What does real allyship look like in hospitality — and why does it matter now more than ever?

In this episode, recorded in front of a live audience, Talking Hospitality host Timothy R Andrews is joined by Tris Reid-Smith, founder of Pride Wide, for an urgent and inspiring conversation on LGBTQIA+ rights, representation, and the power of storytelling.

We explore how toxic narratives are being weaponised against the queer community and why hospitality businesses have a unique role to play — not just in waving flags during Pride, but in creating truly inclusive, respectful spaces for both staff and guests all year round.

From corporate pinkwashing to authentic engagement, Tris offers a candid take on what support really means, why equality improves business performance, and how you can get involved.

Takeaways:

• In our podcast episode, we dive deep into the significance of Pride and how it continues to impact the hospitality industry, highlighting the importance of supporting the LGBTQIA community.
• Mass communication is key! We discuss how effective storytelling can shift public attitudes towards the LGBTQIA community and why this is crucial for societal change.
• We explore the idea that organizations need to embrace advertising as a tool for reaching target audiences, and there's no shame in selling the message of love and liberation.
• Training and empowering community members is essential; we believe that sharing skills with campaigners can help them effectively communicate their messages in hostile environments.