Hospitality Executive Hala Matar Choufany Gave Sound Advice To Women And Hotel And Tourism Companies About Advancing Women In The Industry At THINC Africa 2018
by Heather Cassell
Women are increasingly making it to the top in the hospitality industry and making their mark, but the climb to the top isn’t over yet, Hala Matar Choufany, president of HVS Middle East and Africa, Dubai, told women at a tourism conference in South Africa last week.
Hala told women attending the “Women in Hospitality” panel discussion at the Tourism, Hotel Investment and Networking Conference Africa 2018 at Century City Conference Centre in Cape Town that within the past decade more women have taken leadership positions in hospitality, but they still need to catch up.
“In the last 10 years, more women have taken leadership positions and while we still have to catch up, governments and organizations are realizing the key role women play in the workplace,” Hala said in a September 12 news release from HVS Middle East and Africa. “We have seen remarkable change and growth for women in the hospitality industry where they have proven that they are every bit as capable and qualified as men.”
What has changed within the past decade?
There are two reasons that can be partially attributed to the increasing number of women in executive positions in the male-dominated hospitality industry, Hala believes. The “development of detailed career plans, as well as, improvement in corporate practices and policies within enterprises continue to be instrumental in promoting equal opportunities for women in career progression,” she said.
Hala was joined on the stage along with other leading hospitality female executives Lee-Anne Singer, marketing director at Singer Group; Talya French, business development manager at Marriott International; Ronleigh Gaddin, CEO of Amani Spas; and Simone Kuhn, manager business development at Radisson Hotel Group.
Her fellow panelists and she answered questions, such as “What holdings women back from taking the top management positions in the hospitality sector especially in Africa?”
Hala was blunt in her response, “Challenges and issues around women and men work inequality is universal and not continent specific,” she said.
“What are the barriers to upward mobility or career advancement of women?” was another question to the panelists.
Hala explained there are many factors during a woman’s career that can affect her advancement.
“There are many internal and external factors that could impact women’s career path such as their own motivation, skills, educational level, lack of support or equal opportunities,” said Hala, whose company is a leader in global hospitality financial consulting working with hotel owners, developers, investors, lenders, management companies, and public agencies around the world.
One area is work-life balance and the perpetuation of “traditional gender roles,” she noted.
“Balancing work and family is potentially a challenge at times, especially due to [the] perpetuation of traditional gender roles,” she said stating the reality of the nature of the hospitality industry. “[The] hospitality industry demands long hours and a great deal of crisis management and problem-solving and this could be quite exhausting for some women.”
“Also, different kinds of cultural norms, values, and stereotypes often act as constant barriers,” she added.
What are women to do? Hala made three key suggestions that would help women succeed in the hospitality industry.
“To close the gender gap in the workforce and overcome societal barriers, women need support and training,” she said. “Successful women should become more visible and support other women. Organizations too must go above and beyond to ensure women have a chance to work in positions that have been traditionally filled by men as well as have more opportunities to grow in their career.”
Her advice to aspiring women in the hospitality industry and other industries.
“Be confident and believe in yourself. Have passion, empathy and be flexible,” she said. “Don’t focus on what other’s think and the challenges out there, rather focus on where you want to be. Women have natural abilities to multi-task and that’s a big advantage. Remember there is a huge scope for you to shape your career.”
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