Reflecting on Women Leading Travel & Hospitality, One Year in the Making!
I know, I know, we’re two weeks into the new year and everyone is rolling their eyes every time they come across a headline telling them to “reflect” on something. But stay with me … I’m using this reflection to brag about what this amazing community has accomplished in the past year.
Women Leading Travel & Hospitality’s priority when it was launched exactly one year ago was to unite, inspire and empower the community of executive women leaders in the travel and hospitality industry by providing unparalleled resources, support and motivation to achieve personal and professional growth.
What we didn’t realize was how much YOU would unite, inspire and empower us — and each other — with your candor, insights, thought-provoking conversation, and incredible successes.
The travel and hospitality industry dealt with a myriad of challenges, including staffing issues, navigating the Centers for Disease Control guidance on COVID-19 and vaccines, forced cancellations, and belligerent customers. Travel and hospitality leaders were quick to adapt on everything from last-minute cancellation policies to extended stays.
What I love about this group is that you were willing to share, open to being vulnerable, and down to try new things. No matter what you’re going through — as a director, vice president, or C-suite executive — someone else in your industry is very likely going through the same thing, and now you’ve got a network of women to collect feedback from, share ideas with, and celebrate successes with. Nothing warms my heart more than seeing our members connect and collectively achieve success, whether that be a promotion, a collaboration, or even just making a new friend.
Speaking of achievements, let’s review just a few of yours. In 2021, you:
- increased your efforts around DEI;
- celebrated each other’s successes in the first annual Top Women in Travel & Hospitality report;
- shared experiences, knowledge and ideas at Women Leading Travel & Hospitality’s in-person events;
- held virtual, monthly peer group meetings to commiserate and commemorate;
- got promoted, changed jobs and launched new ventures;
- navigated impossible travel restrictions;
- showed us how to lead through crisis; and
- so much more!
As we embark on the new year, Women Leading Travel & Hospitality’s mission hasn’t changed. The team has big plans for 2022, and we look forward to sharing valuable experiences, connections and content with you. If there’s anything you would like to see from Women Leading Travel & Hospitality this year, or if you have questions or any other feedback, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to reach out to me at malbiges@napco.com.
Cheers,
