Chicago Hospitality Charter (30 June 2023, Global)
This Hospitality Charter was prepared in the context of “The Future of Work in Chicago’s Hospitality Industry” event, a meeting co-sponsored by collaborating organizations and partners of the US-Canada Working Group of the FOWLS Project.
Chicago Hospitality Charter
We are Chicagoans, and we affirm the fundamental dignity of all persons. We embrace hospitality as a fundamental civic virtue that links our residents with all our visitors. Together, we commit ourselves to continue to build and develop a culture of hospitality in Chicago.
We understand hospitality as the generous and friendly treatment of visitors, guests, and strangers. We recognize the power of hospitality to break down barriers that keep people apart from each other and to build a deep sense of community.
As our forebearers have done for many generations, today we value and welcome new residents coming from every culture and every corner of the world. We value our diverse ethnic and racial mix. We value our diverse cultures and languages and faith traditions. We value the many festivals, cuisines, and music that all give a distinctive flavor to Chicago. We are proud of this, and we call on all Chicagoans to continue to build this culture of hospitality.
We acknowledge and value the crucial role that the hospitality industry occupies in the economic life of our city. When visitors and city-dwellers take advantage of our restaurants, hotels, museums, sports and entertainment venues, and our recreational and convention spaces, they contribute to our city’s economic well-being and quality of life. Welcoming people to our city with a heart of hospitality brings economic value. The hospitality industry truly is a major economic engine in our city that provides jobs and wages, services, and tax revenues. It often provides the first stable employment for immigrants, young people, and others. For these reasons, we need to pledge our support and encouragement of hospitality in Chicago.
As we probe the deeper meaning of hospitality in Chicago, we need to identify what is at the heart of hospitality. Although we refer to the “hospitality industry,” we must recognize that it is unlike industries that produces a product. Hospitality is always and foremost a human encounter, a human interaction.
We are convinced that those who engage in the hospitality businesses in our city ought to place this human encounter at the center of their business model. That means that those who engage in hospitality need to recognize that the key ingredients for hospitality will always include nourishment, safe and clean spaces, and friendly personal interactions.
Those who direct businesses in hospitality certainly have responsibilities to owners and shareholders but not to them alone. These directors enter a covenant with the citizens of our city, with guests, and with hospitality workers. Workers and guests and managers all share a common humanity that deserves full respect. Fair prices, safe facilities, professional execution of work du>es, as well as living wages, benefits, a humane workload, and fair processes for securing labor rights all reflect a genuine commitment to a culture of hospitality in Chicago. Honoring these values, the future of work in the hospitality industry in Chicago looks bright.
Chicago hospitality workers honor the human encounter with guests and visitors. They are so often the first people to greet visitors to our city. A smile, a hello, a word of welcome can do what an automated kiosk can never do. Technology can enhance efficiency, but only as a complement to our human interactions.
To the guests and visitors to whom we extend our Chicago hospitality, we invite you to express your gratitude with your courtesy and respect, as you enjoy your visit to our city.
For our part, we the undersigned commit ourselves to continuing to build a culture of hospitality in Chicago.
###
This Charter is the result of a social dialogue sponsored by the Chicago Federation of Labor, ARISE Chicago, the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC), The Future of Work, Labour after Laudato Si’ Project, the Mercy Home for Boys and Girls (Archdiocese of Chicago), the Center for Social Concerns at the University of Notre Dame, and the Aquinas Literacy Center in McKinley Park, Chicago.
Those who are participated in the social dialogue from which this Charter emerged are the following:
Alan Mares, youth representative, Mercy Home for Boys and Girls
Alan Rodriguez, hospitality worker, Compass/Levy at the United Center
Alison Altmeyer, Executive Director, Aquinas Literacy Center
Ambassador Anne Leahy, member of the Vatican Dicastery and representative of Cardinal Michael
Czerny, the Prefect of the Dicastery
Ashley Myers, hospitality worker, Areas at O’Hare Airport
Carla Mendez, hospitality worker, Hilton Chicago Mag Mile Suites
Cecilia Leiva, hospitality worker & UNITE HERE Local 1 Executive Board Vice President, Hyatt Regency
Chicago
Cesar Sanchez, University of Notre Dame/UNITE HERE Local 1
Charles Hendricks, Director, UNITE HERE International Union
Christian Simpson, youth representative, Mercy Home for Boys and Girls
Courtney Smith, Organizing Director, UNITE HERE Local 1
Dan Abraham, Organizing Director, UNITE HERE Local 1
Dan Miller, Organizing Director, UNITE HERE Local 1
Daniella Menchaca, youth representative, Mercy Home for Boys and Girls
Douglas Bradley, Vice President of Culinary, ASM Global SAVOR
Dr. Peggy Burke, Associate Vice President (Retired) | Board President, DePaul University | Aquinas
Literacy Center
Dr. Peter Warrian, Senior Research Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy,
University of Toronto
Dr. Suzanne Shanahan, Executive Director, Center for Social Concerns – University of Notre Dame
Elena Segura, Senior Coordinator, Archdiocese of Chicago – National Pastoral Migratoria
Elliott Mallen, Research Director, UNITE HERE Local 1
Felecia Bell-Turner, Retiree
Feleshia Smith, hospitality worker, HMS Host at O’Hare Airport
Fr. Clete Kiley, Chaplain, Chicago Federation of Labor, Senior Advisor/UNITEHERE International Union
Fr. Louis J Cameli, Cardinal’s Delegate for Formation and Mission, Archdiocese of Chicago
Fr. Scott Donahue, President & CEO, Mercy Home for Boys and Girls
Francesca Masciopinto, University of Notre Dame/UNITE HERE Local 1
Ignacio Alonso Alasino, Project Manager, “The Future of Work – Labour after Laudato si’” Project
hosted by the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC)
Imam Tariq El-Amin, Arise Chicago/Masjid Al-Taqwa
Jake Berent, Communications Director, Chicago Federation of Labor
Jay Rowell, Executive Director, HIRE360
Jesus Morales, hospitality worker & Vice President of the UNITE HERE Local 1 Executive Board, Drake
Hotel
Jim Claus, Trustee, UNITEHERE Health Trustee
Jim Kiley, Managing Director, Wintrust Bank
Joanna Chambers, hospitality worker, Navy Pier Beer Garden
JoEllen Chernow, Co-Director, Survivors Know
Khadjah Wilson, hospitality worker, Compass/Levy at the United Center
Kiara Bacon, hospitality worker, HMS Host at O’Hare Airport
King Maury, youth representative, Mercy Home for Boys and Girls
Lashontá Thompson, Lead Organizer, UNITE HERE Local 1
Latonia Marshall, hospitality worker & UNITE HERE Local 1 Executive Board Member, Blackstone Hotel
Leviette Green, hospitality worker, HMS Host at O’Hare Airport
Liesl Orenic, Professor, Dominican University
Lourdes Cortes, hospitality worker, Drake Hotel
Marco Lopez, Program Director, Catholic Theological Union
Mariah Dunigan, hospitality worker, HMS Host at O’Hare Airport
Marissa Levendis, Program Director, Equity for All of Us
Melayna Barba, hospitality worker, UNITE HERE Local 1
Michael Nicolás Okińczyc-Cruz, DMin | Executive Director, Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership
(CSPL)
Misheon McNeal, youth representative, Mercy Home for Boys and Girls
Monica Menias, Executive Assistant to Karen Kent, UNITE HERE Local 1
Nancy Kramer, Talent Acquisition Coordinator, ICNC /The Hatchery
Natalie Frazier, hospitality worker, Offshore Rooftop Bar
Nate Carter, youth representative, Mercy Home for Boys and Girls
Nisan Chavkin, Executive Director, Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago
Noah Kaniuk, youth representative, Mercy Home for Boys and Girls
Patrick Griffin, Organizing Director, UNITE HERE Local 1
President Bob Reiter, President, Chicago Federation of Labor
President Karen Kent, President, UNITE HERE Local 1
Prof. Bill Purcell, Senior Associate Director, Center for Social Concerns – University of Notre Dame
Prof. Dan Graff, Director, Higgins Labor Program – University of Notre Dame
Rabbi Bruce Elder, Rabbi, Congregation Hakafa
Raymond Martinez, youth representative, Mercy Home for Boys and Girls
Rev. John Thomas, President, Board of Arise Chicago
Rev. Scott Aaseng, Executive Director, Unitarian Universalist Advocacy Network of IL (UUANI)
Roushaunda Williams, hospitality worker, Palmer House Hilton
Ruben Compean, youth representative, Mercy Home for Boys and Girls
Russ Melaragni, Chief Operating Officer, Hotel Employers Labor Relations Association
Sabrina Poulin, Associate Director, Aquinas Literacy Center
Samuel Jefferson, youth representative, Mercy Home for Boys and Girls
Sarah Lyons, Communications Director, UNITE HERE Local 1
Secretary-Treasurer Don Villar, Secretary-Treasurer, Chicago Federation of Labor
Sheila Gainer, Organizing Director, UNITE HERE Local 1
Sr. Mary Priniski, OP, Chapter Prioress, Adrian Dominican Sisters
Tamekah Shivers, hospitality worker, HMS Host at O’Hare Airport
Tom Kiley, President & CEO, Great Lakes Advisors
Tom Gilardi, Vice President of Community Care, Mercy Home for Boys and Girls
Zakiyyah El-Amin, Secretary, Masjid Al-Taqwa