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Travel industry sees rise in female directors
The number of women in senior management travel roles has risen in the last decade, but is still regarded not high enough.
That was the conclusion of the first ever ‘Women in Travel Empowerment Index’ launched by the UK Association of Women Travel Executives (AWTE) this week.
The index, compiled by the University of East London’s Business and Law School, found 15% of board directors in the cruise sector were female in 2005, climbing to 29% in 2015.
Meanwhile, tour operators have seen an increase in female directors from 10% in 2005 to 20% last year.
The report also found that while senior women agree that there are not enough females in senior roles within the travel industry, they are universally against forcing companies to meet gender quotas.
Female respondents were in agreement that people should only be selected for board level roles on merit and not gender.
"The travel industry has a majority of female staff right across the sector, so while there has been a positive improvement of women in senior positions in the past decade we clearly have some way to go before we see a more gender equal industry," said AWTE chair Debbee Dale, pictured here.
"There has not been any definitive study on the role of women in travel and so any debate has been based on anecdotes or gut feel. Our Empowerment Index will put some actual statistics against a more meaningful debate and the interviews will add real insight too. We intend now to undertake the survey annually to create a real benchmark for the role and influence of women in the travel sector."
The report was based on figures gathered from 12 major tour operators and cruise lines operating in the UK.
A further seven in-depth interviews with senior female directors was also instigated as part of the study.
From now on, the report will be undertaken at the end of each year and will be available for download to members on the AWTE website, or contact [email protected] for more information.
The AWTE plans to expand the report in future with additional travel sectors added to the survey.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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