A former top executive at Travel Leaders has filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against the company.
Mai Meyaart is alleging a number of offenses including sexual harassment, wrongful dismissal and denial of equal pay.
Meyaart spent five years at Travel Leaders and was vice president of the hotel division.
The suit describes the company culture as ‘toxic, male-dominated, misogynistic, and dysfunctional’ which discriminated against women.
It names Travel Leaders CEO Ninan Chacko and Travel Leaders Network and Leisure Group president John Lovell as defendants.
The main accusation is directed against Lovell who sexually harassed her, made lewd comments and took unlawful retaliatory action when his advances were spurned, it claims.
Meyaart was ‘propositioned for sex, harassed, and ultimately wrongfully terminated without cause,’ by Lovell.
"Several officers and members of the board of directors expressed shock that Mrs. Meyaart was summarily terminated," the suit goes on to say. Mrs. Meyaart was given no opportunity to fight for her job and be considered for any other position within her entire organization. It was obvious that she was forced out of Travel Leaders Group for malevolent and unjustified reasons."
It claims there are other victims of sexual harassment within the company.
Travel Leaders called the legal action ‘meritless.’
"We will vigorously defend that position and have no further comment on this litigation beyond our filing," the company said.
