Each year, The Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance (MFHA) honors distinguished leaders of diverse background whose achievements have contributed to the advancement of the food and hospitality industry. In September, during Hispanic Heritage Month, MFHA is celebrating successful leaders of Hispanic/Latino descent by releasing its 4th annual Tribute to Hispanic Leadership in Foodservice & Hospitality campaign.

Hispanics/Latinos are a dominant force in foodservice and hospitality, attributing to 19 percent of the U.S. hospitality workforce, according to the Department of Labor Bureau. As the largest ethnic minority, totaling close to 53 million people, Hispanics/Latinos are a growing group in foodservice and hospitality.

The Tribute not only recognizes senior-level individuals who exhibit excellence in their fields, but also aims to communicate the industry’s efforts to advance multicultural talent to executive levels. Participating corporate members of MFHA for this Tribute include: Darden; PepsiCo; Yum! Brands, Inc.; Burger King Corporation; Hyatt Hotels Corporation; Starbucks Coffee Company; McCormick & Company, Inc.; McDonald’s Corporation; The Coca-Cola Company; Sodexo North America; Dunkin’ Brands, Inc.; ARAMARK; and Kellogg Company.

Among the seventeen profiled Hispanic/Latino leaders, there are two executive vice presidents and four senior vice presidents. Five of those featured individuals are women, including one president and two vice presidents. The featured leaders are a true inspiration to multicultural youth and professionals who want to pursue a successful career in foodservice and hospitality.

MFHA has honored successful multicultural leaders with the release of Multicultural Tributes in 2013: to Black Leadership in February and to Asian Pacific American Leadership in Hospitality in May. Following this Tribute, MFHA will release the second edition of the Multicultural Allies Tribute, which features White senior leaders who have displayed exceptional support and made accomplishments toward multicultural initiatives in the industry. MFHA will continue to honor these leaders with the Wall of Leaders campaign highlighting profiles of selected leaders featured in these Tributes.