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8 March, 2023

IWD: Carnival’s VP Australia discusses how the cruise line promotes female leadership

For International Women’s Day we’ve caught up with a few spectacular ladies in the travel industry and this time we’re with Kara Glamore, VP Carnival Cruise Line Australia.

Glamore sat down with us to shine a light on empowering women in the workplace, what’s the best female-friendly cruise and where the industry has room for improvement.

Check it out below!

Travel Weekly: What’s your favourite way Carnival empowers women in the workplace?

Kara Glamore: Diversity, equity and inclusion have long been big priorities for all our staff and guests at Carnival and are only getting stronger. We take the responsibility of championing women and advancing more women into leadership seriously. We are continuing to develop ways to be an organisation that inspires, empowers and advocates for women. I’m proud to be a senior leader at a company that has been voted as a “World’s Top Female Friendly Company of 2022” for the 2nd year in a row. (Forbes)

TW: What does Carnival want to promote this International Women’s Day?

KG: This International Women’s Day, Carnival wants to shine a light on female leadership and celebrate our incredible team of female staff. As an organisation, we are extremely lucky to be led by some remarkable female leaders including our global president Christine Duffy, who day-to-day continues to be a strong supporter of women’s leadership and career advancement in the travel industry.

Christine Duffy in Sydney

TW: Where does the broader industry have room for improvement when it comes to women’s issues?

KG: All industries still have work to do when it comes to women’s equality. We need to lift each other up, celebrate each other’s achievements and continue to put more women in positions of leadership. I’m proud to work for a company that champions women.

TW: Tell me about a women’s initiative in a travel company (other than Carnival) that you admire.

KG: Prior to working at Carnival, I spent a number of years at Expedia here in Australia. As a technology-led company, they had a key focus behind supporting women in tech and were committed to having gender balance in all roles, inclusive of leadership positions. To help develop and maintain this effort they provided numerous tech training modules for upskilling, higher education opportunities, and a mentorship program to help guide your career path through the eyes of a senior leader. I found this an incredibly thorough and supportive approach that benefitted women with both hard and soft skills.

TW: What’re some itineraries that Carnival finds quite popular with women? Which of these particularly spark your interest?

KG: I think one of the best trips for women, especially as a girls’ getaway, is our 5-night cruise to Tasmania. Along with all of the fun things you can do onboard (spa, shows, pasta-making class, cocktails at Alchemy Bar), when you arrive in Hobart you can visit the MONA, tour one of many gin distilleries, indulge your inner foodie with a choice of restaurants in Salamanca Place, and, let’s not forget, go shopping. This cruise is long enough to feel like you’ve been away but short enough not to miss the kiddos too much.

Hobart lookout

TW: Where do you think Carnival still has room to improve when it comes to women’s issues?

KG: It’s important that all businesses continue to strive for gender equality and create positive change and I’m proud to say promoting equal opportunities and empowerment for females and all employees is a key priority for Carnival. In addition to being honoured as one of the world’s top companies for women, last year Carnival Cruise Line earned a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2022 Corporate Equality Index, marking the company as a Best Place to Work for Equality and LGBTQ+ for the sixth consecutive year.

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Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

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