Celebrate International Women's Day With Women Leading Travel & Hospitality

While recognizing women and their great accomplishments is part of Women Leading Travel & Hospitality's DNA, we’re excited to join the rest of the world in recognizing International Women’s Day (IWD), which takes place every March 8. IWD is a global day that annually recognizes the social, economic, cultural and political accomplishments of women. The day is not only a celebration but also a call to action for accelerating gender parity across the globe.

The theme of this year’s IWD is Inspire Inclusion and was chosen to underscore the crucial role of inclusion in achieving gender equality, according to the International Women's Day website. The theme calls for action to break down barriers, challenge stereotypes, and create environments where all women are valued and respected. It encourages everyone to recognize the unique perspectives and contributions of women from all walks of life, including those from marginalized communities.

One of the key pillars of Inspire Inclusion is the promotion of diversity in leadership and decision-making positions. Women continue to face barriers when seeking leadership roles. By championing inclusion, organizations and communities can harness the full potential of diverse perspectives, leading to better decision-making and innovation.

While it is important to consider the inclusivity and diversity of our workplaces year-round, IWD is a perfect opportunity to assess and enhance your efforts to foster a work environment that includes and empowers women and bolster women in your organization. So what can we do collectively to Inspire Inclusion in our organizations, today, tomorrow and every day? Here are a few ideas I read about in a recent blog post:

• Prioritize equal pay. To recruit and retain women, organizations must prioritize pay equity and transparency, conduct regular pay audits, and address any disparities promptly.
• Foster an inclusive work environment. Women who feel included are less likely to quit and are more likely to promote their companies to others. Review your company’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, and implement training programs that equip employees with the tools to create an inclusive culture.
• Create and support affinity groups. Affinity groups focused on women and women of color can provide a supportive network for employees to share professional experiences, receive valuable feedback from others, and experience a sense of community with coworkers.
• Offer flexible work arrangements. If possible, implement progressive work policies such as long-term flexible work arrangements that will allow women to work schedules that accommodate their often greater burden of unpaid labor. Consider permitting remote work, compressed workweeks, flexible hours, or job-sharing programs.
• Provide leadership training and development. Implement programs and policies aimed at empowering women within your business to seek out and secure leadership roles. Ensure that women are aware of the existing pathways for career progression that are available to them — and that there are transparent and measurable ways for them to get there.
• Create a wellness program. Consider developing a wellness program that lets your employees know that you value their health and well-being.

As we celebrate International Women's Day 2024 and reflect on the theme of Inspire Inclusion, let's reaffirm our commitment to creating a world where all women -- including those in our organizations -- are empowered, valued, and included.