Travel industry marks International Women’s Day

Travel industry marks International Women’s Day

Wednesday marked International Women’s Day, and the role of women in the travel industry was both celebrated and critiqued at events.

JITO held its Women for Women Day event in Sydney with 500 attendees. The speaker program included Contiki’s Katrina Barry, Carnival’s Jennifer Vandekreeke, MSC Cruises’ Lynn Clarke, Carlson Wagonlit’s Lisa Akeroyd, Insight Vacations’ Alex O’Connor and Travelport’s Kaylene Shuttlewood.

Across town, the annual Women in Tourism leadership lunch saw Accor’s Chief Operating Officer Simon McGrath, Consultant Peter Hook and Hayley Baillie, Owner & Founder of Baillie Lodges lead a panel discussion covering gender equality, women in the workplace and the role of women in industry, hosted by Holly Galbraith and Emma Castle with over 100 attendees.

Questions were raised around the need to set quotas for females on boards.

“Quotas are the only way we can get this to happen, otherwise nothing will change,” Intrepid Group CIO Michelle Beveridge said.

Kaylene Shuttlewood addressed the audience on women being chosen on merit, rather than to fulfil quotas.

“Women are seen as risky candidates – no appetite for risk, indecisive, unpredictable shows of emotion. But there’s also the double bind of being too assertive.”

“The challenge is finding an acceptable balance to be confident but not aggressive or pushy,” Shuttlewood said.

“If I want a position in a board I want it on merit.”

Shuttlewood said that there as a demographic divide, with females under 45 focused on appointments driven by merit.

“It’s not a balance, it’s a juggle. It’s about being present,” Penny Spencer said.

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