Mari Sifo, EVP and chief human resource officer at Host Hotels & Resorts (Nasdaq: HST), sat down for a video interview at Nareit’s REITworks: 2024 Sustainability & Social Responsibility Conference, held in McLean, Virginia from Sept. 10-12. Host won Nareit’s 2024 Diversity Impact Large Cap award.
Sifo explained that the achievement was not the result of a single year's work, but rather the culmination of several years of strategic planning and program development. Host Hotels focused on creating a sense of belonging, ensuring employees could contribute meaningfully to both their work and the broader community.
"Our core has been around our strategy…It is how we translate that into action," she said, referring to how the company continually evolves programs to meet the needs of employees and the communities it engages with. Host Hotels has been actively innovating through new programs and acquisitions, allowing them to reach diverse communities more effectively, she said.
Looking ahead to 2025, Sifo emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum, expressing a commitment to being thoughtful and mindful in the REIT’s approach to diversity and inclusion. She said her vision for the future involves anticipating the needs of employees and fostering an environment where inclusivity is continually defined by the individuals it supports.