Woman from every sector and segment of lodging are invited to join WIL Connect, the first industry-wide forum exclusively for female hospitality professionals. Members, who must belong to AH&LA, receive discounts to all WIL events, exclusive updates, members-only networking opportunities, a listing in an online directory, and the AH&LA Prism e-newsletter and Lodging Magazine.
WIL Connect fuels the mission to promote women's leadership into executive positions within the lodging industry and contribute to business development efforts, including women's markets. Membership enables you to build supportive relationships, engage with industry leaders to take on important issues, and work together to remove barriers and provide solutions. Members gain skills to accelerate their career plan and access information and formal coaching, mentoring, and information-sharing. To learn more, contact (800) 252-2462 or membership@ahla.com.
AH&LA WIL Networking Luncheon
Friday, May 16, 2008
12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Sands Expo and Convention Center, Las Vegas Room 207
You’re invited to an AH&LA Women in Lodging networking luncheon on May 16 at noon in Las Vegas featuring Vail Brown, Vice President of Global Sales & Marketing, Smith Travel Research, who will provide an overview of coming trends and how design affects profitability.
To register for the WIL Luncheon click here.
Tap Into Industry Expertise
We are reaching out to the nation's top hospitality schools to introduce WIL, invite students and faculty to join WIL Connect, and in particular, extend an offer to provide a Council member to speak at your next appropriate event. We would welcome the opportunity to talk to your female hospitality students about trends in emerging roles for women entering the lodging industry, balancing personal and professional lives, building credibility and packaging yourself for success, and mentoring and development. Should you wish to secure a speaker, or explore membership in WIL Connect, please contact Kathryn Potter at (202) 289-3130 or kpotter@ahla.com.
Database of Who's Who
AH&LA has created a valuable new resource for the industry - an online directory of female lodging executives that is housed on the AH&LA Web site. Created as a networking tool for women in the industry, as well a resource for students looking for mentors and organizations seeking speakers or panelists, the directory includes general managers, CEOs, CFOs, vice presidents, senior-level management, department directors, etc., who are members of AH&LA. It is searchable by name, title, company, city and state. To have your name added or the names of women at your company added, please contact kweed@ahla.com.
About WIL
The AH&LA Women in Lodging Executive Council (WIL) was launched in 2005. Its mission is to:
- Attract, retain, and engage the best talent;
- Promote women's leadership into executive positions within the lodging industry;
- Promote a culture of inclusiveness and cultural awareness; and
- Contribute to business development efforts, including women's markets.
The WIL Executive Council includes more than a dozen high-ranking executives of major lodging companies. The Council seeks to provide AH&LA women members the opportunity to engage in dialogue with senior leaders concerning leadership skills specific to shared experience and professional development needs, and enable employees to acquire and develop those skills.
The Council is led by Chairman Nancy Johnson, executive vice president, brand leader select service, Carlson Hotels Worldwide; and Vice Chairman Vicki Gordon, senior vice president, corporate affairs, Intercontinental Hotels Group.
Vision
Johnson, who founded WIL, saw the need within the lodging industry to create a highly visible model for women. She believes the Council can spark an effort to better understand and address women's needs - as both professional and consumer. "We want to make sure we understand what is 40 percent of our customer base - women travelers," says Johnson, "and we want to make sure that the women executives we do have coming up through the industry have their voices heard."
AH&LA is a natural vehicle for the cause, because this mission will require a national, industry-wide effort. "We have outstanding role models for women, but we haven't done a good job putting them in front of students. Women are not as involved as they should be. I think we owe it to the next generation to change that."
Nancy Johnson, her vision for WIL, and the Council's first meeting is spotlighted in a recent issue of Prism.
Women in Lodging Connect Keynote Seminar
Click here to view the powerpoint from the Women in Lodging: A View From the Top Keynote Seminar during the IH/M&RS in November featuring powerhouse lodging CEOs Steve Porter, InterContinetal Hotels; David Kong, Best Western; and Geoff Ballotti, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, and moderator Barbara Annis, a leading gender specialist.
Introducing WIL Connect
For more information on the AH&LA Women in Lodging Executive Council, contact AH&LA Vice President of Marketing & Communications Kathryn Potter at (202) 289-3130 or kpotter@ahla.com.
Women in Lodging Connect
Diversity Resources
