This year’s International Women’s Day on March the 8th celebrates female trailblazers at Cora Cora Maldives, the five-star all-inclusive luxury resort in the Maldives; at Wiltons and Franco’s restaurants on London’s Jermyn Street; and Chobe Game Lodge in the heart of Botswana’s most exciting safari landscape. From the Maldives via London and on to Botswana, women are leading the way to a better world where belonging, empowerment and relevance take centre stage. Women in hospitality are at the forefront of forging women’s equality and in highlighting women’s achievements.
With the campaign theme of #InspireInclusion, International Women’s Day raises awareness of discrimination, and inspires understanding of the value of bringing women to the foreground. At Cora Cora Maldives, on the flawless Raa Atoll, women take prime positions – from the airport to the dining room.
The only Maldivian resort to have an all-female airport welcoming team, Cora Cora Maldives has always been an innovator, so from the moment visitors step off their flight to the moment they depart, they will meet female staff leading the way in every area. With their attributes of empathy, precise communication, and networking skills, the all-female airport greeting team makes guests feel welcome from the moment they step off the flight.
Women also get top billing at the Ginger MoonÒ restaurant, where the all-female team is led by Chef May as the Chef de Cuisine, who joined the Cora Cora Maldives family at the end of 2021. She is motivating women to work in prominent positions in a traditionally male-dominated field where female chefs can struggle with recognition and exposure for their talents. Ginger MoonÒ at Cora Cora Maldives provided a platform for Chef May to showcase her culinary abilities and she has used this platform to create a dedicated cadre of women making delicious Asian food with love and passion that soothes the soul.
Women in wine are at the forefront of guests’ dining experience at Wiltons and Franco’s legendary restaurants in the heart of London’s celebrated St James’s. Wiltons, the fine dining classic British restaurant, and Franco’s, the famed Italian stalwart, are blazing a trail for a new generation of female sommeliers.
At Wiltons, Monica Bacchiocchi has turned her passion into a stellar career, expertly guiding customers through the extensive selection of wines for the perfect accompaniment to their classic British dishes. At Franco’s, fellow female Italian sommelier Guilia Fenoglio has been instrumental in developing a spectacular collection of Italian wines, originally focused on reds, but now famed for its vast choice of rosé wines and fresh summer whites.
Monica joined Wiltons in September 2019, and Guilia joined the team at Franco’s in 2018. What unites both female sommeliers is their dedication to the profession, putting women firmly at the forefront of wine trends, wine choices, and wine knowledge. Both are global travellers, both are at home in the heart of London, and both are critically important to the success of the capital’s favourite restaurants.
“Women have a different sensitivity to men,” says Monica. “Their senses seem heightened in shades of colour and smells which benefits everybody when they can show their skills, passion, and love of what they are doing.”
Nowhere is female ambition and commitment more recognised than at Desert & Delta Safaris’ five-star Chobe Game Lodge, where female tour guide, Florence Kagiso, was awarded the prestigious title of ‘The Innovator’ at the National Geographic Traveller Reader Awards 2021. A true inspiration for women and girls across Africa, Florence was one of the first female safari guides in Botswana. She now mentors and leads the first all-female guide team in Africa affectionately known as Chobe’s Angels.
When Florence started, guiding was a typically ‘male job’. Spending hours in the bush, changing tyres, driving through rough terrain, and navigating river cruises was not considered a suitable career for women. But Florence worked hard and obtained the relevant driving licences for both game drives and river cruises.
Having proved that she was more than capable, Chobe Game Lodge’s management team recognised Florence took better care of the safari vehicles and had a far lower fuel consumption compared to her male counterparts. As a woman, she took a more watchful and relaxed approach to the breath-taking wildlife and nature around her rather than going for the thrill of the chase. It is thanks to her determination that Chobe Game Lodge is now renowned as the home of Africa’s first team of all-female guides.
At Desert & Delta Safaris, female empowerment and promoting gender equality are at the core of their CARES philosophy. The consequences of Florence’s revolutionary career have been extraordinary for the local community. Not only has she been an inspiration for young women and girls across Africa to strive for successful careers, but the money generated at Chobe Game Lodge has trickled down to the community and has boosted the local economy.
Join these outstanding women in hospitality to celebrate women’s success at International Women’s Day on March 8th.
Storrington Collective is a member of PRCA and a full-service public relations agency, catering exclusively to the luxury travel and hospitality sector. Comprised of an exceptionally talented team, Storrington Collective creates innovative and bespoke campaigns that deliver outstanding results for its clients across all media platforms.