04/22/2025
4 min
Talent & Culture
Empowering Future Leaders: Cultivating Inclusivity Through Accor’s Take Off! Student Challenge
With the launch of the 14th edition of our Take Off! Student Challenge, we continue to inspire students to rethink the future of hospitality through bold and visionary ideas. This initiative embodies Accor’s commitment to empowering the next generation of hospitality leaders, by taking a transformative approach and focusing on local markets to foster greater inclusivity, accessibility, and real-world impact, in tune to our values and commitments.
Fostering Inclusive Hospitality
First launched in 2012, Accor's Take Off! Student Challenge is a worldwide innovation competition that encourages students to tackle the Group’s real-world challenges while refining their ideas with guidance from our experts. Having inspired more than 6,000 international students, Accor provides them with opportunities to develop creative solutions, this year focusing on designing initiatives to reinforce accessibility and inclusivity within the hotels. In line with this commitment, Accor has demonstrated its impact on inclusion and accessibility in its properties through strong global commitments and targeted efforts to meet the specific needs of each community, including gender equality and diversity actions, LGBTQI+ and people with disabilities inclusion, as well as the richness of social, ethnic, racial, and cultural diversity - allowing each guest to experience a genuine sense of belonging.
To further our focus on inclusivity and as part of our mission to create a welcoming atmosphere worldwide, the Take Off! Student Challenge serves as a valuable opportunity for international students to bring forth their unique perspectives and innovative ideas. By taking this year’s challenge to a locally-driven scale, Accor aims to cultivate creativity that reflects the realities faced by communities in different local contexts. Designed to break down barriers, this initiative will be held across various regions and conducted in local languages, to encourage younger generations to explore solutions that enhance guest experiences and transform the future of the hospitality industry. Recently launched in China, Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Brazil, the Take Off! Student Challenge will also be open for registrations in mid-May for Peru, Chile, Mexico, Argentina, and Colombia.
With a spirit of innovation at the core of our identity, we aim to empower the next generation of leaders. Through partnerships with educational institutions, we offer students opportunities to develop their expertise within a leading global hospitality player, driving the creation of innovative solutions that champion inclusive tourism and prepare our hotels to meet the needs of every guest.
Leading Local Solutions for Global Impact
Accor’s new local-driven approach for the Take Off! Challenge empowers students to develop tailored solutions that address the unique needs of their communities. By engaging directly with local challenges, participants gain essential insights to craft impactful initiatives that create a warm environment for all guests, regardless of the location.
Each community presents distinct realities, highlighting the necessity to engage with diverse themes such as LGBTQI+ inclusivity, female travelers’ safety, and accessibility for individuals with disabilities. Accor has proactively addressed these themes through partnerships with organizations including the She Travel Club and IGLTA, as well as by obtaining the "Tourisme & Handicap" certification for over 400 of its hotels. Through enduring initiatives such as the Take Off! Student Challenge, the Group continues to foster inclusivity, allowing students to understand these perspectives and create programs that enhance the hospitality experience, improve access for both guests and Talent, and organize events that celebrate local culture.
Through our innovative initiatives and collaborating with local communities, Accor embraces diversity by welcoming students from all backgrounds, fostering unique viewpoints that enhance creativity and problem-solving. The 2025 Take Off! Challenge empowers the next generation and marks the path to creating inclusive environments, paving the way for a future where all guests can feel at home.
