Gebbels, Maria ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9623-2655, Jones, Menna T. and Zigomo, Pamela (2025) “You can’t be what you can’t see.” Gender representation on hospitality professional boards. Hospitality Insights, 9 (2). pp. 3-5. ISSN 2537-9267 (Online) (doi:10.24135/hi.v9i2.187)

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Abstract

Despite being one of the UK’s largest and most diverse sectors, hospitality struggles with gender diversity at senior levels and on boards of professional membership associations (PMAs), which remain overwhelmingly homogenous. Visible diversity on boards, as displayed on their websites, can signal that barriers to inclusion can be overcome, whereas a lack of representation may discourage professionals from joining such an association and raise doubts about its ability to meet the needs of its members, the very essence of PMAs. The opportunities arising from a more inclusive composition of PMA boards deserve greater consideration, particularly because the leadership skills gained through board membership can facilitate advancement both within the workplace and across the profession. This article calls for greater gender representation on UK hospitality professional boards to foster an inclusive culture, maintain their relevance, and inspire the next generation of leaders.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	representation, Professional Membership Associations, hospitality industry, diversity
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Greenwich Business School Greenwich Business School > School of Management and Marketing Greenwich Business School > Tourism and Marketing Research Centre (TMRC)
Related URLs:	Publisher
Last Modified:	24 Mar 2026 16:22
URI:	https://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/52730

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