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In honor of International Women’s Day 2022, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort (HKDL) shares how they are promoting diversity, inclusion and equal opportunities for all through their Supplier Diversity Program.
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Launched in 2021 Hong Kong Disneyland Resort’s Supplier Diversity Program is designed to encourage the inclusion of a diverse group of suppliers in the resort’s sourcing process, including women, minority, LGBTQ, and disabled owned businesses. Through the program, HKDL identifies potential diverse suppliers and authenticates their status via third party certifications. Women-owned businesses, for example, are verified by WEConnect International.
As one of the leading companies in Hong Kong to implement supplier diversity, HKDL hopes to promote diversity and inclusion in society and pave the way for other businesses to do the same. “A robust supplier diversity program not only enhances diversity and inclusion in society, but also helps businesses develop a competitive edge,” explains Denise Lee, Manager of Sourcing and Procurement at HKDL. “For example, Worldwide Seafood Limited, our first certified women-owned business, has been supporting us since our opening and has introduced us to many innovative ideas.”
“In particular, when HKDL first started exploring the idea of incorporating sustainable seafood in our menus in 2012, Worldwide Seafood provided us with a lot of crucial knowledge and product information,” says Annie Loo, Category Sourcing Manager at HKDL. “Although the product range was limited at the time and the price was 15-30% higher than the average seafood, we were determined to join hands with Worldwide Seafood and lead the way in sustainability. Through our efforts, we encouraged the adoption of sustainable seafood in other 5-star hotels in Hong Kong and made sustainable seafood more affordable.”
Challenges faced by women-owned business
As the Founder and Managing Director of Worldwide Seafood Limited, Vivian Lee recalls her experience working in the male-dominated industries of seafood and catering back in the 1980s.
“It was exceedingly hard for me to enter the catering industry as the majority of positions were occupied by men. Many suppliers and clients also preferred to do business with men, which made arranging meetings difficult and we were often overlooked,” notes Vivian Lee. “Hence, our growth from a small business of two to a flourishing global business took a lot of blood, sweat and tears.”
Embracing the unique talents of women
Merlinda Ng, Sales Director of Worldwide Seafood Limited, believes that their success is a testament to the fact that women are no less capable than men. “Women have their unique talents and skills. Our attentiveness, tolerance and patience enable us to listen closely and address the needs of different stakeholders, while our creativity and determination help us to develop innovative solutions to problems,” she says.
She further highlights how these female characteristics have been crucial to navigating disruptions caused by the pandemic. “When HKDL’s theme park had to close temporarily, we understood that it was impossible for the resort to absorb the large quantity of seafood they ordered. Instead of insisting that they collect their purchase, which would eventually go to waste, we sold the food at cost price to other companies in Macau. This demonstrates our ability as women to create a win-win-win situation, as HKDL managed to clear excess stock, people at Macau were able to enjoy our seafood, and we did not incur any losses in the process.”
Towards greater supplier diversity
Moving forward, HKDL will be broadening its supplier base by reaching out to more diverse businesses and assisting them in obtaining relevant certifications. It is hoped that at least 5% of the resort’s purchases will be from diverse suppliers by 2024.
