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On the occasion of International Women’s Rights Day, we are keen to highlight the many women who contribute every day to the evolution, and even the transformation, of the sector. The Hospitality ON editorial team invites you to (re)discover the inspiring words and journeys of women who are shaping the hotel landscape day after day.
Maud Bailly: French excellence
As head of Sofitel, MGallery Hotel Collection and Emblems Collection, Maud Bailly is an advocate of ‘hand-crafted’ luxury, where service makes all the difference. Her ambition? To raise the profile of French hotel elegance, while integrating a commitment to eco-responsibility (46% of Sofitel hotels are already certified).
Solenne Ojea-Devys: ambassador for a more responsible hotel industry
As head of OKKO HOTELS, she is proving that a hotel business model can be both profitable and committed. She has turned OKKO into a company with a mission, trained 100% of her teams in CSR and is pushing the sector to transform itself. Her initiative ‘A hotel for my parents’, which offers overnight stays to families of children in hospital, is a fine example of how social impact can be tangible.
María Zarraluqui: the spokesperson for women in hospitality
VP Development at Meliá Hotels International, she is driving ambitious global expansion, while integrating sustainability and innovation. Her commitment doesn’t stop there: she is also co-founder of Women in Hospitality and campaigns for women in the sector to take their place.
Sara Ramis: a visionary approach
As Barceló Hotel Group’s Chief Client, Marketing & Sustainability Officer, she is leading an ambitious strategy based on innovation, sustainability and customer experience. In tune with developments in the sector and the new expectations of customers, Sara Ramis is playing an active role in the metamorphosis of the Group and the hotel industry as a whole.
Cécile Rosset: reinventing the independent hotel industry
Co-founder of Korner Hotels, she advocates an approach combining team autonomy, cutting-edge technology and attention to human relations. Resolutely human-oriented, she reminds us that customer experience and employee well-being go hand in hand.
Alix Boulnois: combining digital and social transformation
Chief Business, Digital & Tech Officer at Accor, her mission is to steer the digital transformation of the French giant, and to this end she has created the Digital Factory. But for her, it’s not all about technology: ‘Transformation is above all about culture and people’.
Valérie Hoffenberg: enabling women to travel safely
Founder of the SHE Travel Club, Valérie Hoffenberg describes herself as ‘a woman who is committed, particularly to issues of gender equality’. She works on a daily basis to ensure that the needs of women in the travel industry are taken into greater account by hoteliers through her SHE Travel Club label. It’s an inspiring quest that’s shaking up the habits of an entire sector.
Vanessa Heydorff: innovation as a lifeline
Managing Director of Booking.com France, Vanessa Heydorff steers the strategy of the retail giant with a resolutely forward-looking eye. A future shaped by artificial intelligence to transform every stage of the customer journey. Innovation and customer satisfaction are the two leitmotifs that guide her in her day-to-day work.
Click here to find out more about her interview.
Beyond this publication on 8 March, the place of women in hospitality is a subject that is close to our hearts throughout the year. Equality between men and women is a crucial issue, and we are doing our bit to help. So if you don’t want to miss any of the initiatives and words spoken by the women who are reimagining the sector with boldness and commitment, subscribe now!
