‘Bridging gender disparity in thriving hospitality industry’
A recent study by Payal Kumar, Principal Academic Advisor, Professor HR & OB, Indian School of Hospitality underlines the obstacles women face in their pursuit of leadership roles
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New Delhi Amid remarkable progress marked by rapid technological integration, enhanced focus on sustainability measures and a highly proficient workforce, the hospitality sector still grapples with the persistent challenge of the gender gap.
Delving deeper into the issue, a recent study by Payal Kumar, Principal Academic Advisor, Professor HR & OB, Indian School of Hospitality underlines the obstacles women face in their pursuit of leadership roles and offers insights into potential solutions for accomplishing greater gender equality in the corporate world. In her recently unveiled comprehensive book titled ‘Gender Equity in Hospitality’, Kumar underlines that hospitality and tourism are one of the fastest-growing industries in India.
The book highlights that the hospitality sector, according to the World Tourism & Travel Council (WTTC) accounted for 6.8 per cent of the country’s total GDP, creating 39 million jobs in India in 2019. However, for a substantial number of women, the road to becoming hospitality professionals is full of barriers and societal challenges. “After interviewing a significant number of women working in the hospitality sector, I observed that while there is genuine interest among some women to be a part of the hospitality sector, they are discouraged by certain stereotypes.
