Pitcher Partners’ Post

Happy International Women's Day! Today, March 8, we celebrate the strength, courage and achievements of the amazing women around the world. Special shoutout to the amazing women of Amerail Systems who constantly make a difference every day. We couldn't do it without you. 💗 #hoteldesign #hotellobby #lobby #hotels #hotelier #hospitality #hotelindustry #hotelbusiness #travel #hospitalitynews #hotelmanagement

It's 2024: When will "Women in Hospitality" features become unnecessary? As we wrap up our series, here's what these women had to say about it. #HOTELS #hotelnews #hospitality #hospitalityindustry #hospitalitynews #hotelindustry #womeninhospitality

Dive into the heart of industry discussions at the Women in Hospitality event, addressing crucial issues that shape our future. #womeninhospitality #industryfocus #hospitality #ukhospitality https://lnkd.in/dXu57tpB

The Importance of Creating Inclusive and Diverse Events As an event producer, I've always believed in the power of gatherings to bring people together, to share different perspectives, and to foster a sense of belonging. As we observe Women's Month, it is essential to underscore the importance of creating events that are inclusive and celebrate the diversity of all women, irrespective of their race or color. In my journey as an event producer, I've come to understand that diversity and inclusivity aren't simply checkboxes on a list. They are the lifeblood of creating meaningful and impactful experiences. By including diverse voices in the planning and execution of events, we create a richer, more engaging experience for everyone. Diversity allows us to hear different perspectives, fosters a sense of belonging, and broadens our understanding of the world around us. Inclusivity in event planning means ensuring that every person feels seen, heard, and valued. This is particularly crucial when we talk about acknowledging and celebrating the contributions of all women. Women's Month offers an excellent opportunity to put these principles into practice. Intentionally incorporating the voices and experiences of women from all backgrounds and walks of life into event planning can create a more inclusive and representative space. This can be achieved in several ways: inviting women as speakers, ensuring representation in promotional materials, or creating spaces for dialogue and discussion about women's experiences. In conclusion, inclusivity and diversity are not optional extras when planning events; they are an integral part of creating meaningful experiences. As we celebrate Women's Month, let's commit to making sure the voices and experiences of all women are heard, celebrated, and respected. I encourage everyone, no matter your race or gender, to join us in this commitment. Celebrate Women's Month with us! Book your spot for our strategy call on creating inclusive events. Let's make every voice count. Click here! https://lnkd.in/gF36378D #strategycall #inclusivity #womensmonth #womenempowerment

Many women, such as myself, are in the business travel industry, yet we still see that we are underrepresented in key VP roles and above. According to the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) and the GBTA Foundation research, women make up 67% of the industry, yet only 39% of VP or executive roles are women. Read the article from GBTA: https://lnkd.in/edK4m7dV

Today is International Women’s Day… and generally, I love a bit of an IWD event to celebrate and reflect. This year’s campaign theme is “Inspire Inclusion” and the call is that when we inspire others to understand and value women's inclusion, we forge a better world. No arguments from me. The belief that everyone fundamentally needs and deserves to experience belonging, relevance, and empowerment, well that’s a world I’ll strive to make real for sure. But this particular week I’m pretty bloody tapped out personally, so instead of a special event… the team got nothing more than a plate of morning tea pastries, a handful of words & an apology. Turns out that showing up as a mother/wife/GM/friend/daughter can leave you running on fumes just a little too often. But being surrounded by the glorious wāhine of Made Curious  (Adithya Nair, Abbie Reid, Catherine Maritz, Eila Gendig Emma Naji Jacquie A. Jess Costello Julia Tokumaru Kathryn Walker Kirsty Dunford Letitia (Tesh) Powell Marjolein Visser Sharmaine Vinzon Shelly Robinson Tineke Corin (Houthuyzen) was just what I needed today. Because my apology was met with immediate solidarity and understanding. Our collective sentiment feels something like “hell yeah, keep on striving to raise women up and provide challenging opportunities, but let’s also try and establish a world that offers more support and understanding across all the roles they play in our workplaces, homes and communities so we don't spread them too thin along the way” With all the things on our plates, it’s all too easy to be redlining and that’s not really winning at all eh.  So, happy International Women’s Day team - truly appreciate you all. #internationalwomensday2024

I hinted about this in an earlier post, but the pod is finally live and available to listen. My good friend and colleague Karen Friebe puts me through my paces with questions on the current state of the #Wellness industry, why Wellness brands needed to grow up to succeed, what's next in #FemTech, #Sleep and #Data and why hotels and hospitality need to partner with Wellness brands to stay relevant and drive repeat business. I share a few things I've learned over my career on how to keep the day to day interesting and the importance of having a mentor in your corner. My newest learning is that I sound better at x1.25 speed playback 🤣 Enjoy the pod!

March🌸 is almost over and it has gone in a flash⚡! It is not a surprise though, given how busy the team and I have been celebrating all things diversity, equity and inclusion on International Women's History Month 2024: 🤩 We opened March by launching our #IWTTFAwards2024 enlisting the help of 2023 winners, finalists and some of our #awardsjudges to celebrate this all-inclusive, 🌈 safe for all space  ! We want to recognise individuals and teams who are doing it better, differently and simply won't take no for an answer! There are 8 categories, so surely there is one for you, your team or someone you know? Take a look at the categories and send us your nomination(s) without delay🎖️ !  https://lnkd.in/e2qr99rq 🤩 Mid month I had the honour to share my story with Expedia Group's WELL London Group. Many thanks to Val Chardakova Clark and Hayley Bowd for the opportunity to share and connect with such wonderful group! 🤩Last but certainly not least it was an honour to speak at the #IconsofInclusions conference at the invitation of the #DEI King himself Uwern Jong. We still have a long way to go as an industry but while there are individuals like Uwern and the amazing rooster of contributors he assembled on the day, I know my faith in humanity will hold! And in case you need to hear it, here are some simple reminders.. 🔊A prosperous and healthy industry is an inclusive industry for all, our colleagues, partners and customers. 🫱🏼🫲🏼Inclusion is everyone's job and it starts with the #CEO 💥Role-models matter because you cannot be what you cannot see 🚀We thrive when we collaborate, share and learn from each other, so do not shy away from challenging conversations...engage! #womenintravel #IWTTFandAwards24 #Allyship #Inclusion #RoleModels #hospitality #travelandtourism

At the end of last week, information channels across the world were bursting with content about International Women’s Day. The theme this year was ‘Real equality doesn’t end with representation, it ends with ‘inclusion’ and it struck me just how true this was when I considered how many people had embraced and acknowledged this one day in our year.    From the younger generations to grandparents, educational institutions to global companies and celebrities to politicians, millions of people across the world joined the #IWD conversation, recognizing the achievements of women and reflecting the role they play in society from a magnitude of perspectives. It really was inclusivity in action.     One of the things I value most about working in EMEA is the natural diversity we see when bringing people from different countries together. From our cultural experiences, language differences and local histories, we have a continuous opportunity to learn from each other and foster inclusivity. Without a doubt this diversity leads to better results for our patients and is fundamental to our ability to be a better partner when it comes to building more resilient and equitable healthcare systems in our region.     At J&J, we’ve dedicated the month of March to celebrating the women in our organization who are leading the way, and without whom we wouldn’t be who we are today. My team in EMEA is made up of some truly inspiring women who are challenging the norms and shaping the future of healthcare: Geraldine Schenk, Roxana Botea, Julie Enevold Brooker, Nina Ekholm-Wenberg (She/Her/Hers), Maria Fernanda Prado, Tuba Albayrak, Júlia Dvorszki, Katarzyna Lukowska, Ana Maria Vargas, Liat Gottlieb, Anne Sveaass, Laetitia Decroix Guilloux, Katerina Pogodina, Roz Bekker, Delphine Aguilera Caron, Dominique Inghelbrecht, Lada Hruba, Charlotte Garrigues, Anouk De Vroey, Saskia De Haes, Filipa Mota e Costa and Liz Daly. These women consistently bring innovative ideas to the table, they make tough decisions, and they guide their teams in often challenging circumstances to deliver for patients. The world is becoming a more complex place to operate in, and we’re going to need more phenomenal leaders like these women in our team. Only by fostering inclusivity and embracing diversity will we achieve this.   When it comes to impactful women, one of my favourite anecdotes is a conversation between Clementine Churchill and her husband Winston illustrated in the image below. Food for thought for us all.  

Our CMO, Pallavi Chopra, spoke to ADGULLY about the culture, policies & initiatives at redBus which support gender equality in the company.   She spoke about the role of diversity and inclusion in organizational success and how redBus will nurture its next generation of women leaders.   Read about her journey, advice for women and how “travel is a driver of independence for women” in the link below. #womenempowerment #womeninleadership #womentravel