Does hospitality industry have...Gender Equity?

Hospitality industry has been considered as one of the forerunners in growth in India's service sector. Though the hotel industry is an appealing one, with diverse workforce, women have, historically, been underrepresented.

However, the situation is changing, and women are, today, finding their rightful place in all segments of the industry. Ashok Malkani, to commemorate the International Women's Day, views the opportunities available to women in the industry and tries to assess the gender parity that is now visible, unlike in the past, and the future of women in the industry

International Women's Day has been observed on 8th March for over a century to recognize and celebrate women's social, economic and political achievements. It is celebrated to commemorate gender equality but it is observed that women have always been. considered to be a degree below males in almost all industries, including hospitality. Women have fought against all this over the years to gain equal status in the hotel industry.

Supreet Kaur Bakshi, Cluster Learning & Development Manager, Sheraton Hyderabad Hotel, says, "Women have indeed faced significant barriers and discrimination across various sectors. However, over the years, women have made remarkable strides in their fight for equal status and recognition within the hotel industry through various strategies and efforts. Working with Marriott International for the past 9 years, I have neither felt any discrimination nor been made to feel that I was a degree below the male counterparts. The company definitely believes in putting people first and not having a gender bias."

She further adds, "Women in the hotel industry have been actively working to ensure that their contributions receive the recognition they deserve, employing various strategies to address the issue of under appreciation. Here's how women have been striving to settle this disparity and their progress in doing so: