Representative ImageThe tourism industry has made strides with the historic appointment of Shaikha Al Nowais as the first female Secretary-General of UN Tourism. However, gender equality remains a challenge, as women occupy only 33% of board positions in travel companies, despite constituting 54% of the workforce, according to Equality in Tourism. To address these issues, Belvera Partners convened four female leaders to discuss the state of women's leadership in travel tech.
Astrid Kastberg, Managing Director at RateHawk, highlighted the importance of supportive company cultures. At RateHawk, 63% of employees and 60% of managers are women, which Kastberg attributes to a culture that values flexibility and diverse personalities. Similarly, Marianna Gelardi, VP of Sales at RateGain, co-chairs SHE@RateGain, a group fostering career growth and diversity. Gelardi emphasised the need for safe spaces where women can share experiences and support each other.
Leadership styles also differ by gender, with women often leading through empathy and coaching, according to May Hertonen, Senior Customer Success Manager at Valpas. Hertonen noted that women often rely on influence before gaining formal authority. Amaia Marsà, VP of the Tech Tourism Cluster, pointed out that perceptions of gender inequality vary significantly between men and women, with 63% of women believing gender has impacted their careers, compared to 32% of men.
The discussion also touched on motherhood, with 22% of women delaying it for career reasons. The leaders offered advice for future female leaders, encouraging them to claim their successes and build networks of trusted allies
This story was selected and published by a human editor, with content adapted from original press material using AI tools. Spot an error? Report it here.
