Monday, March 18, 2024
Costa Cruises was honored with the prestigious ‘Best Improvement of Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace’ award by the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, currently under the leadership of Belgium. This significant recognition, focusing on Diversity and Inclusion (D&I), is bestowed upon maritime companies that have demonstrated outstanding commitment to advancing gender equality and fostering diversity within their organizations, seamlessly integrating these principles into their decision-making processes.
Costa Cruises, in particular, was commended for its innovative ‘Transgender in the Workplace’ policy, aimed at ensuring fair and equitable treatment for transgender individuals both aboard ships and within onshore offices. The award was presented in Brussels by the Honorable Mr. Paul Van Tigchelt, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the North Sea of the Kingdom of Belgium, to Stephane Codeluppi, the Development and D.E.I. Manager of Costa Cruises, alongside Bernard Vanheule, Director of EU Affairs for Costa & Carnival Corporation.
“This recognition is further confirmation that the culture of diversity and inclusion is part of Costa
Cruises’ DNA. Specifically, our transgender policy provides clear and concrete guidelines that help
create a comfortable and inclusive working environment for transgender people. This kind of
initiative has positive effects for the employees, improving their well-being, but also for the
company, because it strengthens the sense of belonging, reputation and ability to attract new
talent. Not only that: policies like ours can be useful in fostering a broader change within the
society we live in’ – said Stephane Codeluppi, Development and D.E.I. Manager at Costa Cruises.
For numerous years, Costa Cruises has prioritized the advancement of diversity and inclusion (D&I) across its onboard and onshore operations. Beginning in 2015, the Italian company adopted a methodical approach by appointing a Diversity & Inclusion Manager. This individual’s responsibilities include evaluating internal policies and initiatives, introducing new programs, and diligently tracking progress. Since 2018, diversity has been formally enshrined as one of the company’s core values. Furthermore, Costa collaborates with various external entities to address D&I concerns and is steadfast in ensuring equal opportunities while combating all forms of discrimination. The ethos of diversity and inclusion is deeply ingrained in the company’s internal communication channels and talent acquisition procedures.
The D&I Honours were established by the Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA) Belgium, with backing from WISTA International, the European Commission’s Women in Transport – EU platform, the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and numerous stakeholders in the maritime transport sector.
Saturday, April 27, 2024
Saturday, April 27, 2024
