them involved, whether it's through one of its seven regional diversity advisory boards of front-line employees, annual diversity poster contests, its Gay and Lesbian Employee Network, community service or diversity training programs.

The company's annual poster contest kicks off the winter holiday season. Employees submit their artwork to the corporate office in San Francisco, where the posters are displayed under a huge "Peace on Earth" banner. The winning entries become the artwork for the company's holiday cards and are printed in a diversity calendar.

As Kimpton employees share their culture and experiences, the company grows stronger. Its efforts to promote diversity and inclusion have resulted in a senior staff that is 30 percent minority and 57 percent female. Overall, 70 percent of its employees are minorities. And they speak eight to 10 different languages at each restaurant and hotel.

Faces of Diversity, created by the Association in partnership with PepsiCo Foodservice, celebrates the restaurant industry's successes and inspire restaurateurs to embrace inclusion and expand their diversity efforts. The American Dream Award honors individuals from diverse backgrounds who, through hard work and determination, have realized the American dream. The Inspiration Award honors restaurant companies that have exhibited leadership and vision as an advocate of diversity and inclusion.

For more information about the Faces of Diversity awards program, visit www.restaurant.org/diversity.