SPECIAL REPORT
HIGHER
WHAT ’ S KEEPING WOMEN FROM ADVANCING
Women are well-represented everywhere in hospitality – except at the top .
Hospitality isn ’ t an inherently male-dominated vocation , yet women are frequently absent from the finance-heavy fields that most often lead to the C-suite . A study published this year by Atlantabased Castell Project showed that women represent only 8 % of senior executive jobs in development and investment , 18 % of such jobs in corporate operations and 26 % in accounting and finance .
Women who have advanced attribute the bottleneck to long-held practices and unconscious biases . The demands of family often interfere just when many women are headed toward senior management . Others note that women historically have filled “ softer ” staff positions in event planning , marketing and human resources , which don ’ t come with P & L responsibility .
Many hospitality companies have launched programs to mentor and advance women into senior leadership but must do more to enable women to navigate professional and personal responsibilities – and to break through , women must promote themselves more aggressively , executives say .
Millennials care about diversity policies when they choose an employer , says Katerina Giannouka , group president for Asia Pacific at Brussels-based Radisson Hotel Group , and “ this is a red light for the hospitality industry to address or risk losing the next generation of female talent .”
LONELY AT THE TOP The study by the nonprofit Castell Project , which analyzed the STR Directory of Hotel & Lodging Companies , found that women represent nearly half of managers and directors but only 30 % of vice presidents . Their ranks thin at the senior vice president , chief and principal levels . Only 11 % of presidents , and 5 % of CEOs , are women .
Most telling is the absence of women in development , operations and finance , says Castell founder Peggy Berg , in contrast to departments such as human resources , where women hold 69 % of senior executive roles , and sales and marketing , where 42 % of senior positions are held by women .
“ Women are more likely to be
18 hotelsmag . com March 2019