Is Hospitality Sector Inclusive?

By: Rachita Sharma, Managing Editor | Thursday, 19 September 2024

Hospitality is big business! According to the WTTC report released in 2020, hospitality and allied services were recognized as one of the most swiftly developing industries in India. It contributes about 6.8 percent of India’s total GDP and employs close to 39 million people. While the global pandemic jolted the industry to come to a standstill for a while, yet wheels of growth were set in motion soon after.

But with all the growth at the anvil, the hospitality sector is plagued by the gender equality challenge in its top echelons. Although women make a up a significant portion of the total workforce in hospitality, yet their roles are mostly confined to entry level and lower rung positions. Women accounted up around 54 percent of the entire workforce in the travel and tourism sector found the WTTC report.

Women continue to be grossly underrepresented in the top leadership and decision-making roles. Hardly 1 in 20 CEOs in hospitality is female. But research suggests that we are moving towards making amends. According to data from Castell Project's latest Women in Hospitality Industry Leadership report, the number of women senior executives, women on the podium and women owners in hospitality saw an increase between 2019 and 2021.

We hope that the pace of growth picks up and women leaders find an equal footing in the burgeoning sector. The time was right for Women Entrepreneurs Review to shine the well-deserved spotlight on women leaders making waves in the hospitality sector.

In the magazine’s current edition, read about Mini Sajan, CEO of SAJ Earth Resort. With an M.Sc degree and certifications in Food Safety Management from Dubai and the Center for Public Health and Food Safety in India, as well as in Baking and Pastry, Mini brings extensive expertise to her role. Since 2019, she has been serving as an independent Director of the Lakshadweep Tourism Development Corporation Ltd., Government of India, and holds Directorships at SAJ Holdings Pvt. Ltd, Southern Chef Flight Catering Pvt. Ltd, and Kanichai Hotels Pvt. Ltd.

We also feature the professional journey of Varsha Bansal, CEO, Four A Resort. A seasoned hospitality professional, she is currently the CEO of Four A Hotel and Resorts and Grand Plaza Hotel Lords Inn. She holds a Master's degree from the National Law School of India University, a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from Lady Shri Ram College for Women, a PGDAM from Amity University, and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Jammu.

In this magazine edition also read about Sneha Agarwal, Director, Hotel Hillock. Sneha is deeply passionate about business and driven to achieve her goals, skillfully managing several companies. She adeptly balances her professional and personal life, excelling in the hospitality industry and fostering strong relationships with her team.

Kritagya Aryal, CEO, Perfect Pathway Global Services is another hospitality leader featured in this magazine edition. Kritagya leverages her MBA in Business Studies and extensive experience within the Thai hospitality industry to conduct market research. This research has identified and secured valuable business opportunities for Perfect Pathway in key international markets, including Thailand, Malaysia, France, Spain, the Middle East, Mauritius, and the USA.

Do let us know your thoughts.