Networks For Women In Hospitality

Supportive Networks for Women in the Hospitality Industry

Women in the hospitality industry can greatly benefit from supportive workplace networks, which are key to increasing representation in leadership and fostering a more inclusive environment. These networks offer guidance, a sense of community, and help women succeed in a competitive and challenging field.

Mentorship and Guidance

Supportive networks connect women with experienced professionals who can share advice and insights. These connections help younger women navigate the fast-paced nature of the industry and overcome challenges. By providing mentorship, networks help women break through systemic barriers and biases that often hinder career advancement, especially in leadership positions.

Career Growth and Opportunities

Being part of these networks opens doors to career opportunities, training programs, and networking events, all of which can accelerate a woman’s career path. By raising the visibility of women in leadership, these networks contribute to creating a more equitable and productive workplace.

Benefits to the Workplace

Women bring unique perspectives that enhance decision-making and drive innovation. When supported, they are more engaged, satisfied, and committed to their work. A diverse and satisfied workforce is better positioned to cater to the needs of a wide range of guests.

Leora Halpern Lanz, Associate Professor at Boston University School of Hospitality Administration, and Amy Latimer, Executive VP at Delaware North, highlight the importance of these networks in fostering women’s success in the industry.

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Explain the importance of creating supportive networks for women in hospitality.

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ChatGPT 4.0 + Stable Diffusion, [29.06.2025 9:54]
Supporting Women in Hospitality: Building Strong Networks

Encouragement, Mentorship, Advocacy

Support networks for women in hospitality are vital. Hospitality is a global industry built on relationships—these relationships flourish when they include spaces for encouragement, mentorship, and advocacy.

Fostering Safe, Collaborative Spaces

Through years of teaching and mentoring, I’ve seen the impact of safe, collaborative environments. Bringing back the HSMAI (Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International) student chapter after the pandemic and arranging coffee meetings or dinners with former students in New York City have all been ways to purposefully connect women who support and uplift each other.

Creating Lasting Connections

Some of the best connections I’ve fostered happened after students graduated. I have intentionally introduced former female students to each other in cities like New York, Boston, Miami, and Paris. These women value their growing “women in hospitality networks”, sharing the same drive, creativity, and care hospitality demands.

Intergenerational Collaboration

This isn’t just about emerging professionals. Experienced women in hospitality—those with decades in food service, lodging, tourism, and senior care—are just as engaged. I believe in collaboration, women’s resilience, and lasting friendships. Recently, I brought together women in their late 50s, 60s, and 70s, because I know we still have so much to offer. Women want to contribute at every age, share knowledge, and lift up new leaders. These intergenerational networks of talented women will shape the future of hospitality.

Celebrating Women Supporting Women

I’ve always included men in networking, but there’s something special about women helping women. We bring compassion and empathy, and understand the challenges each other face throughout our careers. We celebrate each other’s successes with sincerity and pride.

Keywords:
— Women in hospitality
— Encouragement
— Mentorship
— Advocacy
— Hospitality networks
— Collaboration
— Intergenerational support
— Professional growth
— Empathy
— Career development

Latimer says women in her network bring a wealth of experience.

Latimer:

I can’t stress enough how important it is to have a strong network of women – it’s something I rely on in both my personal and professional life. When I connect with women in the industry, it’s not just about swapping ideas, it’s about having a trusted source for advice on everything from product to strategy to decision-making. There’s real value in being able to pick up the phone and say, “This is what I’m dealing with. Have you been here before? How did you handle it?”

That doesn’t mean I don’t seek out insights from men, of course I do. But there are moments when I need a perspective that speaks directly to my experience. It’s especially helpful when I’m talking to another woman who has managed leadership challenges and understands the nuances of strategy and decision-making from a similar lens. I’m not looking for an echo chamber. I want someone who can help me think through every angle. The best conversations happen when I’m talking to someone who’s been in my shoes, whether they’re in my industry or a different field.

Building these networks isn’t just about professional growth. It’s about creating a space where women can lift each other up and ensure that no one has to figure it all out on their own.

A woman can be a trusted source of advice.

How can support networks lead to career advancement for women?

Lanz:

This industry is powered by relationships, and when those connections are authentic, cross-generational and rooted in shared purpose, they become powerful for professional growth. For women navigating a global, fast-paced field that is still very much dominated by men at the top, these networks are more than mentorship opportunities. They’re critical infrastructure. They offer access to referrals, collaboration, strategic guidance and a sense of shared momentum. I know from my experience in positions where I reported to majority male boards or bosses, that female support is essential to building confidence and developing our careers. I’ve also witnessed male leaders paying lip service to supporting women, through non-inclusive ways that pit women against others (maybe not intentionally, but by dismissing communication or because of lack of EQ).

Over the past decade, I’ve prioritized creating these connections, whether by supporting student chapters of hospitality organizations, mentoring young professionals or introducing former students to one another in cities like Boston, New York, Miami and even Paris. I’ve seen remarkable friendships and collaborations emerge from these introductions.

And as I’ve matured in my career, it has become critically important that I support and encourage women with my years of experience too. For example, I’ve recently brought together women with decades of experience in restaurants, lodging, tourism and service — fabulous women and long-time friends who still have enormous energy, intelligence and creativity to contribute. These seasoned professionals are now collaborating in new ways, proving that experience is an invaluable asset, not a finish line. I’m not convinced companies appreciate this power of women with experience. I’m so blessed that I’m able to bridge generations of women – students, junior to mid-level executives and more recently, savvy women in hospitality — who are aligning our insights and influence to shape the future of this industry together.

The best relationships are built over time.

Describe the benefits of collaboration among women to overcome shared challenges.

Latimer:

One of the most valuable things about having a supportive network of women is that, more often than not, someone has already faced the challenge you’re dealing with. I’ve found that women in my network bring a wealth of experience, whether it’s institutional knowledge, hard-earned lessons or perspectives from different levels of leadership. And the best part? They don’t just share the wins—they talk about the tough parts, too. I love that. The women I’ve surrounded myself with are not afraid to admit what they found challenging, or even what they’ve gotten wrong. The warning signs, the things to consider, what didn’t go according to plan and how they tackled it. That’s how real support works—it’s about making sure the next woman up is prepared, informed and confident in her own decisions.

I also believe in leaning into these networks regularly—not just when I need something. The best relationships are built over time, with check-ins, lunches and coffee catch-ups that have no agenda other than staying connected. You have to put pennies in the jar, you can’t just withdraw. And every time I take the time to invest in these relationships, I walk away feeling energized. That’s the power of women supporting women.