GROUND
TO TOP HOSPITALITY JOBS ? Contributed by JUDITH CROWN
promoted in HR , sales , accounting and legal / risk management ,” she says , “ and less likely to be promoted in corporate operations and development / investment , which require financial decision-making .”
Berg says there ’ s anecdotal evidence that women increasingly are being promoted to GM jobs at select-service hotels . Yet these positions typically include little financial decision-making . “ Women are still a small minority of GMs at fullservice hotels , and full-service GMs carry more financial weight ,” she says .
The Nordic countries are far ahead in opening opportunities for women to stay in the workforce , says Lena Bjurner , senior vice president for human relations and sustainability at Scandic Hotels in
Stockholm , citing progressive policies on parental leave and child care .
“ That gives the impression that we ’ re ahead – that we don ’ t have biases ,” she says . While women represent about 50 % of general managers at Scandic , there are only two women on the company ’ s 12-member executive committee , Bjurner notes . “ We ’ re on the journey … but we ’ re not yet there .”
ADDITION OF FINANCIALS Family is still a leading reason why women step back . The demands of more senior positions don ’ t let up at a time when women are starting families – and women often are still the primary care parent , says Michelle Russo , CEO of hotel asset management firm HotelAve , based in Providence , Rhode Island .
Operations jobs call for long , unpredictable hours , including nights and weekends . But Eileen Moore , regional president of three Caesars Entertainment casino resorts in Las Vegas , says hotel schedules can work for families .
Moore recalls working Friday and Saturday nights running a casino when her son was young . “ I had many an interesting conversation with my boss , who said , ‘ is that going to be good for your work-life balance ?’” she recalled . “ I would say , ‘ Do you know what my son is doing on Friday and Saturday nights ? He ’ s sleeping . Do you know when he wants his mom home ? Saturday morning .’”
Historically , men advanced to plum jobs running resorts and full-service city hotels and moved their families around
March 2019 hotelsmag . com 19