Investigating Challenges of Women in Management in the Hospitality

This dissertation investigates the challenges faced by women in management positions within the hospitality industry, focusing on a case study of Hotel Marriott. It acknowledges the support received from tutors, parents, friends, and colleagues in completing the research. The study uses a qualitative research method, collecting primary data through questionnaires from ten women employees. The research aims to identify factors affecting women's management positions, explore the impact of these challenges on the overall hospitality industry, analyze remedial strategies, and identify relevant rights promoting women in the workplace. Key findings are presented through frequency tables and data analysis, discussing both primary and secondary information. The study concludes with recommendations for overcoming these challenges, promoting gender equality, and improving the working environment for women in hospitality management.

DISSERTATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
With conducting this investigation, I am able to improve my knowledge about issues
which arise for women at management positions. For completing this investigation within
specified time, I would like to my sincere gratitude to my tutor and parents. They helped my a lot
to complete it in appropriate manner covering all the aspects which is beneficial for future study.
Secondly, I would like to thank to my friends and colleagues who guide me regarding collection
of data. With the joint efforts and support from others, I am able to complete this investigation
and acquire knowledge about it. With proper support and participation of respondents, I am able
to collect primary information which is crucial to make my study reliable and appropriate.

ABSTRACT
This investigation is done to acquire knowledge about issue and challenges faced by
women at management positions. So with this it is easy to analyse factors which cause
challenges for women. This investigation is based on Hospitality organisation i.e. Hotel Marriott
which is leading association having numerous employees. With this study, it is easy for reader to
know factors which has to be considered to avoid misbehave at organisation. Researcher get to
know that if women does not get proper job opportunities, then there is negative impact on
organisational growth and development. Qualitative research method is used in this investigation
through which information is presented in non- mathematical manner which is easy for reader to
understood. Primary information is collected through questionnaire and 10 women employees
are selected for collecting information.

Table of Contents
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT...............................................................................................................2
ABSTRACT.....................................................................................................................................3
TITLE:.............................................................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Overview of investigation...........................................................................................................1
Background of research...............................................................................................................1
Rationale of study.......................................................................................................................1
Research aim...............................................................................................................................2
Research objective......................................................................................................................2
Research questions......................................................................................................................2
Gantt chart...................................................................................................................................2
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................3
Factors that affect the management position of women in hospitality industry.........................3
Impact of challenges faced by women in overall hospitality industry........................................4
Remedial strategies to overcome factors faced by women in hospitality industry.....................4
Rights that help in promoting women working in an organization.............................................5
METHODOLOGY AND DATA COLLECTION...........................................................................6
RESULTS/FINDINGS....................................................................................................................8
Frequency Table........................................................................................................................10
Data analysis.............................................................................................................................12
ANALYSIS/EVALUATION OF RESULTS/FINDINGS............................................................21
On the basis of primary information.........................................................................................21
On the basis of secondary information......................................................................................21
CONCLUSIONS............................................................................................................................23
Conclusion.................................................................................................................................23
Alternative methods..................................................................................................................23
RECOMMENDATIONS...............................................................................................................23
Recommendations.....................................................................................................................23
Reflection..................................................................................................................................24

REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................25

TITLE:
“Investigate the challenges of women in management position in the hospitality industry”
INTRODUCTION
Overview of investigation
Hospitality industry is the sector which deals in providing accommodation, residential
services, food and beverages, hotel and restaurant sector. These days, there is increment in scope
of hospitality sector because people travel from one place to another. It is essential for
management of this industry to understand about changes which are taking place in current ear
and implement changes in specified manner. In this investigation, there is discussion about
gender inequality and due to which women have to face many problems in management position
at top level management (Abbasi, Ali and Bibi, 2018). When women does not get equal
opportunities at work place, they are not able to improve and enhance their performance. There
are different challenges due to which women are not able to perform actions on their own. This
investigation is based on Hotel Marriott which is leading brand in hospitality sector providing
services all over the world.
Background of research
There is different mentality regarding working style of women among people due to
which they does not get good position in society. There is complete and relevant information
about management policies but according to some people women can bot handle top level
positions in better and effective manner. There are many incidents in which women at workplace
due not treated welly and due to which they does not take interest in working style of whole
organisation. There is important role of women as well in hospitality sector because they at front
office, women can talk and handle customer's in politely and calm manner which gives good
image to consumers. But there are some issues die to which women face challenges at
management position in Marriott. In this investigation, there is discussion about issues which
arise in managing females at top level management in the association. There is difference in
compensation paid to them, so it is essential for managers to understand and determine changes
which are taking places in organisation. It is perception, that women can not manage professional
and personal dilemma, so this is the best way to conduct activities. So difference in
discrimination has to be evaluated with conducting in study.
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Rationale of study
Rationale behind this topic is to acquire knowledge about issues which is faced by
women at top level management of organisation and ways through which they can deal with it.
This topic assist in reducing gender gap and provide equal opportunities to women as well. This
topic is relevant in current market because this is the issue which is common in other sectors as
well. Hence people provide their views over it in effective and relevant manner (Ademe and
Singh, 2015). Unequal opportunities to female at management organisation is the major issue
which affects working efficiency and environment is able to determine and change policies
properly. This topic is important because it reduces gender discrimination in association.
Research aim
“To evaluate the challenges of women faced in management position in the hospitality industry-
A case study on Marriott”
In this study, there will discussion about challenges which is faced by women who are
working at management position in an organisation. There is requirement of proper change in
working style which makes operations in appropriate and relevant manner. In order to access
strategies through which gender gap in organisation can be reduced.
Research objective
 To determine the factors that affect the management position of women in hospitality
industry
 To explore the impact of challenges faced by women in overall hospitality industry.
 To analyse the remedial strategies to overcome factors faced by women in hospitality
industry
 To identify the rights that help in promoting women working in an organization.
Research questions
 What are the factors that affect the management position of women in hospitality
industry?
 What are the impact of challenges faced by women in overall hospitality industry?
 Suggest some remedial strategies to overcome factors faced by women in hospitality
industry.
 What are the rights that help in promoting women working in an organization?
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Gantt chart
This picture shows research actions and time required to complete it. There is complete
and specific information about time allotted to complete specific activity and hence whole study
will be completed within determined time (Al-Asfour and et. al., 2017).
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LITERATURE REVIEW
Literature review is the sector which is conducted for collecting secondary information
about the topic. This investigation is based on analysing issues faced by women when they are
working at top level management. In tourism industry, at top level management males are
working, so this affects performance of females because they does not get opportunities for
explore. This is the major reason due to which organisational performance can be improved and
assist in long term sustainability. There are objectives which is set in introduction chapter are
discussed here, so information about it is collected through online sources (Al-Kayed, 2015).
Factors that affect the management position of women in hospitality industry
In comparison to older days, these days there is more growth and development in society.
People are more aware about growth opportunities and ready to grab it. Hence in this case,
women also started in working corporate sector (Camillo, 2015). There is complete and relevant
information about sectors in which they work but still, there are some factors which affects them
to work in hospitality sector, this is the sector in which every type of consumer arrives, and
employees make to greet and attend them patiently and with smile. According to Yan Grace
Zhong, Sue Couch and Shane C. Blum, 2019 there are four components which affects working of
women in hospitality organisation.
 First factor is Work/ family conflict. Being women, they have to manage able came
between their professional and familiar life. Hence sometimes due to conflict at
workplace or family’s women does not want to join hospitality organisation. For
instance: there is conflict at workplace, then it is not easy for women worker to deal with
it.
 Second factor is less equal opportunities. At hotels, there are less opportunities to
female. Majority of personnel at management position are males, hence there is privilege
to women, and they does not equal rights. There is difference in providing opportunities
to employees such as on the basis of gender, caste, colour, creed, etc.
 Third factor is Lack of support from family. There are some families which does not
support women to work in hospitality sector because this is the sector in which employee
have to please every consumer and ask their issues politely. So, family does not support
women to work in this sector (Cetin, Demirciftci and Bilgihan, 2016).
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 Fourth factor is Gender Discrimination. This is the major factors which motivates
individuals to work at management level. When women does not get equal opportunities,
this leads to gender inequality and women does not able to understand ways through
which they can deal with it.
From the above discussion, it is clear that these are the reasons due to which individuals
are not able to understand and make proper strategies for overall organisational growth and
development. There is requirement of managing and determining changes, then it will be easy for
people to determine and analyse changes properly. Due to gender discrimination and majority of
male candidates sometimes female work does not feel comfortable at management position and
not able to share their view point. Apart from this some families does not allow females to work
at top level management because of unsafe working environment.
Impact of challenges faced by women in overall hospitality industry
As per view of Susana Morris, 2019 there is requirement of role of top level
management to frame policies through which equal opportunities can be provided to men and
women. This improves performance of hospitality industry and people get more growth scope in
their career. In order to work at management positions, there are any challenges which are faced
by people because there is no proper working style of workers. Challenges faced by women at
top level management in the Hotel Marriott are majority of candidates are men, lack of voting
opportunities, not able to take decision on their own. Due to these issues they are not able to
work in effective manner and get positive outcome because of it. Females does not proper right
of voting because of less majority and sometimes right decisions also goes in vein. As per
change in working style of organisation, there is requirement of complete and appropriate
working environment through which efficiency can be maintained. When there is less
opportunities to women in Hotel Marriott, then there is negative impact on brand image of
association and people does not want to join it. There are possibilities that Hotel Marriott miss to
have talented and skilled workforce and organisational growth might get affected. If equal
opportunities is not done, then there are possibilities of gossips and mis communication among
workforce which leads to negative impact on hospitality industry. For instance: there is mis
behave with women worker at work place, their working efficiency gets reduced because of
improper working environment (Fatima and et. al., 2015).
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In hospitality sector, consumer satisfaction is most important aspect with the help of
which organisational growth is possible and if women does not get opportunities in management
position, Then there are possibilities that policies cannot farmed up to the mark. When there is
no women at top level management, then it is not easy for lower level employees to share their
issues and grievances which does not make positive environment in hotel Marriott.
Remedial strategies to overcome factors faced by women in hospitality industry
Women face many challenges while working in hospitality industry from internal and
external forces both at their workplace. According to KATIE SHONK, 2019 if there is lack of
support from family, the it is tough for women to outshine and perform operations in effective
and efficient manner. Remedies for some factors explained before are is highlighted in this
section of report.
 Work\ Family Conflict- This is a very common issue faced by almost every working
women. Remedy for this problem is employee can ask Hotel Marriot manager to give
them flexible working hours so they can balance their personal and professional life.
 Gender Discrimination- It can be reduced by spreading awareness about equal position
women hold in society and therefore, they should be treated same as men and assigned
job on their skills not on basis that they are women (Fei and et. al., 2017).
 Less Equal Opportunities- This issue is seen very often in hospitality world. Hotel
Marriott can keep close watch on managers at time they are assigning tasks to employees
to see they are not making any bias decisions and treating men and women staff equally.
 Lack of Support from Family- Due to the reputation of hospitality world most families
doesn't support their decision to work in this area. Hotel Marriot can provide safe
environment for female staff and other facilities for their safety like pick and drop.
Rights that help in promoting women working in an organization
As per view of Marguerite Cheng, 2019 it is clear that there is requirement of complete
and positive working environment through which women feel comfortable at their work place.
There must not be promotion if individuals on gender basis. In order to provide confident
position to women in hospitality organisation, there is requirement of some legal laws and
regulation with the help of which women is confident for promoting women to work at
management position in Hotel Marriott. Some rights are as under-
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 Laws against Sexual Harassment- different laws are made by Hotel Marriot for
protecting women if they are going through any kind of harassment in their workplace.
This provide them a safe environment and if any such activity takes place, they take strict
actions against it (Grobelna, 2016).
 Maternity Benefits- Female employees has provisions to take maternity leave and this
is a policy of Hotel Marriot and basic requirement in international laws for employees.
 Equal Pay Right- All employees are paid equally in Hotel Marriot according to task
performed. Their no different payment policy according to gender.
 Safe Environment for Women Working Night Shifts- Managers of Hotel Marriot
make sure of safe environment is provided and maintained for women staff at all time but
they become more aware or cautious while night shifts that female staff is feeling safe
and comfortable while working at nights.
Research Gap
With the help of this collected information, it is clear that there is difference in working
style with the help of which individuals are able to determine and evaluate changes properly. In
order to evaluate and determine policies, there is difference in operations of male and female.
There is problem in maintaining proper working environment for females because they are not
getting proper facilities. But impact on overall organisational operations is not clear due to this
gender difference at top level management.
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