The Future is Female – Celebrating Women’s Day

Mar 8, 2021

Where there’s will, there’s women
And where there’s women there is always a way.

Amanda Gorman – Poet – ‘The Way Forward’

International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. We’re highlighting the incredible women in the destinations and hotels that we represent – women who manage, orchestrate, challenge, lead and make vital decisions every day – at home and at work.

Kenyan-born Ruth, MD & CEO of Brogibro Safaris & Events in East Africa, loves tourism with a passion! She’s patient, proactive, a forward-thinker and can multitask – which is just as well, as since 2005 she has been involved with every aspect of her business – all to ensure that her clients have the most incredible experience possible.

She believes that the tourism industry is all about diversity, growth and innovation.

“Women are strongly represented in the tourism industry worldwide. The number of women in the tourism industry has grown tremendously and this has empowered women at community level with community-based programmes by women-led tourist companies. It’s just awesome!”

Anne Arrowsmith - 137 Pillars house Chiang Mai

Growing up in a village on the Wales-England border, Anne, Corporate GM of 137 Pillars Hotels & Resorts (including 137 Pillars House Chiang Mai and 137 Pillars Suites & Residences, Bangkok), devoured the works of acclaimed female author, Agatha Christie. These murder-mystery books strongly influenced her choice of career – wisely, she rejected a life of crime – instead choosing to be a globetrotting hotelier.

When asked if she could turn back time and offer advice to herself as a young girl, Anne replied;

“Believe in yourself and be yourself – so often we feel pressured to ‘fit in” and compromise who we are and what we believe in. Believe you are the equal of ALL but avoid believing you are superior to others. Retain a sense of humour. Being able to laugh reduces stress, improves your mood and is a great connector with others.“

Anchalika is the Founder and Managing Director of AKARYN Hotel Group. This mother of two set up Akaryn in order to assist luxury, boutique hotel owners to enjoy professional long term operations, in the same way that other larger hotels can.

‘Women are nurturing by nature and this is just what hospitality is about. Hospitality is a people business, from staff to guests. When you operate with empathy you have already won half the battle. Women are expected to make sacrifices for their family. In Asia there is more of a support system and help to raise children than in the West. I have had to make that choice in the past, but I make it willingly because I would not miss my time with my kids for anything in the world.”

In a world of brilliant turquoise views, ultra-sophisticated service, and effortless perfection, two women stand out: Maria Luisa Lalli and Henar Gil Rios – the General Managers of OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI and OZEN LIFE MAADHOO.
Luisa is a seasoned hotelier from Italy with over eleven years of experience in the Maldives. Her innately empathetic approach puts every guest at ease, building genuine connections that often result in repeat visits. A native of Spain, Henar is a global citizen and is at her best working under high pressure – using initiative, in-depth knowledge, and creativity to lead her team to success. Read more here.

Riva Hotels (Riva Arun and Riva Surya) in Thailand is definitely a women-led business! The owner, Khun Supapan, is the third generation of a family of inspirational females – women way ahead of their time, who challenged, shaped and smashed the status quo. You can read more here about their extraordinary history.

Known by her nickname, Joi is the Director of Sales for both hotels. Born in the south of Thailand, Joi now lives in Bangkok where she gets involved with marketing, revenue management, promotions and product development. Usually an avid-traveller, these days she is content to explore Thailand and the old part of Bangkok where the hotels are located so she can pass this knowledge on to the hotel guests.

Sala Hospitality has some exquisite beach resorts including SALA Phuket Mai Khao Beach Resort and SALA Samui Chaweng Beach Resort. Director of Sales, Pla, has been with the group for over four years and in the hotel industry for 20 years. As well as working in some of the most exotic locations in Thailand, Pla feels it’s the people you meet, the cultures you experience, the stories you hear and the challenges that you face every day that make the job so worthwhile.

“Women show their strength in leadership skills, negotiation skills and emotional control. We are stronger and tougher than people expect when dealing with business. Women have developed in a positive way which should be acceptable at all levels.”

Rose’s rise to co-founder and Managing Director of Mangosteen Ayurveda & Wellness Resort in Phuket, Thailand, was a result of an interest in health and fitness due to her own health issues, a lot of hard work, and the loving support from her parents. She’s a continual learner – taking courses in spa management, Ayurveda, food cleanliness, anatomy, physiology, yoga, meditation and more. Rose brings all this knowledge into the resort where she is in charge of the kitchen, from source to table; and developing the spa ingredients and treatments. A regular face around the resort, join Rose in the quest for better health through a healthy heart with yoga, beach runs and nutritious food. Her energy and enthusiasm are both inspiring and infectious!

Young, successful and highly driven, Deeksha, MD of Versatile Consultancy, is a role model for women in the UAE. She has spoken at various events including the International Women Entrepreneurs Show 2020 and has been featured in publications. Originally from India, Deeksha moved to Dubai almost seven years ago. It was while working with her father’s travel company, Versatile Tourism, that she saw an opportunity to set up Versatile Consultancy, specialising in recruitment for the tourism industry. Just recently, after seeing so many people in the travel industry lose their jobs, Deeksha partnered with a Florida-based company to start a tourism job portal to help these job-seekers, and to support tourism-related tech start-ups.

The iconic landscape of Halong Bay is said to have been formed from the body of a Mother Dragon who lay on the land to protect it from invaders. Quite fitting considering that a woman is at the helm of Bhaya Cruises – the biggest cruise operator in Vietnam’s most famous bay. Vice President, Jerri, focuses on sales, marketing, finance, HR and overseas operations – with increasing revenue, and raising service standards being of the upmost importance. Her previous roles have taken her all over the world, while this current role indulges her love of water. Enthused by the female-inspired surrounds, Jerri believes that women have both softness and strength, and are therefore perfect in an industry that deals with people with passion and intensity.