U.S. Hotel Companies Promote More Women, But Challenges Persist

As a woman with a general contractor’s construction license, Karie Brittano is used to being the only woman in a room. For her, that’s been an edge when it comes to having conversations as co-CEO of the Brittano Group, Inc., which is now building The Rook, a boutique property in South Boston, Virginia.

But not every woman who wants to be a leader in hospitality is quite as lucky, Brittano said. 

“This is a similar kind of playing field,” she said. “I’m starting to see in the hospitality space and in construction, women are more valued and seen in different positions than they were before. The appreciation is there. But there’s still room in both industries for a lot of growth.”

Brittano’s insights align with the most recent research from the AHLA (American Hotel & Lodging Association) Foundation’s 2023 “Women in Hospitality” report, which found that the representation of women within hospitality leadership continues to increase. The report, released late last week by The Penn State School of Hospitality Management, ind