In today’s evolving global landscape, spreading the light and warmth of hospitality is more important than ever. This Pride Month, under the illuminating theme "Finding Unity Within Community," we sat down with Andee, Director of Lifestyle Brand Management and one of Hilton’s Asia Pacific (APAC) Pride Team Member Resource Group (TMRG) leaders, to discuss what it means not just to belong but to thrive. In this engaging conversation with Hilton’s Careers team, Andee shares his career journey, advocacy for LGBTQ+ inclusion and experiences with allyship, offering a glimpse into the vibrant community at Hilton.
Andee (back row, center) and several Team Members posing for a group photo at a restaurant.
Get to Know Andee
“I joined Hilton in 2021 after helping clients with business strategy as a management consultant for five years. I wanted a role where I could make a business impact on a more long-term, ongoing basis. While assessing potential employers, having an open and queer-affirming culture was non-negotiable for me, and when the opportunity at Hilton came along, it fit the bill perfectly. I have been with the APAC Brands team since joining Hilton, starting as a Director of Strategic Planning and Innovation in 2021 and transitioning to my current role as Director of Lifestyle Brand Management at the end of 2022.”
What do you love most about your job and the work you do at Hilton?
“I love being in brand management because you get to shape how guests experience our hotels, which is understanding people and what they really want. It is an interesting challenge to uncover the key elements that drive guest and owner perceptions. Unlike many retail or consumer goods products, a hotel product is a mix of tangible and intangible things—it is in the energy of the space as much as it is in the furnishings and design. This is especially important for lifestyle brands, where we are trying to capture this ephemeral, elusive ‘vibe’ that has an outsized impact on guest perception. It’s tricky but fascinating at the same time.”
Andee and members of the Brands team smiling together at an offsite meeting.
How has being part of Team Hilton and the Pride TMRG had an impact on your experience in the workplace?
“When I started at Hilton, the APAC Pride TMRG had not yet launched. I was thrilled when this happened in 2022. I am a big believer in employee resource groups' power to create safe working environments and celebrate an organization's diversity. Making everyone feel comfortable bringing their whole selves to work is vital. As the landscape of queer acceptance is extremely varied and complex across APAC, I think it’s important for us to build a culture of inclusiveness across intersectionality within our corporate offices and hotels in the region.”
What motivated you to take on a leadership role within the APAC Pride TMRG, and what impact do you hope to achieve with the group?
“I’ve been lucky to have worked in places with great equity and inclusion (E&I) policies and inclusive cultures. It’s allowed me the safety to grow and come into my own in my personal and professional life. I have also seen peers who, unfortunately, have not had that and have suffered for it to varying degrees. Especially in APAC, I believe our Pride TMRG can make a real impact in creating safer and more inclusive working environments for queer Team Members to thrive. As a queer Asian person who has led regional Pride groups in other corporate environments and continues to be active in the queer advocacy space in Singapore, I wanted to offer my experience and expertise in service of this goal.”
Andee and several Team Members dining at the Conrad Centennial in Singapore.
How has Hilton empowered you to bring your whole self to work, and in what ways do you feel our culture fosters an environment where Team Members within the LGBTQ+ community can thrive?
“Often, one of the first things a queer jobseeker does is to check a potential employer’s stance on E&I. Does the company mention inclusive policies? Does it have an LGBTQ+ resource group? These are all proxy indicators of what to expect in the work environment to gauge if we will need to hide or are likely to be harassed, for example. Hilton does very well in this regard—there is a strong emphasis on inclusiveness at work. My experience at the Singapore corporate office has also been overwhelmingly positive—Team Members are collaborative, supportive, and welcoming of diversity.”
Considering the TMRG’s Pride Month theme, “Finding Unity Within Community,” how have you experienced support, solidarity, and allyship at Hilton?
“I have seen and experienced many examples of allyship and support during my time at Hilton. A big crowd of colleagues turning up for an office Pride lunch & learn session; partners of queer Team Members attending our year-end celebrations; a gay Team Member mentioning his husband without anyone in the room batting an eyelid. Sometimes, it is these little things that make a significant difference.”
