Top Female Leaders in the Hospitality Industry

Author: Jarya Kotyleng

We are dedicating this article to women in the hospitality industry. Throughout this piece, we have highlighted some of the key female leaders in the hospitality sector.

There is no way to list all the influential leaders in the hospitality and travel industry in a single article. Nevertheless, there are resources available that identify a number of these prominent women in the hotel industry and the hospitality sector as a whole.

A striking fact about the hospitality industry is that it is one of the few sectors that has a healthy gender distribution. Therefore, as other sectors work to reduce their gender bias, the hospitality industry boasts an equal contribution from men and women.

While it is unfair to name just a few, we have picked out some of the most influential personalities in the hospitality industry in an effort to be both short and informative.

So let's get started with a short and concise list of the most influential people in the hospitality industry.

Angela Brav

We've all heard of global hotel giant IHG. Angela Brav was a leader for Europe at Inter-Continental Hotel Group (IHG). Angela joined IHG in 1988 and was appointed Managing Director for Europe in August 2011. She then joined a hotel and consultancy company before joining Hertz in November 2019.

During her time at IHG, she was responsible for business improvement, scale-up, operations, and performance across all hostel and home manufacturers in Europe. Her name is synonymous with effective female leadership in the hospitality industry. She delivers great operational improvements with ease and style.

Amanda Afiya

Amanda has a background in journalism from The Caterer. Over two decades, she has written about hospitality. In addition, she is the co-founder and director of Sauce Intel.

Formerly, she had been responsible for The Caterer magazine's weekly e-book, online publication, the daily content for thecaterer.com, and other products in the organization's marketplace.

As a true inspiration to women leaders in the hospitality industry, she also happens to be a strong advocate and member of the hospitality movement's publicity communications committee.

Hemma Varma

A member of Marriott's global corporate citizenship team since 2005. She has recently been appointed as a strategic advisor to the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance. One of the world's largest hotel companies, Marriott is one of the most successful hospitality companies in the world.

Her leadership role within the Marriott group is appreciated and applauded. She has operated the platform for CSR information for both internal and external publics through a peer review advisory council and has consulted with the company to align CSR dreams and strategy with the needs of the business.

She has been working in this area continuously for over 20 years. Her background and work style has made her a very popular leader in the hospitality industry.

Madhur Jaffrey

Delhi-born, Madhur Jaffrey arrived in England at the age of 19 to pursue her studies in acting at RADA and her passion for comedy. While in London, she desperately missed her family's cuisine and her mother would send her some recipes to learn how to cook.

She acted in English television, film, and radio programs, and then relocated to New York City, where she started writing about food to earn an income and pay for her children's education. This venture into food writing resulted in best-selling books and subsequent television programs, which were made in vogue by Madhur's outspoken nature.

Now that you know women who have marked their generations in the hospitality world, you are ready to step into the working world and take on the challenge of becoming a recognized hospitality leader. If you are looking to earn an internationally recognized hospitality management qualification in the United States or Europe, start your journey today! We not only provide you with theoretical knowledge but we simultaneously guarantee you paid work experience in luxury hotels and restaurants in the United States and Europe.
If you are interested in learning more about how Hospitality Academy can help you develop and enhance your hospitality career, you can email us at admissions@pihospitalityacademy.com, alternatively, you can check our top programs here!

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The Impact of AI on the Hospitality Industry

Author: Jarya Kotyleng

AI (artificial intelligence) is ubiquitous these days. It is present on your smartphone, on your desktop and laptop, within your virtual assistant, on your smartwatch, and in many other things. In digital marketing, in enterprise software, and elsewhere. Nevertheless, what does AI mean for the hospitality industry?

In what ways has it affected the industry and will it continue to do so in the future? The current article will explore these issues and more.

What Is AI?

At one time, science fiction foretold that we would eventually wind up inhabiting a world filled with robots that would make everyone's life both better and more convenient. Such a day has come, except that robots are all but invisible. Instead, they are chunks of coding residing in our daily technology.

This term AI may not necessarily refer to an autonomous robot responsible for taking care of the cleanliness of someone's house. Alternatively, it can simply denote the algorithm employed to tailor the marketing blast emails in your inbox. Nowadays, AI permeates nearly many aspects of all industries.

Artificial Intelligence in the hospitality industry — Artificial Intelligence - Source: Roland Burger, 2018

The impact of AI in hotel intelligence on operations

Hospitality operations have been radically transformed by the arrival of artificial intelligence. If we look at the unbelievable number of tasks that front desk staff is required to perform in absence of artificial intelligence, it would be a very different situation. At any given time, many things are happening simultaneously at the front desk from the telephone buzzing, guests waiting to be checked in and customers inquiring online.

Besides juggling many of these duties, employees are expected to be courteous, friendly, verify guests' paperwork thoroughly, devote their full attention, and promptly respond to inquiries. Given the fact that people are not multi-taskers, what is the best way to guarantee that all of the above happen properly and simultaneously? There is an answer: AI or Artificial Intelligence.

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An AI phone system can intelligently route calls. Chatbots have the ability to handle basic questions online. AI-connected remote check-in systems can enable remote check-in arrangements to enable guests to remotely check into their rooms through a smartphone app and bypass the front desk at the beginning. AI could also help get revenue management right by improving efficiency and accuracy.

In summary, AI is critical in order to potentially boost your earnings by automating routine tasks and minimizing the required amount of human effort.

AI enables personalization

Personalization is an integral dimension of today's engagement.t AI itself is enabling personalization at a deep level. For example, in AI you could make special offers that speak to the customer's unique needs, such as kid-friendly rooms, all-inclusive stays, or experiences that include a room at the hotel.

AI also enables guests to customize their stay. It can offer unique amenities and services that are tailored to their wants and needs, provide insightful suggestions, and much more. The goal is to create an experience that is uniquely tailored to each guest.

AI-Powered Data Drives Better Business Intelligence

This is the era of Big Data. It surrounds us. Indeed, data is considered more valuable than any other corporate asset, inclusive of cash. Artificial intelligence can serve the industry by automating all hotel Big Data processes and ensuring that staff is able to extract key insights that speak directly to their ability to reach and engage with guests while staying on top of current industry trends.

AI Is Here to Stay

From business intelligence in the hospitality industry to automating front desk and back-office tasks, AI is here to stay. And that’s a good thing. It enables better efficiency, a deeper connection with your guests, and, ultimately, more success for your hotel.

So, now that you know more or less everything you need to know about artificial intelligence in the hospitality industry, we recommend that you learn more about innovation within this demanding industry by applying to our MBA in Hospitality Management and Innovation today!

We guarantee you paid experience in one of the most luxurious and innovative hotels or a Michelin-starred restaurant in the United States or Spain and further help you earn an internationally recognized, accredited qualification!

Therefore, if you are interested in learning more about how Hospitality Academy can help you achieve your career goals in the hospitality industry in the USA, contact the school by emailing admissions@pihospitalityacademy.com.