There has been tremendous growth in the female workforce occupying key leadership positions in the tourism, hospitality, and aviation sectors over the years. As we celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8, Travel Trade Insider caught up with some torchbearers of the industry to know what makes the industry exciting for them.
Jyoti Mayal, President, Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI)
Q. How is it to be a woman working in the travel and hospitality sector?
A. Being a woman in a traditionally male-dominated industry comes with its own challenges and is a liberating experience. I owe my growth and success to the travel and tourism industry. From a young girl joining her husband’s flourishing travel business to becoming a top businesswoman on different platforms, it has been a fulfilling journey.
I am happy to be the second woman President of TAAI – the oldest and largest nodal body of travel and tourism, Chairperson of the Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council (THSC), the largest recognised skilling body of the country under the aegis of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, the Vice Chairperson of FAITH, the Federation of ten prominent associations of India and also on board of multiple platforms.
I am also indebted to my husband who was running a highly accredited travel business and joining him gave me all the confidence. With the valuable learnings, I created a niche for myself which was highly appreciated by my colleagues at TAAI and others, which kept motivating me and challenging me and my deliverables. I competed with no one but myself and was thus able to drive success. It truly has been a beautiful journey with only love and appreciation.
Q. What is your leadership mantra?
A. As the president of TAAI, my leadership mantra has been to strive for the growth of the larger community of travel agents and never at an individual level. I believe a leader should believe in his/her people and motivate them to soar high. I remember reading somewhere – “A strong woman is self-aware. She continuously tries to overcome her fears, she knows how to control herself, and she is patient no matter the situation. She isn’t afraid to reveal her feelings because we all have them, and she shows hers without caring what other people think.” This quote describes my leadership mantra and ideas.
Q. What future work opportunities do you see for women in the hospitality, aviation and tourism domains?
A. Travel and tourism can provide women with more opportunities for workforce participation, leadership, entrepreneurship, and empowerment than many other sectors. Across the world, travel and tourism have almost twice as many female employers than other business verticals, proving that significant opportunities exist in the domain for women to run their own businesses.
Tourism promotes dialogue, peace, and goodwill and has the potential to strengthen friendships between nations. Women are perfect to play this part as they instinctively excel in building better relationships and holding ties together. The travel industry also has scope for several women drivers, guides and police. A woman is a natural multitasker, which is an essential quality for the tourism and hospitality sector. Talking about tourist guides – who better can tell a story than a woman who continuously narrates stories in a playful method to her children? Women can truly add flavour to the tourism industry with their multi-soft skills which come naturally to them. Tourism is all about creating experiences and who better than a woman to create and deliver the same with her committed attitude?
Barnali Sarkar, Executive Director, Cygnett Hotels & Resorts
Q. How is it to be a woman working in the travel and hospitality sector?
A. As the Executive Director of Cygnett Hotels, I am often asked about my experience as a woman working in the travel and hospitality sector. I am proud to say that my experience has been one of resilience, determination, and success. Like many other industries, the travel and hospitality sector has traditionally been male-dominated. However, in recent years, we have seen a shift in the industry’s mindset, and more and more women are being given opportunities to showcase their talents and rise up the ranks.
Personally, I have faced my fair share of challenges, but I have always been determined to overcome them. Over time, I have seen a change in attitudes toward women in the industry. More and more companies are recognizing the value that women bring to the table and are actively seeking to recruit and promote women in leadership positions.
Being a woman in the travel and hospitality sector has also given me a unique perspective on the industry. Women tend to have a more holistic approach to hospitality, focusing on the guest experience as a whole and paying attention to details that may be overlooked by their male counterparts. This approach has helped me to develop a keen eye for detail, which has been invaluable in my role at Cygnett Hotels.
Q. What is your leadership mantra?
A. As a leader, I adhere to the belief that success is a collaborative effort. My leadership philosophy centers around leading by example, empowering team members, and cultivating a culture of collaboration, transparency, and trust. A crucial aspect of my leadership approach is to create a supportive environment where team members feel appreciated and valued. I believe that each team member brings unique talents and abilities to the table, and it is my responsibility to ensure they receive the necessary resources, training, and support to achieve their goals and excel in their roles.
Another key element of my leadership approach is to lead by example. I hold that actions speak louder than words, and I aim to exemplify professionalism, integrity, and excellence for my team members to emulate. This requires being approachable, attentive, and willing to work alongside team members when necessary.
Lastly, I consider open and honest communication essential for building trust and collaboration within a team. I foster an environment where team members feel comfortable sharing their ideas, concerns, and feedback with me and with each other. I am committed to providing them with regular updates on company goals, strategies, and performance, facilitating informed decision-making, and promoting shared ownership of success.
Q. What future work opportunities do you see for women in the hospitality, aviation and tourism domains?
A. In recent times, the hospitality, aviation, and tourism domains have witnessed a paradigm shift toward gender diversity and inclusivity. Women are increasingly occupying leadership roles and making significant contributions to the industry’s growth and development. With the growing popularity of boutique hotels, homestays, and experiential travel, women are seizing opportunities to create innovative and unique hospitality concepts that cater to the diverse preferences of modern-day travellers.
The aviation industry has traditionally been dominated by men, but women are breaking barriers and entering non-traditional roles such as pilots, mechanics, and engineers. As the aviation sector expands, there will be an increased demand for skilled professionals, presenting women with ample opportunities to shape the future of the industry.
In the tourism industry, women are taking charge of sustainable tourism, community-based tourism, and cultural tourism. With responsible travel and eco-tourism on the rise, women are capitalizing on the opportunities to lead tourism initiatives that have a positive impact on communities and the environment. In conclusion, women are increasingly taking on diverse and dynamic roles in the hospitality, aviation, and tourism domains, presenting a promising future for the industry as a whole.
Geeta Maheshwari, Director of Hospitality & Marketing Services (H&M Services)
Q. How is it to be a woman working in the travel and hospitality sector?
A. I certainly think that women are being respected and given their due in our industry but because our business has never been considered inherently good for women, I feel that there is always scope for improvement. To begin with, we need a more equal men-to-women ratio in offices and be aware that it is important to listen to their opinions and needs. As feminism is about the equality of opportunities and cerebral capacities, it is pertinent that we focus on making space for women and supporting them in fighting gender inequality.
I wholeheartedly believe that every entrepreneur should provide the women in the office with maternity leaves and equal access to resources. To bridge the gap between men and women, I have a dominant women’s team that I personally train to ensure that they do not feel uncomfortable in any given situation. It is of utmost importance to me that my office is a safe space for women where their opinions are heard and implemented. Additionally, I offer the team maternity and paternity leaves for the new parents so they do not have to worry about juggling between jobs and the well-being of their newborns.
Q. What is your leadership mantra?
A. I always aim for the skies while having my feet firm on the ground. My mantra, “The climb will be difficult, the path unknown but passion and goodwill for the betterment of our trade will lead us all to the desired goal” helps me to apply my experience to preserve the quality and diverse representation in hospitality, sales and marketing services. It is my goal to ensure that female entrepreneurs are able to stand tall in this male-dominated world, who work hard and stop at nothing.
Hita Almeida, Director – India, Heavens Portfolio
Q. How is it to be a woman working in the travel and hospitality sector?
A. I would have to say it’s a great industry and offers equal opportunity to both genders. However, at Heavens Portfolio, we have been mainly a women-dominated company with 98 per cent female employees across our 16 offices in Asia. (We recently changed our policy and finally have one gentleman in our India office!)
From the time we started India operations in 2007 until lately, we were keen to have female talent preferably– particularly as we believe women have a stronger instinct and are able to connect with our clients and our partners fairly well. The passion and creativity besides multi-tasking have also been exceptional from our ladies.
Q. What is your leadership mantra?
A. Be yourself; every person has their unique way of comprehending and I believe in each’s individual style. Similarly, it’s up to a leader to set ethical standards and the tone of their organisation. I truly believe that one has to be guided by their leader to hone their skills however one should always retain their authenticity and individualism, rather than imitate or aspire to be like another.
Q. What future work opportunities do you see for women in the hospitality, aviation and tourism domains?
A. Opportunities are aplenty for women in all fields mentioned above. I anticipate more women in senior roles, giving a rounded approach to each industry/organisation that they step into.
Lisa Pile, Vice President Sales & General Manager Asia Pacific, Regent Seven Seas
Q. How is it to be a woman working in the travel and hospitality sector?
A. Whether you are a woman or a man, this industry is dynamic, fast-paced and forever evolving. No matter what your gender, if you have a passion for service, a lust for travel and an appreciation of various cultures and peoples, this is the industry for you. I absolutely love it. No day is the same. It never feels like work.
Q. What is your leadership mantra?
A. Lead by example. Always work hard. Success comes from dedication, discipline, hard work and for some, a little luck too.
Q. What future work opportunities do you see for women in the hospitality, aviation and tourism domains?
A. The opportunities are infinite. There are so many aspects of this dynamic industry to be explored. Find what ignites your passion. It could be a role within hotels, aviation, or luxury cruising, being a world-class travel advisor, a knowledgeable tour guide, or an expert on sustainability. The opportunities are endless and there has never been a better time to look for that perfect opportunity. This is a serious industry; however, it is also a very joyous and fulfilling one. Looking beyond the norm and thinking big would be my recommendation.
Udita Shroff, Regional Head of Marketing – South Asia, Middle East and Africa at Cathay Pacific Airways
Q. How is it to be a woman working in the travel and aviation sector?
A. I believe the travel industry is gender agnostic as we have women in leadership and executive roles within the industry. With an extremely open, yet inclusive culture at Cathay Pacific, I have experienced an environment that is conducive to growth irrespective of gender. We believe that everybody has a role in contributing to gender equity and to scale up our efforts in this space, we have the “Gender Equity Network”.
Cathay Pacific is a long-running aviation leader in driving gender equality, and our continuing commitment has been recently recognised with our inclusion in the 2023 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index (GEI). We are the first airline to be recognised globally in the GEI, and this accolade is a true testament to our company-wide dedication to embracing diversity and advancing gender equality in the workplace. On a daily basis, I feel supported to take up challenging projects and opportunities and enjoy my work.
Q. What is your leadership mantra?
A. To create value for my team and lead by example. Our teams put in the hard work, but do they go back home feeling they’ve had an opportunity to learn, grow and contribute? That’s what I ask myself and strive to drive that sense of purpose and focus. With a clear purpose, we can create value and this value can be the biggest motivator and help build strong, happy teams.
Q. What future work opportunities do you see for women in the hospitality, aviation and tourism domains?
A. While women inherently come with the right soft skills required for a service-oriented industry they are now ready to take on other areas too. The industry as a whole is experiencing a digital transformation – whether developments on the product and distribution side or using AI-based marketing and communication tools. I believe women are equipped by disposition, training and experience to handle multiple, ongoing digital changes. They come with the right balance of analytical skills and cognitive decision-making abilities – giving them an edge over what was traditionally considered technical domains.
Lubaina Sheerazi, Co-Founder & CEO, BRANDit
Q. How is it to be a woman working in the travel and hospitality sector?
A. It has been a great learning curve for me. Working in the tourism and hospitality sector gave me the opportunity to see the world from a new perspective, understand the fabric of countries, and create brand stories that click. Being a woman in this industry, like any other, had its own challenges, but coming out stronger is what we women are good at.
Q. What is your leadership mantra?
A. Tourism and destination representation is an ever-evolving profession that has a penchant to throw curveballs at us. My mantra is to stay focused on the goal and stay committed to my beliefs.
Q. What future work opportunities do you see for women in the hospitality, aviation, and tourism domains?
A. In the fast-paced world of tourism, hospitality and aviation, the sky is the limit for women. As more women now hold strategic and managerial positions, there is a positive shift towards gender parity. It’s heartening to see young, ambitious women strategizing and executing mammoth projects. There are huge opportunities in destination management, brand strategy, event management, digital marketing, and CSR for women.
Akshita M Bhanj Deo, Co-owner, The Belgadia Palace
Q. How is it to be a woman working in the travel and hospitality sector?
It is definitely challenging but this generation is leading the way in trailblazing the production line especially as we see that in most regions of the world, women make up the majority of the tourism workforce. However, women tend to be concentrated in the lowest-paid and lowest-status jobs in tourism. With an interest in wellness, crafts and culture tourism, we hope to invite more women to the travel industry.
Q. What is your leadership mantra?
A. Listen and empower the bottom line, we are nothing without our community.
Q. What future work opportunities do you see for women in the hospitality, aviation and tourism domains?
A. Homestays, boutique hotels and the turn to intimately crafted itineraries mean a new genre of tourism is attracting global and national tourists. With social media being the new tour agent, lots of opportunities are present for women to be at the frontline and manage a business while being tour agents and on-ground guides to tour groups who want more community-oriented offbeat tours.
Beate H.K. Mauder Kakkar – Managing Director, Indiva Marketing
Q. How is it to be a woman working in the travel and hospitality sector?
A. I think it is very similar to what it is like for a man working in the travel and hospitality sector, a service where, besides knowledge and professionalism, a positive, consumer-oriented attitude is an asset. And there are no shortcuts to clear focus and hard work.
Q. What is your leadership mantra?
A. Perseverance – don’t get discouraged and allow opposition and difficulties to change the course of your ambition.
Inclusiveness – embrace the wide range of different talents and backgrounds to add value, depth and creativity. And of course, kindness!
Q. What future work opportunities do you see for women in the hospitality, aviation and tourism domains?
A. In my opinion, we achieve the best possible results by working together, recognising and building on each other’s strengths, unrelated to gender. And, to strive for equality, opportunities, promotions and remunerations.
Dr. Malini Saba, Founder, Serendipty Hotel
Q. How is it to be a woman working in the travel and hospitality sector?
A. I was inspired to start my hotel business by three factors: the industry’s growth and development potential, the opportunity to make people happier, and the chance to meet people from all cultures. I believe that travel and hospitality foster inclusiveness, friendship, and harmony among people. When I first entered the sector, there were relatively few women, and most of them held entry-level roles. I am glad to see many women achieving wonderful accomplishments in positions of authority today.
My hotels offer group activities that connect and empower women for the purpose of learning and exchanging experiences. When I began my work, possibilities for women were limited because we were viewed as less productive and competent than males.
Owing to the lack of women in leadership positions, it used to be extremely difficult to articulate or discuss the obstacles experienced by female employees, but it did not prevent me from advancing. I began to prioritise learning and development, self-awareness, commitment, teamwork, and communication. As the owner, I have a unique perspective. I ensure that my female employees are treated fairly and receive the same benefits as their male counterparts.
Q. What is your leadership mantra?
A. “Treat others as you would like to be treated” is my motto for success in the hospitality and tourism industries. As I frequently say, everything has a cost. You decide what you will pay. Passion is required if you wish to pursue your passion. “Passion for proving yourself in a world where you are valued for your contributions.”
I will suggest to women who aspire to advance in the industry that they capitalise on their capacity to empathise, listen, and care for others. In their personal and professional life, women should continue to cultivate their humanity, modesty, and compassion.
Q. What future work opportunities do you see for women in the hospitality, aviation and tourism domains?
A. The industry is undergoing a significant transformation, with women taking on leadership roles and utilising their instincts and business skills. As a result of these positive developments, the future of women in the hospitality, travel, and aviation industries is bright, but there is still a long way to go. A woman still faces obstacles, such as unusual working hours, stereotypes, and the unwillingness of male coworkers and subordinates to work under the supervision of a female boss, necessitating a more proactive approach to the problem of female attrition and the development of realistic strategies to address it.
In creating the hiring processes, we should take a more employee-centric approach with the objective of fostering the holistic growth of female employees. We must promote and implement initiatives that enable women to actively participate and take positions of leadership at the grassroots level. There is a need to create greater opportunities and a supportive environment for women, including a healthy, flexible, and secure workplace.
I am confident that as businesses seek to improve gender equality, more powerful and knowledgeable women executives and employees will emerge across all industries, thereby strengthening the economy.
Deval Delivala – Co-Founder & SVP, GetSetUp
Q. How is it to be a woman working in the travel and hospitality sector?
A. As a woman in this industry, I have found that it presents unique challenges and great opportunities. I am proud to be part of an organisation that values diversity and inclusion and works to provide opportunities for people of all backgrounds, including older women.
As the Co-Founder of GetSetUp, I can attest to the importance of travel opportunities for older adults, especially older women who may not have had the chance to travel when they were younger. We have found that older adults are hungry to explore new places, learn about different cultures, and connect with others. For many older women, travel may have been out of reach earlier due to family obligations or financial constraints. Our platform has found that many people are eager to get together with people of similar ages and passions to travel and enjoy new experiences.
Providing travel opportunities for older adults is not just a matter of leisure or recreation; it is a critical component of healthy ageing. Travelling can improve cognitive function, reduce stress, and increase social connections, all essential for maintaining good health and well-being. In addition, for older women who may be more likely to experience social isolation, travelling can provide an excellent opportunity to connect with others and build new friendships.
Q. What is your leadership mantra?
A. My leadership mantra is simple: listen and learn. As a leader, you must listen to the people you work with, including employees, customers, and partners. By listening and learning from others, we can create better solutions, build stronger relationships, and achieve more tremendous success. This approach has served me well throughout my career and is a critical factor in GetSetUp’s success. In addition, we listen to the needs of the older adults in our communities and learn from them; that’s how we have gotten into the travel sector.
Q. What future work opportunities do you see for women in the hospitality, aviation and tourism domains?
A. Looking to the future, I see tremendous opportunities for women in hospitality, aviation, and tourism. Organisations prioritising diversity and inclusion will be better positioned to succeed long term. We foresee many opportunities for women to grow in the tourism and hospitality verticals.
Niharika Nigam, Director, Business Development, Jumpin Heights
Q. How is it to be a woman working in the travel and hospitality sector?
A. We are inching towards a time where that question becomes redundant- which is the greatest win. I do see fewer women from the travel industry in women’s entrepreneurial forums, but that doesn’t feel alienating. In fact, if anything, I feel like it was celebrated a lot more because of that. My journey has been novel in having seen Jumpin Heights pioneer bungy jumping in India and pave the way for adventure sports to be taken seriously in the country. And over the years I have come across many inspiring women with immense love for travel.
Q. What is your leadership mantra?
A. I am learning. I started working as a 22-year-old, so I have made a ton of mistakes along the way. Only experience can teach you real lessons. One becomes a leader of people, so understanding them and their evolving needs is the way to optimising human resources. Ultimately, decision-making has to centre around what’s best for the growth of the company.
Q. What future work opportunities do you see for women in the hospitality, aviation and tourism domains?
A. Not just is the travel sector booming, but people are also creating new business models to address the business of experiential tourism. So, opportunities are not just abundant, it is a great time to also create new ones!
After a decade of experience with Jumpin Heights, I wrote my travel fiction book called 3..2..1..JUMP, which is essentially about a woman’s love for the mountains of Rishikesh. That love drives the story from beginning to end, and it was a new way to connect with people about this immense love for travel.
Sabina Chopra, Co-Founder, Yatra Online
Q. How is it to be a woman working in the travel and hospitality sector?
A. Traditionally a male-dominated industry though the last decade has seen significant participation from women. For many decades, women in the travel and hospitality industry in India occupied the frontline positions such as receptionists, telephone operators, and travel assistants.
The 1990s saw typecast roles for women, especially in the hospitality and tourism sectors. But this is changing now for good, and women are defying prejudices by increasingly seizing managerial-level positions in the industry. I am delighted that more and more women are shattering the glass ceiling and creating their own paths in this sector.
Q. What is your leadership mantra?
A. I believe in the mantra “Lead by example and lead from the front”. If we constantly work hard and be empathetic to our teams, we can definitely set an example for our peers and other women entrepreneurs in the industry.
As our work environment is demanding and dynamic, one needs to understand and support team members to ensure that we stand by them as they commit themselves to the organisation. Primarily, encouraging women team members who are extremely committed and dedicated to work but require flexibility. Creating a conducive work environment for 100 per cent commitment of our employees and helping them with agile and quick solutions to remove roadblocks will certainly pave their way.
Q. What future work opportunities do you see for women in the hospitality, aviation, and tourism domains?
A. Work opportunities are galore in all these domains as well as related sectors. The industry offers a brilliant opportunity for women professionals to come to the forefront with more flexible hours and roles that allow them to meet their personal and professional goals. Today, jobs do not get defined by gender, but by achievements and due credit. The importance of diversity in leadership teams has also been recognized, and again and I look forward to see many more women join the industry in the subsequent years.
Rajani Nair Deb, Commercial Director, Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn, Bengaluru Embassy Manyata Business Park
Q. How is it to be a woman working in the travel and hospitality sector?
A. The hospitality sector has traditionally been an industry where women team members have thrived especially because of the emotional intelligence we present naturally.I have stories to tell, not stuff to show – that would be the title of my career line in the business.
Unlike many other industries where women have had to struggle to make inroads, hospitality has traditionally welcomed women team members. Due to the nature of the industry which runs round the clock, a significant portion of women’s workforce drops off in order to manage work-life balance and family priorities as primary caregivers.
However, the industry has evolved over the years and slowly but steadily there are returnships and flexible work programs that are offered to experienced and talented resources who show interest in the business. Post-pandemic digital acceleration has enabled flexible work culture better and global brands like Hilton are investing in developing talent that contributes effectively through this model.
The love and respect that I have earned in my career is amazing and a motivating factor for me, every day. To break stereotypes, motivate young minds, mould careers, to forge paths for tomorrow’s leaders – this is my privilege as a woman leader in the business today. As a working woman, I am cognizant of all the hopes that the team has entrusted me with.
Q. What is your leadership mantra?
A. Let us keep it real, consistent and conversational. A leader is only as successful as her ability to inspire trust, show the dream and empower the team to deliver.
Q. What future work opportunities do you see for women in the hospitality, aviation, and tourism domains?
A. Women will continue to be an active part of the travel, tourism and hospitality workforce. We will still have a long way to go when it comes to pay parity at grassroot level, especially in the unorganised or home-grown tourism businesses. However, the industry overall continues to evolve at a great pace and exciting times are ahead.
There will be changes in the way we approach employment in our business. The “Gig” economy is the solution of the future. This is very suitable for a lot of skill-based talent who prefer shorter hours – especially women who are balancing work and home responsibilities.
There has been a depletion in the number of trained professionals in the industry post-pandemic. Women tend to be equally quality but lesser mobile due to familial ties. We will see more women gainfully employed at all levels in the hospitality business.
Rachel Goenka, Restaurateur & Chef
Q. How is it to be a woman working in the travel and hospitality sector?
A. The situation is changing now, as women in the hotel business are defying prejudices. Women are increasingly filling executive roles in the business, paving the way for successful careers. The hospitality industry is really competitive – especially when it comes to the Food and Beverages domain. Yet, with all the hospitality associations and organizations that exist to support businesses, there was really nothing that focus specifically on early-stage entrepreneurship for women and non-binary business owners.
Q. What is your leadership mantra?
A. We are all busy juggling many priorities. In today’s culture, being busy is a badge of honour, and this drive for action can often be very helpful. It enables us to get things done, overcome procrastination, and in a number of situations, it can enhance our performance. But a constant experience of being busy means our bodies are never at rest. We are “always on” and rarely take the time to slow down.
Namrata Wadhawan, General Counsel, Treehouse Hotels & Resorts
Q. How is it to be a woman working in the travel and hospitality sector?
A. I consider myself privileged to be working in the travel and hospitality sector especially since there are hardly any female lawyers working in this industry. The respect, courtesy and geniality extended to me, at all levels, as a woman is something that I had rarely ever experienced in all my years as a lawyer.
Q. What is your leadership mantra?
A. People should be recognised for their work and effort and that is the watchword the top cadre at Treehouse Hotels lives by. I believe that one’s sincere intent and effort must be appreciated so that they remain motivated and continually strive to better themselves. It is not necessary that one succeeds in every endeavour, what is important is to recognise the initiatives taken and guide them to either improve or help them see where they faltered so that they can avoid making the same mistakes. I believe in nurturing talent in order to create leaders of tomorrow and it is possible only if we give confidence to our people that they are appreciated, cared for and have a sense of belonging because it is the people who make the organizations and not vice versa.
Q. What future work opportunities do you see for women in the hospitality, aviation and tourism domains?
A. Women are an integral part of all these three sectors; hospitality, aviation and tourism. I honestly believe that women are a perfect blend of compassion and gentleness on one hand and sheer grit, determination, hard work and business acumen on the other, all of which are the prerequisites for these industries. Gone are the days when there were gender-specific jobs; therefore, women need to be seen at the helm of affairs holding key positions in the CXO band of established brands. If they are recognised for their caliber and are excelling as CEOs of leading financial institutions, it’s about time that they fill top positions in the hospitality, aviation and tourism sectors as well.
Aparajita Mukhopadhyay, Chief Operating Officer, IntrCity SmartBus
Q. How is it to be a woman working in the travel and hospitality sector?
A. For many decades, women in India’s travel and hospitality business worked only in the front office. However, this is changed now, and women are increasingly holding senior positions in the industry, as well as starting their own travel and hospitality companies. According to various industry studies, women today are rapidly carving out a space for themselves in the sector. Women professionals are making decisions and demonstrating their leadership abilities by successfully running businesses.
Q. What is your leadership mantra?
A. Over the years, the road to achieving leadership positions for women in the corporate industry has been bumpy, but recent years have witnessed a remarkable surge in women occupying top leadership roles. My personal success strategy for women striving to attain leadership positions in the corporate world is to make your presence known by speaking up and expressing your opinions confidently. It’s crucial to articulate your ideas and never hold back to get noticed and make an impact. We have a natural strength of empathy and use that to the benefit and be a great people’s person.
Expanding your professional network is vital to achieving success. Studies have proven that having a robust network has a positive influence on your career prospects and performance. Building strong relationships with key individuals and exchanging valuable information and experiences can lead to professional growth and advancement. Personally, networking has played a crucial role in my career progression.
Taking ownership of challenging assignments and being willing to take risks can create a positive impression among your peers and help elevate your position. However, it’s crucial to maintain authenticity and refrain from altering your personality for anyone. Always have faith in yourself and your team; it is very important to constantly motivate the team members and get engaged in team-building exercises to achieve organizational goals.
Q. What future work opportunities do you see for women in the hospitality, aviation and tourism domains?
A. Intercity travel is regarded as one of the forerunners in driving expansion in India’s economic growth, and as the foundation of all travel and tourism-related activities, it generates enormous employment opportunities both directly and indirectly. As more women enter the profession, their contribution to the sector has grown in recent years. Although bus travel is seen as an appealing sector for women, female participation in management and leadership roles has been underrepresented.
Today, women are increasingly assuming leadership roles in technology, business, tech-enabled operations, marketing, and communication, just to name a few. They are paving the way for successful careers and leaving a lasting impression through their hospitality instincts.
Nowadays, more and more women are breaking the glass ceiling by pursuing senior positions in the travel industry. Women in senior positions are bringing about good changes in the intercity travel market, such as fostering a more inclusive and diverse workplace culture, preserving work-life balance, and so on. The travel industry is undergoing a dramatic transformation, with women taking the lead with their natural intuition and business savvy. The future of women in the hospitality business appears brighter with such positive advances, but there is still a long way to go.
In the end, it’s all about survival of the fittest, not about man or woman. Similarly, devotion and perseverance will go a long way not only in the travel and hospitality industries, but in any field that a woman decides to follow, however initially your perseverance levels must be a notch higher than your male competitors, and then there is no turning back.
Sharmilee Kapur, Co-Founder & Director, Atmantan Wellness Centre
Q. How is it to be a woman working in the travel and hospitality sector?
A. Hospitality and the ethos of this sector come naturally to women. As consumers, women are the dominant decision-makers. When it comes to travel and hospitality, and as colleagues, women bring empathy, warm guest relations and natural hospitable flair (which many call the woman’s touch). Being a woman in this industry, I look towards curating meaningful, experiential and relevant offerings within our forte of wellness and considering that both wellness and spirituality are a natural extension of my personality, it is what I carry with me to work.
Q. What is your leadership mantra?
A. ‘To truly believe in our offering, and love what we stand for’ is my leadership mantra. I always encourage the team to be relationship-oriented (over being work-oriented) as social support to our guests is a brand promise from us here, at Atmantan.
Q. What future work opportunities do you see for women in the hospitality and tourism domain?
A.Women are no longer limited in their work life the way they used to be a few decades ago (earlier due to this sector not being as organized, travel, safety, or longevity were valid concerns for women). And we know that most women love to travel, and nurture relationships as well, thus the work opportunities in this sector seem endless.
Devika Saigal Kapoor, CEO, M2M Ferries
Q. How is it to be a woman working in the travel and hospitality sector?
A. Traditionally the maritime industry has been very male-oriented. The travel and hospitality sector has plenty of pathways for women to enter the industry, but there are still a lot of challenges that women face because of hard-wired societal constructs, odd and late working hours, prejudice etc.
Working at the cross-section of both these industries, my approach is to focus on my professionalism. I believe over a period of time delivering the M2M experience at a global standard, I believe people now look beyond my gender and toward what we have achieved. My partner and I are both extremely strong about promoting gender equality in the workplace and to this end, we have women working in every department. We try to foster a workplace where women feel comfortable and empowered to come to work.
Q. What is your leadership mantra?
A. Leading an organisation that is a pioneer in its sector comes with a unique set of challenges and circumstances. Infrastructure projects take time to deliver revenue and investor value so there is tremendous pressure to deliver. My mantra is simple – we are in this together. There is no job in the customer journey that I am not willing to do myself. And the team has seen that – they have seen me issue tickets when required and even stood to check passengers in. We have built an organisation where even the juniormost trainee feels comfortable making suggestions for improvement. This creates a sense of ownership that helps deliver every single day.
Q. What future work opportunities do you see for women in the hospitality, aviation and tourism domains?
A. In the current standing, women have a paradoxical role in the hospitality, aviation and tourism departments. While women are key to delivering results, we see them in non-managerial and non-leadership roles. The industry by its operational nature requires long and odd hours and the general perception is that women will not rise to the occasion. This needs to change.
The reality is that we see women performing each day. Organisations need to make a conscious effort in providing opportunities to reduce gender inequality. At M2M Ferries, we have women in key positions even beyond me – our head of customer experience, head of commercial, and head of ticketing are all women. We have women in every aspect of the business and as we grow, we hope to move them up the ladder into bigger roles. I believe it’s time organisations embrace their role in changing lives because, with every woman that enters and remains in the workforce, we know it changes the lives of the entire family in a positive way.
Shipra Khanna, Celebrity Chef and Author
Q. How is it to be a woman working in the travel and hospitality sector?
A.It’s an amazing sector to work in especially for women. It’s really rewarding and full of opportunities and experiences which adds to growth and enjoy the process while learning at every step so gratification is really immeasurable.
Q. What is your leadership mantra?
A. A Good leader is as good as her/ his Team. ‘ Nurture your team as you lead ‘ that’s my only Mantra.
Q. What future work opportunities do you see for women in the hospitality, aviation and tourism domains?
A: The opportunities in the mentioned fields and others are immeasurable as I mentioned before it’s upto women to take charge. Women have come of age and they’re leading their workspace no matter wherever they are which is really empowering! Gender bias should be the thought of yesterday and today we are here to change tomorrow and make way for the next generation of women to lead and take charge of space and opportunities.