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Talking Hospitality | Season 5 Episode 11
Guest: Tris Reid-Smith – Founder, Pride Wide
Topic: LGBTQIA+ Inclusion in Hospitality | Real Allyship | Pride Beyond the Rainbow

What does real LGBTQIA+ inclusion look like in hospitality? And how can we move from token gestures to authentic, year-round support for queer people working in — and spending in — our venues?

In this powerful live-recorded episode, Talking Hospitality host Timothy R Andrews sits down with Tris Reid-Smith, journalist, founder of Pride Wide, and former Editor of Gay Star News, to explore the urgent need for genuine allyship across the UK’s hospitality sector.

🏳️‍🌈 Tris brings decades of frontline experience navigating media, events, and advocacy across the LGBTQ+ community. He shares raw insights into the rise of anti-LGBTQ+ narratives, what’s at stake for businesses who stay silent, and why hospitality must move beyond rainbow-washing if it wants to stay relevant, inclusive, and impactful.

This isn’t just a Pride Month conversation. It’s a leadership one.



💬 Key Themes & Talking Points:
The real-world impact of toxic political narratives on queer staff and guests

Why many LGBTQIA+ professionals still feel unsafe or unsupported at work

The dangers of corporate pinkwashing — and how to avoid it

How to be an active ally, not just a passive observer

How diverse teams outperform homogenous ones — factually and financially

The importance of using your hospitality platform to challenge discrimination

Pride as a protest, a celebration, and a responsibility

💥 Why This Episode Matters:
Hospitality has always been a refuge for people who don’t fit the mould — creative thinkers, misfits, immigrants, dreamers, and queer folk alike. But that doesn’t mean it’s always been safe or equal.

With LGBTQIA+ rights under renewed attack, this episode calls on hospitality leaders, managers, HR teams and frontline staff to ask:
👉 Are we truly creating inclusive spaces?
👉 What more can we be doing to protect and empower our people?
👉 Are we allies… or just afraid to speak up?

Whether you run a Michelin-starred restaurant, manage a pub in a rural village, or work in a hotel in the heart of London — this conversation will challenge you, inspire you, and hopefully move you to action.

🏳️‍🌈 More About Tris Reid-Smith & Pride Wide:
Tris founded Pride Wide to connect the LGBTQIA+ community with organisations that genuinely want to support and champion them. It’s a new platform built on integrity, visibility, and true partnership — designed to spotlight brands, leaders, and venues who go beyond the rainbow and walk the talk.

🔗 Learn more: https://pridewide.com

🙌 Thank You to Our Brand Partners
This episode was made possible by our brilliant supporters:
🎨 Graphic Kitchen – bringing creative stories in hospitality to life
💼 LeisureJobs – connecting top talent with game-changing hospitality employers

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