Female leaders showing ambition to develop their careers in hospitality and the accommodation sector now have a more defined pathway to executive and management positions as part of a new program put in place by Marriott International.
The program, is comprised largely of a networking and mentoring structure with learning and development initiatives to help entrepreneurial and aspirational young Fijian women to boost their career opportunities.
Currently, 30% of women working in Marriott’s Fijian hotels are in management roles, while 41% of all hotel industry employees are women.
Marriott International Market Director Sales and Marketing, Fiji and Samoa, Regina Wilson, said she was excited at the opportunities on offer for aspiring female leaders in the country.
“I had implemented the Women in Leadership program for Marriott Thailand Hotels & Resorts a few years back and am honored and eager to take on the challenge to champion this program here in Fiji,” she said.
The new Marriott program comes in addition to several others which have been in place at different levels of the company globally, some more than a few decades old. Marriott’s Women’s Leadership Development Initiative has focused on improving the voice of women in leadership circles for more than 20 years. It builds further on a Board of Directors Committee which aims to advance inclusive opportunities for women.
Furthermore, the Marriott Emerging Leader Program, formed in 2014, aims to expedite the development of high-performing front-line leaders and provide a pathway to higher levels. Since its formation, the program has a perfect track record, with all enrolling ladies either promoted within the organisation or selected for key strategic development roles.