Driving Change for Women in Tourism

Access to a dedicated app, a 60-minute mentoring session, an industry-wide skill swap and discounted tickets for events are the introductory benefits of joining newly formed Women In Tourism. 

Announced on Wednesday 8 March 2017, to coincide with International Women’s Day, the creation of the formal membership body is the next phase of development for the organisation which was established to inspire, motivate, encourage and support women within the Scottish tourism industry.

In early 2016, Women In Tourism commissioned research to establish the challenges and opportunities for women within the Scottish tourism sector. The results provided fact-based evidence for the first time, which informed the planning phase for the creation of the new body.

Putting the industry at the heart of the new structure, Women In Tourism will be led by a Board of twelve Directors, who will facilitate and support the creation of four new working groups. Recruitment for the new working groups begins today with volunteers sought to join, and drive areas of work including Policy, Membership, Events and Communication.

With an initial membership fee of £40, benefits include:

• A dedicated app which will offer contact details of members – to enable networking and access to new colleagues across the industry.
• Mentoring support through a 60-minute session with a colleague in tourism.
• Opportunity for a ‘skill swap’ to share expertise and gain new knowledge and skills in return.
• Discounted tickets for Women In Tourism events and those run by key partners.

Susan Russell, Chair of Women In Tourism said: “Over the past twelve months we have spent time formalising the organisation to deliver a framework which will provide tangible benefits for women across the sector. Today’s announcement is an important step as Women In Tourism enters its next phase of development and we seek engagement with colleagues across Scotland to work with us to drive change”.

Susan continued: “In 2016 our initial research identified that while only 27% of women had previously had the opportunity to be mentored by a colleague within the sector, 78% would welcome the opportunity to be mentored. The initial benefits of joining Women In Tourism support these findings and we look forward to delivering additional projects in the future.”

More Information

For more information, please contact: Susan Russell | susan@womenintourism.co.uk  |

Year one membership fees are £40,  full joining instructions are available at www.womenintourism.co.uk/join  

About Women In Tourism:
Following completion of Edinburgh Napier University’s Destination Leaders Programme, a group of
Edinburgh-based women came together to create Women In Tourism, a not-for-profit organisation
which seeks to develop a framework of activity in recognition of the challenges and opportunities for
women within the sector.

The initiative builds on inspiring, motivating, encouraging and supporting women within the sector,
and will help underpin the Scottish Government’s long-term strategic ambition to ensure a 50/50
gender balance across Scottish’s private, public and third sector organisation’s by 2020.