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WOMEN IN THE HOSPITATLITY INDUSTRY

WOMEN IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

Noemi Gonzalez
Mrs. McCarthy
Art & Sciences Capstone
February 25, 2015

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WOMEN IN THE HOSPITATLITY INDUSTRY

It is not easy being a woman hotelier, entrepreneur or restaurateur. If it is not the

scandalous legacy of a woman being the queen of mean its the assumption that women are hardwired for only producing pink, frilly or candy boxed guest rooms. However, in 2013, the
hospitality industry was recorded as employing over 400 million workers, both male and female.
However, it was still seen and referred to as a "man's world".
Female supervisors, owners and restaurateurs make up over half of the restaurant and
hospitality industry. It can be argued that the glass ceiling posed to female workers is due to a
lack of understanding on the part of the active leadership in the male side of the house.
Nevertheless, women CEOs are still being seen as the minority only holding 14% of C-level
employment. These titles include CEO, COO, CFO, and CMO. In 2013, of the thirteen
hospitality industry leaders in the country there were no women in C-level positions. With this
study and others, it is evident that women in top roles of companies remain a novelty, but the
issue should be addressed as to why this is the case.Given the circumstances, the progress
women have made in recent years in the male-weighted hospitality industry are extremely
impressive.
Women now control hundreds of millions of dollars of international real estate. As
designers they influence not just one another but the entire home furnishings business and their
hotels are recognized as some of the worlds most innovative manufacturers. The only wonder is
that it took so long, especially since sheltering and swaddling have always been considered
feminine talents. In 2014, architect Denise Scott Brown was interviewed on how she runs her
business and was asked about the differences of men and women under her regime. She stated,

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"There do seem to be some male-female differences in regards to production and overall attitude,
but there's no way of knowing if they're the result of nature or nurture." Some women hoteliers
believe that a lobby bouquet in a hotel run by a man will always be bush-league, no matter how
many design courses he takes.
In recent years, the influence of women has been growing in the hotel industry. There
have been significant increases in the number of women holding leadership roles at all levels of
hotels, inns, lodges and resorts across the country. This shift is not limited within the world of
hospitality. A recent front-page article in the Washington Post explored at great length the
growing visibility and influence of women in the United States Congress. According to the
writer, Several women have vaulted to the top of influential congressional committees, putting
them in charge of some of the most consequential legislation being considered on Capitol Hill.
Senior female hotel executives and an active participant in the hotel industrys advocacy
efforts are proud to see women holding key positions in the House of Representatives and
Senate, guiding the course of policies coming from Washington, D.C. Its noteworthy that in the
current session of Congress, there are a record total of 101 women serving, 81 in the House and
20 in the Senate. And of the 15 major Senate committees, one-third of them are chaired by
women.
But just as the nearly 51% of the U.S. electorate made up of women felt they should have
a stronger voice in Congress, it is only logical that the women making up 57.5% of the hotel
industrys total workforce, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, should have a voice
in the direction of the industry.
The American Hotel & Lodging Associations Women in Lodging Council provides one
such outlet. It was founded more than a decade ago by Nancy Johnson, Carlson Residua Hotel

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WOMEN IN THE HOSPITATLITY INDUSTRY

Groups executive VP of midscale development in the Americas, the group now counts more
than 2,000 members in 21 chapters across the country, taking our valuable industry narrative
from Main Street to policymakers in Washington. We have a compelling story as a driver of
economic growth and job creation, and it is necessary for everyone in the industry to make sure
Washington policymakers are aware and supportive of continuing the communication. Sharing
the story of lodging is more than just talking with members of Congress; its communicating
with peers, the media and those looking at lodging as a possible career of choice. The best stories
come from lessons you experience first-hand in this industry, or those you learn from the peers
and superiors who you admire most.
There are currently 1.8 million other women in the hospitality industry and it is because
they love what they do. They are excited to go to work every day and find themselves challenged
by new ideas and projects. A recent interview conducted by Hotel News Now depicted the
feelings of one hotelier, Thea Sargent. She stated, I have to love what I do; it needs to be
challenging, exciting and rewarding. One of the best things about being an hotelier is the
incredible opportunities I have to not only mentor other employees, but to learn and improve my
own job performance. Successful people find something they are passionate about, love what
they do, work long hours and do it with gusto. Jobs in this industry are a progression, and hard
work and determination always pay off. I encourage women to believe in themselves, prepare
very well and determine their priorities, and make sure they live their life accordingly.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 52.5% of hotel managersGMs,
assistant GMs, department heads and supervisorsare women, many of whom have risen
through the ranks through hard work and determination. In restaurants, 33% are owners while
others carry the title of manager and executive chef. Theyve taken every opportunity to learn

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whether through interaction with colleagues and senior management, majoring in one of the
outstanding collegiate hospitality programs, taking opportunities to network with others on a
similar career track or utilizing the numerous invaluable educational and certification programs
available. The future of our nations leadership both on Capitol Hill and in the hospitality
industry is bright for women.

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Davis, J. (1997). Forbes richest people: The Forbes annual profile of the world's wealthiest men
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Farrell, W. (2005). Why men earn more: The startling truth behind the pay gap--and what
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Preston, R. (1994, July 1). Women and Education in Latin America. Journal of Development
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