Hospitality is big business and women have made it big in the global hospitality sector. Having made significant contribution to the hospitality industry, an increasing number of women are represented in management, operations, culinary arts, front-of-house, and back-of-house roles.

Women accounted up around 54% of the entire workforce in the travel and tourism sector, which includes the hospitality business, according to research from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) in 2020.

However, women leaders are still underrepresented in top leadership roles in the hospitality industry. But research suggests that we are certainly moving in the right direction. According to data from Castell Project's latest Women in Hospitality Industry Leadership report, the number of women senior executives, women on the podium and women owners in hospitality saw an increase between 2019 and 2021.

Women continue to make progress in the hospitality business despite still-present obstacles including gender prejudice and problems with work-life balance, and they serve as an inspiration to those who want to work in this fast-paced field. Their presence has enhanced the industry, increasing the range of viewpoints and ideas, which eventually benefits both enterprises and visitors.

We take you to Europe, a region known for some of the finest hotels in the world. Delve into the beauty and success of some of Europe’s most loved hotels that are owned or run by women.

Loire Valley Lodges, Loire Valley

The elegant Parisian art dealer Anne Caroline Frey is the fortunate owner of a remarkable house in the Loire Valley of France, beautifully tucked away amid 750 acres of gorgeous woodland. This beautiful getaway features 18 opulent treehouse lodges that have been painstakingly built by various modern artists to give a harmonic mix of art and nature.

Visitors may awe at fascinating works of art from Frey's private collection all across the expansive estate. Visitors may enjoy relaxing spa treatments, energising bike rides, and wonderful nature excursions in addition to enjoying delicious meals at the renowned restaurants in the area. This sanctuary offers an unmatched, opulent getaway and is a genuine paradise for art fans and nature lovers.

Monastero Santa Rosa Hotel & Spa, Amalfi Coast

During a trip to the Amalfi Coast in 2000, Bianca Sharma, a former Montessori nursery teacher, found herself in a 17th-century abandoned monastery, which was her fate. She hastily bought the property because she was enamoured with it and had the idea of turning it into an opulent hotel. When Monastero Santa Rosa was founded in 2012, her vision came true.

The hotel, which is elegantly carved into the cliff, has kept its monastery roots, including its vaulted ceilings and arched windows, but it now has the best spa on the Amalfi Coast, an infinity pool, and picturesque gardens. It also has a restaurant with a Michelin star. A monument to her incredible path from educator to hotelier, Bianca's imaginative enthusiasm delivered a compelling retreat where history and elegance converge.

Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Italy  

Valentina De Santis, the charismatic founder, has nurtured the iconic Grand Hotel Tremezzo for over a century. With a warm and personal touch, she cherishes her connections with loyal guests. Housed in an elegant Art Nouveau palazzo, the hotel exudes opulence while offering stunning views of the lake and mountains.

Guests delight in various amenities, including the lakeside seafood spot, three inviting swimming pools, and a relaxing spa. Valentina's devotion has transformed the Grand Hotel Tremezzo into a timeless sanctuary of luxury, where her passion and charm continue to enchant visitors, making it an extraordinary destination for generations to come.

The Polizzi Collection, Sussex

Olga and Alex Polizzi, a dynamic mother-daughter team, announced their first joint enterprise in Sussex in 2021. The Star, a 30-bedroom hotel, underwent an impressive makeover in a Grade-II listed structure from the 15th century. The stunning furnishings of the hotel radiated Olga's famous design talent.

The restaurant and informal dining options demonstrated the establishment's skill in the hospitality sector. The opening marked a 15-year anniversary of their joint work on the Hotel Endsleigh in 2005 and the Hotel Tresanton in 1998. Launching The Star at the same time as The Polizzi Collection strengthened their ongoing impact in the industry.

Palé Hall, Wales

Former educator Angela Harper and her husband Alan opened Palé Hall in Wales in 2016. Over the course of a year, they worked diligently to restore the Grade-II listed home into a spectacular 16-bedroom hotel and restaurant. With antiques, paintings by Zoffany and Sanderson, and collections of glass, Angela's exceptional decorating sense harmoniously complimented the building's historical qualities.

Palé Hall received an AA five-star rating in less than a year, which was unusual in North Wales for a decade. Henry Robertson at Palé Hall, the hotel's fine dining establishment, received a coveted Michelin Green Star in 2021 as a result of its environmentally friendly operations. Angela and Alan have clearly demonstrated their dedication to quality by investing more than £5 million.

Red Hotels, Cornwall

In 2009, Red Hotels, which includes The Scarlet and Bedruthan in Cornwall, debuted with a distinct concept. By bringing the UK to a luxury eco-hotel experience that was centred on sustainability rather than excess, Emma Stratton, Debbie Wakefield, and Rebecca Whittingham hoped to revolutionise the conventional hotel paradigm.

The Scarlet became a leader in promoting sustainability as a way of life following careful planning and a £12.5 million investment. It has adopted over 111 eco-friendly practises. The hotel sets a high bar with its biomass boiler, ecological chauffeur services and biodegradable kitchenware. The company continues to lead the industry in sustainable practises because to its continually strong occupancy rates.