Women hospitality managers: Perceptions of gender-related career challenges

Abstract

In spite of increases in the number of women who are both academically prepared and interested in pursuing hospitality management careers, women appear to be leaving the industry at a much higher rate than their male counterparts. Although women are better represented in lower and middle management than ever before, there has been no corresponding increase in the number of women in top level management positions. The author explores women managers' perceptions of the career-related challenges they confront in hospitality environments and suggests that inadequate access to informal information networks, lack of women mentors, and the impact of unique job characteristics are their most significant concerns.