New Research: Women in Hotel Leadership Are Still Being Left Behind

The latest Representation in Hotel Company Leadership report from the Penn State School of Hospitality offers a sobering look at who holds power in today’s hotel industry — and who doesn’t.

Despite women making up nearly 59% of the hospitality workforce, they hold only about one in four C-suite roles. Their presence remains concentrated in Human Resources and Sales/Marketing, while investment, development and technology leadership continue to be overwhelmingly male. At the Partner/Principal level, women account for just 13% of leaders — an improvement since 2022, but still leaving men outnumbering women nearly seven to one. In hotel investment circles, the gap is even more visible, with more than four male chiefs for every woman, reinforcing long-standing disparities in access to influence, capital and dealmaking.

Even more concerning: overall representation of women in upper management has stagnated from 2022 to 2025, while Black representation at senior levels has declined. Although there are encouraging signs of increased racial diversity on corporate boards, progress in executive leadership tells a different story.

These numbers matter. Leadership shapes culture, strategy, performance and the future of this industry. This report provides critical benchmarks — and a clear signal that momentum has slowed at a moment when it cannot afford to.

Download the full report to explore the data, trends and implications for hotel leadership moving forward.