Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
While women make up a majority of the workforce in the tourism industry, leadership positions remain largely male-dominated, and in some cases, progress is stagnating or even reversing. This panel explores the pressures women face in advancing to leadership roles and the persistent barriers that hold them back. Drawing on the latest research on gender equality in tourism, male and female executives will share their perspectives, highlight remaining obstacles, and discuss practical strategies to actively support women in leadership roles before opportunities slip further away.
Panel:
Dr. Madlen Schwing
Managing Director
FGF e.V.
Olga Heuser
CEO
Dialogshift
Carola Hoekstra
Chairman of the board
SGR
Pétur Óskarsson
Chairman Of The Board at SAF
The Icelandic Travel Industry Association
Dikansha Sondhi
Coordinator & Young Leader
Kinexin Convention Management
Olaf P. Beck
Vice President People & Culture
Lindner Hotel Group
While women make up a majority of the workforce in the tourism industry, leadership positions remain largely male-dominated, and in some cases, progress is stagnating or even reversing. This panel explores the pressures women face in advancing to leadership roles and the persistent barriers that hold them back. Drawing on the latest research on gender equality in tourism, male and female executives will share their perspectives, highlight remaining obstacles, and discuss practical strategies to actively support women in leadership roles before opportunities slip further away.
Panel:
Dr. Madlen Schwing
Managing Director
FGF e.V.
Olga Heuser
CEO
Dialogshift
Carola Hoekstra
Chairman of the board
SGR
Pétur Óskarsson
Chairman Of The Board at SAF
The Icelandic Travel Industry Association
Dikansha Sondhi
Coordinator & Young Leader
Kinexin Convention Management
Olaf P. Beck
Vice President People & Culture
Lindner Hotel Group
