To encourage more women in to the industry and ensure a strong pipeline of future talent, the everywoman in Travel Awards programme has been launched to shine a light on the achievements of women excelling at all stages of their career journey.
2017 marks the launch of the inaugural everywoman in Travel Awards, now open for nominations and searching for the most exceptional women working within the UK’s travel industry. everywoman has witnessed immense success with other awards programmes over the last 15 years in industries including transport & logistics, retail, technology and entrepreneurship, with winners and finalists becoming long-term everywoman ambassadors and visible role models to the next generation of female talent.
The UK’s travel sector has proven to be an economic phenomenon. With employment opportunities increasing at almost double the rate of the rest of the UK labour market since 2009, it is the third largest employer, accounting for 9.5% of total employment*. As the industry is looking ahead, the travel sector is predicted to create 70 million new jobs over the next 10 years worldwide.**
However, despite 60% of employees in the travel industry being women, they represent only 15.8% of all board members and in a survey of 78 UK travel companies, over a quarter did not have a single female board member.***
Although there have been numerous recent executive appointments of women in large UK-based travel organisations including Carolyn McCall (CEO, Easyjet), Harriet Green (former CEO, Thomas Cook) and Sally Balcombe (CEO, VisitBritain), women are still hugely underrepresented within senior-level roles.
To encourage more women in to the industry and ensure a strong pipeline of future talent, the everywoman in Travel Awards programme has been launched to shine a light on the achievements of women excelling at all stages of their career journey. This includes university graduates demonstrating a passion for the industry, leaders making a significant contribution within their organisations and entrepreneurs who have founded some of the most innovative businesses.
Previous winners of everywoman awards testify to how recognition from one of the UK’s largest networks for women in business has raised their individual and company profiles.
The 2017 everywoman in Travel Awards categories are as follows:
One to Watch – This is awarded to an individual in education/further education who demonstrates a passion for the travel industry. This award seeks to identify young game-changers.
Apprentice – An apprentice who is embracing the opportunities the industry offers.
TTG Media Tomorrow’s Leader – A woman under 30, making a significant contribution to the sector. The applicant must be under 30 as of 31 December 2017.
Entrepreneur – An owner / operator of a travel business that has been operating for three years or more, whose vision will inspire other women to start their own enterprise. Applicants must own a minimum 50% shareholding.
Above & Beyond – A woman that has truly gone above and beyond her role to help drive the organisation's success. This applies to a woman at any stage of her career.
Team Leader – A woman whose team leadership has greatly contributed to the organisation’s success.
Leader – A woman making a significant contribution to the strategic direction of the business.
Woman of the Year – An extraordinary woman whose passion, success and accessibility makes her an exceptional role model and a great industry ambassador.
Nominations are open until 8 September 2017 and winners will be announced at an awards luncheon at East Wintergarden on 16 November 2017.
Karen Gill MBE, co-founder of everywoman, comments: “We have launched the everywoman in Travel Awards to recoginse the best female talent in the industry and encourage tomorrow’s brightest leaders to explore the diverse career opportunities in the sector. From aviation and tourism to travel retail and entrepreneurship, we’re keen to address the shortage of women at senior level positions and work towards a more gender-balanced workforce”.
Daniel Pearce, managing director at TTG Media, comments: "TTG Media is delighted to work with everywoman on their first awards in travel. As strong champions of diversity through our work with both the LGBT community and young people in travel, it was a natural step for us to partner with everywoman. We look forward to helping to raise the profile of this brilliant scheme in our industry.”
Sources
* UK Tourism Statistics 2016
** Women in Tourism & Hospitality: Unlocking the Potential in the Talent Pool, Diageo, 2015
***THE STATUS OF WOMEN IN THE UK TRAVEL & TOURISM INDUSTRY: An evaluation of the cruise and tour operator sectors
Angelos is the news editor for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). His role includes to monitor the hundrends of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skim the most important according to our strategy.
He currently studies Communication, Media & Culture in Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens.
