This issue’s focus on women in the hotel industry hits home for me. Growing up, I watched my mother juggle countless roles in our family-owned hotel – front-desk manager, concierge, housekeeper, you name it. Her dedication and versatility were the heart of our family and our business.
I’m sure many of you have similar stories. Our parents, especially the women among them, inspired us to enter this industry and strive for more. For many of our women members, their mothers’ tireless work fueled their drive to aim higher and achieve even greater things.
The hospitality industry stands out because women comprise most of the workforce. They are not only the backbone of our families but also our industry. Today, they represent 51.2% of the industry – quite a leap from 1980 when women held a minority of management roles. This progress is a testament to women’s hard work and resilience in our industry and should give us all a reason to feel proud and hopeful about the future.
That said, there remains much to be done. Studies show hotels with women in ownership roles outperform the brand average RevPAR index by 5%. This data highlights the positive impact of female leadership on business performance and should drive us to continue supporting and promoting women into leadership positions.
Women’s contributions to AAHOA have been nothing short of transformative. From the founding Women in AAHOA group to the Women Hoteliers Committee to the launch of HerOwnership, women have played a critical role in our association’s growth and success. Today, women comprise about 40% of our membership – a significant and growing presence shaping our organization’s future.
As we celebrate the achievements of women in our field, we must also tackle their challenges. Supporting women means creating opportunities for them to excel through mentorship programs, work-life balance resources, and equal access to leadership roles. Recognizing these challenges is the first step toward making real progress.
Let’s take a moment to honor the remarkable women who have driven our industry forward. Their dedication, innovation, and leadership are vital to our continued success. As an association, we must continue supporting and empowering these women, ensuring they have a seat at the table, as well as the tools and opportunities to lead and succeed. The future of our industry depends on it.
As Past Chairwoman Jagruti Panwala said earlier this year, “When I became the first and only AAHOA Chairwoman in its 35-year history, I did not believe for one second that I happened to be the only qualified woman in three-and-a-half decades. Quite the contrary. It is my belief and experience that in many cases, women take the lead in running the family hotel business and are more than qualified to take leadership positions in associations to better our industry.”
As we look to the future, it’s our collective responsibility to ensure Jagruti Panwala won’t be the last woman to lead our association.
