Happy International Women’s Day
Dedicated to all women worldwide, actively working and participating in the Travel and Tourism industry and all women in general, regardless of industry, country, race or profession. Happy International Women’s Day
Happy International Women’s Day
International Women’s day, 8th of March was a reason for the research and kind of a dipper view to women’s role in our industry.
Since this morning, I’ve been browsing through social networks, LinkedIn, Facebook and even travel and tourism international online media, concluding that most press and travel professionals are dedicating an article to a glorious women’s contribution in every sector.
So question popped up? Why only today? Why not every day of the year?
My team searched for articles on the same media we browse daily and how many times texts like those are published. And the result was not very satisfying at all.
We found one great report created some time ago that gives a global overview of women’s involvement in the Tourism and Travel Industry. So I will try to give you an overview and advice to read it in detail and give it some thought.
Across all sectors, the travel and tourism industry leads the way regarding gender diversity, with women representing 50% of employees. But the reality is more complex. For example, women make up 40% of mid-level management and 33% of senior management, above which there is an impenetrable glass ceiling between senior management and the C-suite.
Women fill a paltry 19% of C-level roles, and only 5% of firms have a female CEO. There are only six female chairs on the board level, despite growing evidence proving that promoting diversity at all levels is both ethical and beneficial to business.
Increasingly, consumers are selecting where to stay and which airline to fly with based on a company’s diversity record. In addition, employees desire to work for an organization that is visionary and inclusive. Finally, investors believe that companies must employ a diverse team to reach their full revenue potential. Happy International Women’s Day
So why do we not see this in practice?
The invisible glass ceiling
A “glass ceiling” refers to an invisible upper limit in corporations and other organizations above which women have difficulty rising in ranks. Those hard-to-see, unofficial barriers that keep women from advancing and gaining more opportunities are called the “glass ceiling”. Minority groups have also been referred to by the term “glass ceiling.”
Are we truly still under the effect of the Glass Ceiling?
The report analyzes travel and tourism industry data from 100 publicly traded companies across seven ‘buckets’: hotels, casinos, entertainment, airlines, airports, online travel agencies and cruise lines, and food and beverage companies. Combined, these companies employ 6.2 million people across 120 countries, with a market cap of more than $1.6 trillion.
The number of female employees drops precipitously as the higher one climbs up the career ladder even though all major hotel chains have made a concerted effort to push women in leadership agenda. Women represent 43% of the workforce in mid-level management. Coming down to 32% at the senior management level and 21% in the C-Suite. Every major hotel chain has at least one female C-level executive, yet only one woman.
It’s a similar – if slightly more encouraging – story in the restaurant and F&B sectors. Women comprise 52% of the workforce, falling only marginally to 51% in mid-management and 35% in senior management. In addition, there is another gap in female representation at the top of corporate leadership, with only one female CEO.
According to the OTA sector, women make up 60% of the travel, tourism, and hospitality workforce. However, this decreases to 34% for senior management. Among the company’s top executives are two female CEOs, and women hold 22% of board positions.
Most concerning is the situation in the cruise and airline sector are the cruise and airline sectors. Approximately 23% of cruise companies’ employees are women, which translates into just 13% of C-level positions and 10% of board positions held by women. In addition, one cruise company employs only male executives. At the same time, women represent 46% of airline jobs overall but have fallen to 15% on the Executive Committee.
It is clear from these figures that there is a barrier at the top of the business; call it a ” glass ceiling” if you prefer. But, unfortunately, it is there, waiting and ready to be broken.
Let’s break the Glass Ceiling together!
Despite some visible cracks in the glass ceiling, not enough women follow in their footsteps.
The report goes into more detail, but we will not bother you with more statistics and numbers.
We must break the vicious cycle, change the general company culture, and encourage women to step forward.
Our team has predominantly female members, and we all strive for understanding equality and share hard work and success.
Happy International Women’s Day! From all of us at Swiss Travel Market BD!
We especially love this year’s Theme of International Women’s Day, which stands for #EmbraceEquity. Just marvellous and what the world needs.
Photo by De’Andre Bush on Unsplash
