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& CEO , Ridgemont Hospitality : Our industry has made some great strides , but we need to do more . Our philosophy is simple : promote from within and provide on-thejob training to those who take
Sima Patel
the initiative . It will be a huge step forward if we continue to make intentional efforts to elevate women leaders from within and set them up for success . Sophie Richard , asset manager , M & L Hospitality , current president , HAMA Europe : In asset management and acquisition , there has been a noticeable increase in the representation of women compared to a decade or two ago . This shift is particularly evident during prominent events like hospitality investment conferences . At HAMA Europe , our board has near parity with four women out of nine board members . Tina Burnett , chief development officer , G6 Hospitality : Clear strides have been made in the last few decades , especially at the brand level . Though this is still a maledominated industry , women in hospitality and leadership
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are much more prevalent as of recent and we ’ re seeing more companies hiring and promoting women to help lead their brands . At G6 Hospitality , our executive leadership is more than 50 % women . In fact , more than 35 % of Motel 6 and Studio 6 franchises are driven through some form of female ownership . There are still improvements that we must continue to make to diversify our organizations and make franchising more accessible . One way we can further amplify women ’ s voices is by not only providing a seat at the table , but also ensuring they have the platform to echo their expertise across the industry .
HOTELS : The traditional roles for women in hospitality have been in areas such as marketing or HR or design , to name but three . Other segments , such as development , carry “ old boys club ” mentalities . How can recruiters and boards be more inclusive and cognizant across disciplines outside the perceived traditional positions ? Lisa Lombardo , president , ARK Holdings Group : I think it ’ s happening . We are interviewing for a construction project manager and the two top candidates are women — and I am only involved in the process when we think they could be a “ yes ” to fit with our culture . Up until that almost final point ,
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Lisa Lombardo
as a woman who is president of our parent company , I have had little influence . The reality for women is that we haven ’ t had time to build the same resumes ; we haven ’ t logged the same experience in all spaces of the industry . That ’ s changing and the merit of candidates is becoming more equitable . It ’ s no different than looking back at how difficult it was for women entrepreneurs to get business loans just a few
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decades ago . Why ? Because until 1988 and the passage of the Women ’ s Business Ownership Act , women could only get business loans if a male relative cosigned the loan . Women are a mere 36 years into having the ability to get a business loan on our own . It ’ s the stories of women going from closed doors to closing deals over the decades that have motivated many of us along the way . Roquefort , Accor : I can personally attest that forwardthinking companies are making a profound difference in the industry , not just by adopting policies or leading the |
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May / June 2024 hotelsmag . com 49 |