Five leading women in hospitality coming to Wales discuss industry’s future

Five of the UK’s most successful female hospitality business leaders will be coming to Wales to discuss challenges facing women in the sector at the first-ever H&C EXPO.

Held at Celtic Manor in July, the EXPO will be hosting a live panel discussion which will feature Sara Jayne Stanes, CEO, The Royal Academy of Culinary Arts; Wendy Bartlett, founder of Bartlett Mitchell, one of the UK’s leading independent caterers; Tredwells’ chef-patron and group operations director at Marcus Wareing Restaurants, Chantelle Nicholson; Pervin Todiwala, from award-winning Cafe Spice Namaste and Julie Barker, director of accommodation and hospitality services at Brighton University

The women, all hugely successful in their respective fields, will be discussing issues such as pay, equal treatment and opportunities in a sector which accounts for one in ten jobs across the UK.

Held at the iconic resort in South Wales, H&C EXPO is a new event designed to bring together the UK’s leading hospitality experts to discuss and debate the future of the industry.

Despite women making up 60% of the hospitality and tourism workforce, only 15% make it to senior positions according to the British Hospitality Association (BHA).

And research published in the review Women in Hospitality, Travel and Leisure 2020, released yesterday, found that women make up 26% of senior management positions in the hospitality, travel and leisure sector with the figure dropping to only 20% when human resources roles are excluded.  

Female hospitality salaries also lag behind men’s according to data from The Change Group. The average male chef salary of those registered with the recruitment agency last year was 14% higher than the average annual pay for a female chef while the average salary for male front-of-house staff was 9% higher than their female equivalent.

Mark Harris, event director, H&C EXPO, said:

“We are absolutely thrilled to be bringing some of the UK’s most highly regarded leaders to Wales for what will be a significant debate around the role of women in the hospitality sector.

“The current economic, political and social uncertainty is creating some very real and complex challenges.

“Our expert panel will be discussing how the role of women plays into this and where there are opportunities for the sector to lead and drive real societal change.”