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In recognition of Global Diversity Awareness Month, we’re proud to highlight our Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging (DIB) Council and the dedicated team members who help bring its mission to life. The DIB Council believes that a more inclusive and culturally competent workplace strengthens not only our teams but our entire company. Guided by our core values of Caring, Courage, and Creativity, the Council creates opportunities for education, engagement, and meaningful representation at every level of the organization. In this issue of Checking Inn (and this week’s Portal article), four DIB Council members share what Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging mean to them. Darrell Jackson, Senior Manager, Village Operations at Orange Lake Resort “Success comes from diversity. Having a work culture where everyone feels like they belong makes us stronger. It allows us to be more efficient as a team, more creative, and continuously improve our processes. It brings out the best in people when they feel comfortable in their workplace.” LeAnn Meyer, Training Manager at Orange Lake Resort “In the workplace, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging means building a culture where every team member feels comfortable. It’s an environment where people learn about one another’s backgrounds instead of judging or excluding others for them. It’s the ongoing journey of breaking down personal biases and relearning how to create the healthiest environment for your team.”
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re excited to announce an upcoming panel discussion that will take place on Tuesday, October 14, 2025. The event will feature an engaging conversation led by our Human Resources leadership team and a diverse panel of team members from across the organization. Together, they’ll share personal stories and perspectives on how identity, culture, and heritage have shaped their journeys — both personally and professionally. The discussion will explore themes of inclusion, belonging, and personal growth, reflecting our ongoing commitment to cultivating a workplace where every team member feels valued and empowered to bring their authentic self to work. We look forward to this inspiring conversation and to celebrating the rich diversity that continues to strengthen our company culture!
Football-themed games, tasty treats, and plenty of team spirit made for a fun-filled day at our Corporate Campus last month! Team members showed off their favorite college and pro team gear while joining in on friendly competitions for a chance to win exciting prizes. Check out a few highlights from the event — from lively tailgate games to a midday snack huddle that brought everyone together to celebrate the season kickoff. Prize Highlights: Grand Prize: Two tickets to a Florida Gators football game in Gainesville, FL Second Prize: A set of two tailgate chairs with an umbrella Third Prize: A Tailgate Party Pack, complete with a cooler and tailgate games Thanks to everyone who joined in to help us kick off football season in true tailgate style!
From September 5–7, more than 480 Pickleball players competed across 20 courts at our resort in Kissimmee, Florida, as part of the Citrus Classic PPA Challenger Pickleball Tournament. The tournament featured singles, doubles and mixed doubles matches, drawing competitors and fans from across the United States. The resort partnered with the PPA Tour, which hosts a series of tournaments nationwide, and the Orlando Squeeze, a Major League Pickleball team, to host this successful event. The tournament welcomed over 200 fans, who cheered on their favorite players and enjoyed the vibrant atmosphere! None of this would have been possible without the dedication of our incredible Orange Lake Resort team, who spent months planning to bring this event to life. Their hard work helped showcase not only the competitive spirit of the sport, but also the strong sense of community that makes Pickleball so special. The resort team is looking forward to hosting more events like this in the future—and when it does, we’ll be sure to share more photos from the courts!
On September 11, in recognition of Patriot Day, Director of Security & Transportation Keith McRae and team members from Orange Lake Resort visited their partners at Orange County Fire Rescue Station 32 in Kissimmee, FL to show appreciation for their long-term support. Each year, the Security team visits the firehouse to personally thank the firefighters for everything they do to support our team members and the families who visit our resort. This year was especially meaningful, as it marked 20 years of a strong partnership between Station 32 and Orange Lake Resort. To celebrate this milestone, the team surprised the firefighters with a special gift: a PlayStation 5, Madden 2026, and an extra controller—a fun and thoughtful way to show appreciation for two decades of service and a shared commitment to safety.
As the Corporate Campus’s Back-to-School Supply Drive came to a close, two teams decided to go further and volunteer with A Gift for Teaching. On August 26, 12 team members from our Legal department and six from Human Resources volunteered at the organization’s facility in Orlando. They spent a few hours organizing donated schools supplies that will ultimately benefit students in need. Reflecting on their experience and how their teams came together to give back, Sheena Kinnaman, Senior Manager - HR Shared Services, and Doreen Varricchio, a manager on our Legal team, shared, “Volunteer events are a wonderful opportunity to give back to the community while enjoying some laughs with co-workers. We spent the morning counting and sorting school supplies, and typical for these teams, once we got organized, we were on a roll!” They added, “Everyone was impressed by the number of school supplies A Gift for Teaching collects and donates to our local teachers so they have the tools needed to run their classrooms. Even though our volunteer time only lasted 3 hours we felt like we made an impact to help the teachers that give so much to educate our children.
What better way to celebrate a job well done than with ice cream? In our last issue of Checking Inn, we announced the winning teams of our Corporate Campus Back-to-School Supply Drive competition, benefiting A Gift for Teaching: • Performance Marketing – for collecting the most items (382 supplies) • Customer Commitments Corporate – for raising the most money (approximately $1,000) In this issue, we’re serving up some sweet moments from the ice cream social held in their honor on August 27. Enjoy the photos below! A special thanks to these teams for the care and generosity they demonstrated during the drive and to all team members across our resort and office locations who helped support teachers, students and families as they headed into a new school year!
Last month, 11 team members from our Customer Experience department volunteered at Give Kids The World Village, a nonprofit resort that provides cost-free vacations for children with critical illnesses and their families. This was our second year supporting the Village, and our volunteers shared how humbling it was to witness the joy and gratitude of the families they served. As one team member put it: “Everyone at the Village is so happy, even during such a difficult life experience. Seeing those smiles was unforgettable.” We’re proud of our team for making a difference and spreading happiness in our community!
This summer, our Holiday Inn Club Vacations India office launched Empower, a Junior Trainee Graduate Program designed to help fresh graduates transition smoothly into the professional world. Through a blend of technical training, soft-skill development, real-world projects, and mentorship, Empower creates a supportive environment where early-career talent can grow, contribute, and thrive. Highlights of the program: • Defined scope of work and clear expectations • Hands-on project experience • Dedicated mentorship and continuous feedback • Pathways to full-time opportunities for top performers As PG Narayanan shared, “Our Empower program isn’t just an investment in future talent—it’s a strategic asset that fuels innovation and shapes the future of our company.” We’re proud to make Empower a launchpad for the next generation of leaders while building a strong pipeline of skilled, motivated talent for our future.
Orange Lake Resort hosted its third annual Destination: Development event on August 13. The event saw over 275 team members for a fun day focused on professional growth. From resume building and mock interviews to departmental info booths and professional headshots, attendees explored career opportunities and gained valuable insights across HICV. The Orange Lake Resort mascot, Swampy even made a special appearance taking photos with team members throughout the day! Thanks to everyone who joined us to Explore, Connect, and Grow. Together, we’re building brighter futures one development milestone at a time.
