International Women’s Day 2019

Today is International Women’s Day! A day that should really be celebrated every day of the year. Let’s take today to all unite and work together towards our common goal of equality. A day to reflect on how far women have come this year, and a day to celebrate women’s achievements. Over the next week, […]

Evolvin’ Women: A Social Enterprise with a Focus on Hospitality

Assia Riccio is the founder of the Evolvin’ Women, an idea that occurred to her in 2011 when after winning the prestigious Olive Barnet award she could take up courses at Cornell. It was at Cornell that she met Wilma, a Ghanaian who asked why she was there – Assia was one of the youngest […]

Posadas in Paraguay – turning homes into homestays

This effort in Paraguay felt like a perfect fit for our International Women’s Day focus series. A public-private partnership between household goods company Inverfin and SENATUR, the Paraguayan tourism department, has provided investment to women who wish to turn their private homes into ‘posadas’ – tourist lodges. The program has been a huge success, with […]

“Beyond the Rings” – a shortfilm about the Kayan women

A while back we were approached by filmmaker Marko Randelovic, who shared with us his film Beyond The Rings, which takes viewers on a journey to meet the Kayan women, also known as “the long necked women”. It’s a beautifully shot film which approaches its subjects with sensitivity and is narrated by one of the […]

TripaSista – a travel directory for women

This post is a contribution by Kim Burgess, co-founder of TripaSista, an Australian travel directory dedicated to catering for women travelers. Growing up on the east coast of Australia during the 1970’s and 80’s was idyllic and beautiful albeit quiet and isolated – and very “white”. The only way to experience life beyond the mind-numbing […]

Maram Kokani, first female General Manager in Saudi Arabia

The below was reproduced with permission from Inge Huijbrechts, Global Vice President Responsible Business for Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. In it, Maram Kokani tells of her professional life as the first female General Manager in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Worldwide Hospitality Award winner 2017. I have been very fortunate that my career in […]

Pottering about in Crete – one woman’s solution to beating business seasonality in Greece

Frosso Bora is a great example of a female tourism entrepreneur – one who has created a successful and profitable business in a traditionally patriarchal country. Despite having the additional disadvantage of being a non-local in a ‘closed’ island community (Rethymno, Crete), Frosso’s determination, business acumen, and artistic talent have seen her establish a successful […]

Focus on women – a new way to travel

Alice Fauveau is the founder of ‘Focus on Women’, a travel agency created in 2009 in order to empower and increase the visibility of women around the world through travel. A passionate traveller, Alice saw the need to create a new kind of tourism, one that was focused on the global culture of womankind. At […]

Celebrating women in tourism for IWD 2018

It’s that time of year again – today is International Women’s Day! Sometimes it feels bittersweet to need a day to ‘officially’ celebrate who and what we are – when, really, we should be celebrating every day of the year. But this year it feels different. This year, with over 12 months of practical action […]