Women in accom industry break the bias
International Women’s Day on March 8, is a time to both celebrate and reflect on women’s achievements
We’ve come a long way since the late 1890’s when International Women’s Day originated following the universal female suffrage movement that began in New Zealand.
The theme for International Women’s Day 2022 on Tuesday, March 8 is ‘breaking the bias’, and this gives us a good reason to celebrate the achievements of women and an opportunity for me to speak with some inspirational women in our industry to ask them what this special day means to them.
Kerry Williams – Co-founder, The Accessible Group
Kerry is the Founder and driving force behind The Accessible Group. Inspired by her mother Barbie, who has MS, to make it easier for those with disabilities to book suitable holiday and short-term accommodation that they can be assured suits their needs, she has built the organisation into what it is today.
“International Women’s Day is a very special day for me. It’s a moment where I reflect on the immense influence women have as change-makers, risk-takers and innovators. Where I reflect on my mum (who has a disability) who taught me that if you believe in something then do something with it. That anything is possible, especially with supportive women as your cheerleaders.
Women with disabilities need cheerleaders more than those without a disability because they face even bigger career hurdles and adversity. The travel industry has experienced incredible adversity in the last 2 years, and now, as we are in the recovery phase, 2022 is the perfect time to consider employing women with disabilities, not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because they know how to face challenging situations more than most.”
Ketaki Kelkar, Manager, IHG Hotels & Resorts’ Holiday Inn Express Melbourne Little Collins
Ketaki Kelkar is a vastly experienced hotelier having cut her industry teeth at some of the world’s most luxurious properties in the Middle East and Asia.
“International Women’s Day to me is looking back at the history and appreciating the women that have paved a path towards gender equality.
“Coming from a relatively patriarchal society it was the strong women in my life, my grand mum and mum that stood by me when I decided to pursue hospitality as a career. It was not a path many girls would choose a decade ago.
“Later after moving to Australia, I was fortunate to have worked with strong women leaders that rubbed their skills on me and inspired me to keep pursuing my dreams.
“International Women’s Day is a day to remember we are not alone. That all victories small and big matter and should be celebrated.”
Accommodation Australia President, Leanne Harwood
“The International Women’s Day theme #BreakTheBias rings loud and true this year,” she said.
“When I started in the hospitality sector a little over 25 years ago, I was told that I wouldn’t make it in operational leadership because I would “probably leave to have children”.
“Driving change from the inside has been a focus for me, including through choosing to take on increasingly senior leadership roles and bringing others through the structure with me.
“We continue to make great strides towards better diversity, equity and inclusion and I’m so inspired to see the many amazing female leaders across so many industries, including our own. But there’s so much more to do.
“It’s time to #BreakTheBias by creating and supporting equitable and inclusive workplaces that truly reflect the diversity of our community. This includes greater inclusion at all levels of our workforce, and in public and professional forums including on panels at conferences.
“The association and I are committed to making positive change in our world, our community and our industry, in every way we can. If we keep focussed, work together and drive change I know it will deliver untold benefits for our teams and communities, as well as just making business sense.
“#BreakingTheBias across the board is in everyone’s interest.”
Referring to Workplace Gender Equality Agency figures, Ms Harwood pointed out that Australia’s Accommodation and Food Services Sector has continued to address the Gender Pay Gap (GPG), which currently at 6 percent (and 18th in Australia), is an improvement on the previous year of 13 percentage points.
WGEA notes pay gaps persist even in those industries where majority are women, as an example the Accommodation and Food Services sector workforce where women comprise 53 percent of the workforce however GPG is 6 percent based on total remuneration
Most senior roles in Accommodation and Food Sector organisations are still male dominated with fewer than 1 in 4 CEOs/Leaders (19.4 percent) and 2 in 5 managers are women, with only 1 in 4 organisations (24 percent) having a gender-balanced leadership team.
Mandy Clarke, Accom News & Resort News
I also asked our own Accom News editor and (subscription only based) monthly magazine Resort News editor, Mandy Clarke, what the day meant to her.
“It is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate all women. Globally women have been disproportionality affected by COVID and the economics that followed restrictions, but I have seen many women rise again, especially in the tourism, accommodation, and hospitality industries,’ she said.
“This year I was especially inspired by those women who started their own small businesses despite a pandemic, I am proud that now over 50 percent of management rights owners are women, and many more women are running businesses that support the industry.
“I meet many incredible women, especially when I attend the Women In Management events organised by Marisa Millane in South East Queensland, and as a woman in business myself, I know how important it is to give and receive support, and a helping hand from other women. We need to be each other’s cheerleader.
“Last year a highlight for me was when I interviewed Leanne Harwood IHG Hotels & Resorts’ SVP Managing Director for Japan, Australasia, and the Pacific when she was elected President of the Accommodation Association, becoming the first woman to hold the position in the 54-year history of the organisation.”
Background of the movement
One of the earliest recorded ‘Women’s Days’ took place in New York on February 28, 1909.
The March 8 date was established in 1917 after women gained suffrage in Soviet Russia and thereafter was made into a national holiday celebrated by the socialist movement and communist countries.
International Women’s Day became a mainstream global event following its adoption by the United Nations in 1977 and today is commemorated in a variety of ways worldwide – as a public holiday, a reason to protest or even a call for change.
In western culture International Women’s Day has become, in the main, a socio-cultural event and centres on a celebration of womanhood.
Mike Parker-Brown is a UK-trained and qualified journalist and an award-winning travel communicator with more than 30 years experience.
Since 2002, Mike has worked as a freelance writer and PR consultant providing his services to major organisations in Australia and internationally in the tourism, aviation, hospitality, recruitment and export marketing sectors.
