Written by JJ JJ
Updated on May 20, 2026 7 -minute read

Women Occupy 30% of Decision-Making Roles in the UAE Public Sector and 16.6% of Leadership Positions Across the Private Sector, Revealed Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy – Les Roches’ Panel

The account strengthens QComms’ education communications portfolio and builds on the agency’s experience working with schools, universities and education groups.

  • The panel explored how resilience and strategic leadership are shaping hospitality’s future.
  • Real-world insights from industry leaders revealed how mentorship, confidence-building and wider shifts in hospitality and tourism are driving lasting change for women’s progression.
  • The panel also highlighted approximately 80% of travel bookings are made by women, yet that representation is not always reflected at senior decision-making level across tourism and hospitality sectors.

Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy – Les Roches proudly hosted its second Hospitality Her Way initiative, highlighting how women leaders are helping drive the industry forward through periods of transformation across the UAE’s hospitality and tourism sectors.

Under the theme, ‘Shaping What Comes Next: Women Driving Hospitality Forward,’ Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy – Les Roches hosted an insightful panel discussion led by Georgette Davey, Managing Director of the Academy, exploring resilience, leadership, and the industry’s evolving future across the region. Panellists discussed key insights shaping the future of hospitality for women, including the significance of mentorship, sponsorship and early confidence-building, and how the expansion of hospitality into tourism, culture, events and entertainment is creating more diverse and accessible pathways into leadership.

Women make up about 52% of the global hospitality workforce, but hold only around 30% of leadership positions. In the UAE, female representation has risen to over 34% across the sector, supported by initiatives to strengthen gender balance across tourism and hospitality. Furthermore, women occupy 66% of public sector jobs, including 30% of senior leadership and decision-making roles, while also holding 16.6% of leadership positions within the private sector. These shifts are placing women at the centre of how hospitality is currently navigating uncertainty, driving more adaptive and forward-thinking approaches to leadership.

While these figures reflect meaningful progress, representation at the most senior levels remains limited, echoing the urgency for sustained development and institutional support. The panel explored how women leaders are helping shape the future direction of hospitality through resilience, strategic leadership and evolving workforce expectations during periods of industry transformation. Panellists included Emma Campbell, Sector Marketing Director at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, and Katrin Herz, Multi-property General Manager, The Abu Dhabi Edition, Marriott Hotel & MEA Downtown Abu Dhabi.

Moderated by one of the Academy’s Bachelor of Science in Global Hospitality Management student, Fatma Ibrahim, the discussion began with Davey emphasizing the responsibility of academic institutions to build the required systems and educational pathways that enable women to progress further into leadership roles. The conversation also explored how education, mentorship and industry engagement can prepare future leaders to confidently navigate an evolving hospitality landscape. She said: “It is our responsibility as educators to provide clear pathways for women to progress into leadership roles, and close collaboration between education and industry is essential to achieve that. At the Academy, classroom learning is combined with two six-month industry internships, so students graduate with a full year of real-world experience in hospitality.”

Reflecting on her experiences rising to leadership and the broader challenges and opportunities for women in hospitality, Davey said: “Throughout my career and leadership journey, I have seen that although there are many women in hospitality, their presence becomes less visible at senior levels. It is critical that we continue creating platforms that develop female leadership within the region while empowering future talent with the confidence to see what is possible for their own careers.”

Davey added that hospitality careers in the UAE are evolving as the industry expands beyond traditional hotels, into what she described as a wider experience economy encompassing tourism, events, museums, entertainment, and broader customer experience. With Abu Dhabi’s cultural growth and the expansion of destinations such as Yas Island, she noted that perceptions of hospitality careers are shifting, particularly among women, as opportunities become far more diverse and far-reaching.

Drawing from her experience leading hotels, Herz reflected on the importance of people-first leadership, an inclusive workplace and nurturing the pursuit of long-term careers in hospitality. Herz said, “It is encouraging to see a real shift in how women support one another in hospitality. What was once a competitive space has become far more collaborative. There is a growing sense of responsibility that if you have reached a leadership position, you should help ensure other women can get there, too. Sometimes in your job/hotel you feel you are few, but when you reach out to other hotels you realize the female representation is getting stronger. There is real strength in those connections and networks to make a collective impact.”

“At the same time, there is still a need to start earlier when it comes to career development. At Marriott Hotels, we have focused on implementing female hiring quotas and structured development programs that support talent from the ground up. Too often, women at operational level do not see themselves progressing into senior roles, which is where confidence-building becomes so important. I believe that all women in line staff can become senior directors, general managers, and vice presidents.”

Campbell noted how leadership often requires balancing creativity, cultural authenticity, and responsiveness to diverse audiences. She further highlighted the importance of strategic leadership, especially as career paths are increasingly non-linear and shaped by cross-sector experiences and a willingness to step into new opportunities. She said, “What is particularly interesting in the tourism industry is how much influence women already have in travel decisions. Around 80% of travel bookings are made by women, yet that representation is not always reflected at senior decision-making level. Mentorship and sponsorship are key in pushing progression; there is real value in having people you can lean on for guidance, and who actively advocate for you. I always encourage people to have the confidence to ask for a mentor when they are inspired by someone, rather than waiting until they feel fully ready. Readiness is overrated, and progress comes from stepping forward and seizing opportunities as they arise.” Campbell further noted, “Having a formal mentor is really important. It needs to go beyond a once-a-month coffee catch-up and be more structured, with clear focus areas, regular check-ins, and a way of tracking and documenting what you are learning so it supports your development over time.”

She also reflected on the post-pandemic shift that is reshaping the tourism landscape. Campbell noted, “Travelers increasingly value cultural authenticity and immersive experiences, making rich, genuine storytelling more important than ever.” Women often bring a strong instinct for understanding audiences and leading with intuition, which Campbell shared is a key driver in shaping deeper, more impactful destination experiences.

The Hospitality Her Way panel discussion reinforced the important role female leaders continue to play in shaping the future of hospitality and tourism across the region. Launched by the Academy in October 2025, it brings together leading women executives from the hospitality industry and beyond to share their experiences, challenges and insights for the sector and wider region. At Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy – Les Roches, students engage with leadership development from the first year, gaining invaluable real-world exposure to operational and strategic decision-making, while being guided by experienced female leaders, helping shape the future of hospitality across the UAE and beyond.

Women represent 63% of staff and 55% of leadership positions at Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy – Les Roches. This is particularly significant for Emirati women, who comprise 21% of Bachelor of Science students and 59% of Master of Science students. By blending Swiss academic excellence with a curriculum grounded in the Emirati hospitality identity, the Academy develops forward-thinking global leaders with a deep-rooted understanding of the local traditions and enriched heritage.

For more information about Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy – Les Roches and its academic programs, please visit: www.lesroches.ae

For media enquiries, please contact:
Shanna Uy
E: shanna.u@qcomms.ae
M: +971 52 690 1377

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