Accor’s Refugee Hiring Initiative: Building Stronger Communities
Accor and Community Corporate announced a developing relationship to create more human-centred and inclusive workplaces around Australia in honour of World Refugee Day on June 20. Through employer-led channels that welcome, support, and elevate the talent of migrants and refugees, the organizations work together to change lives.
Employer leadership is desperately needed in a nation where only 6% of refugees find work within six months and only 23% within two years. The biggest hotel chain in Australia, Accor, is reacting quickly. Across 17 Accor-operated hotels and Qantas lounges, around 100 refugees and migrants from 18 different cultural backgrounds have been hired, contributing a diverse range of 22 spoken languages.
Notably, women comprise 68% of those employed, which indicates the partnership’s contribution to resolving the job inequalities that refugee women experience.
The Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour, Mantra Hindmarsh Square Adelaide, Pullman on the Park Melbourne, Novotel Sydney Darling Harbour, Mercure Perth on Hay, ibis Styles Brisbane Elizabeth Street, and Qantas lounges in Sydney, Adelaide, and Perth are just a few of the hotels that have welcomed team members, ranging from luxury to budget.
Accor Pacific Chief Operating Officer, Adrian Williams, said: “Hospitality is, at its core, about people – and the richness of our industry comes from the diversity of those who power it. Inclusive hiring is not just a value we talk about – it is something we actively put into practice, because we see the extraordinary impact it has. This partnership is changing lives, strengthening our teams, and reminding us of what is possible when businesses lead with purpose. I encourage our peers across the hospitality industry to join us, because it makes our industry and society stronger.”
Beyond hiring, Community Corporate has a nationwide partnership. In 2024, over 500 job seekers attended roadshows in five key cities, and over 40 Accor leaders took part in training on cultural confidence. The roadshow will extend to other areas in 2025, such as Tasmania and the Gold Coast, to hire an additional 100 refugees and migrants by the end of 2025.
As part of this journey, Accor has joined the Multicultural South Australia Ambassador Program, a practical effort that assists organizations in taking tangible, meaningful measures to become more culturally inclusive. Later this year, Accor will also test new digital diversity, safety, and inclusion training courses to foster cultural confidence throughout its hotels.
Community Corporate CEO and Founder, Carmen Garcia, believes scalable change begins with bold leadership.
“We need more corporate partners like Accor. They walk the talk – investing in the human outcomes and helping to change the narrative of what is possible when refugees are given a fair go,” said Carmen.
One of the most powerful outcomes of the Accor and Community Corporate partnership is seen in the story of Bibi Zahra, a young woman from Afghanistan. After fleeing instability under the Taliban and spending time in Iran, where education and opportunity were out of reach, Bibi arrived in Australia in 2023 under an orphan relative visa and was reunited with her sisters. Like many refugees, she faced the challenge of finding work without local experience.
Determined to support her family, she took ad hoc jobs in farming and construction, working long hours for over eight months. Her breakthrough came through Community Corporate’s SETS program. After completing a Job Bootcamp in early 2025, Bibi gained the skills and confidence to secure a role with Accor at the Qantas lounge in Adelaide – her first permanent job in Australia.
“More than just learning, I felt seen and empowered, realising that I had the skills and resilience to find out a successful career,” said Bibi.
“Community Corporate didn’t just give me job skills – they shaped my future.”
Today, Bibi is also studying a Diploma of Nursing at the University of South Australia, a dream now within reach thanks to stable employment.
With refugees and migrants continuing to face complex barriers to employment, Accor is determined to lead with purpose and build a workforce that reflects Australia’s diversity.
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