As the global community marks International Women’s Day today, The Executive Magazine is acknowledging the extraordinary women and women-driven initiatives that have left an indelible mark on the travel industry. This special feature is dedicated to highlighting the determination, resilience, and exceptional talents of female professionals in the travel sector, in commemoration of International Women’s Day 2024 and beyond.

Eleni Andreadis

Leading Sustainability at Sani Resort and Inspiring Change

As we commemorate International Women’s Day, it’s crucial to highlight trailblazers like Eleni Andreadis, whose leadership in sustainability stands as a beacon of empowerment and environmental stewardship. In her role as Director of Sustainability and CSR at Sani Resort, Andreadis has not only achieved remarkable milestones, such as steering the resort to become Greece’s first certified carbon-neutral haven and securing global recognition at the World Travel Awards 2022 but has also shattered glass ceilings in traditionally male-dominated fields. Through her innovative initiatives like Sani Green, Andreadis has showcased how women can drive impactful change, from reducing single-use plastic to championing local sourcing and biodiversity projects. Beyond her corporate achievements, Andreadis’s dedication to inspiring the next generation, exemplified through her ‘Planet Agents’ book series and nonprofit organisation, underscores her commitment to fostering a more sustainable and equitable world.

Karolin Troubetzkoy

Executive Director of Marketing & Operations, Jade Mountain & Anse Chastanet

Karolin Troubetzkoy has been the Executive Director for Marketing and Operations at Jade Mountain and Anse Chastanet since 1986, and holds a strong passion for the local community. Karolin believes that as much economic benefit as possible must be kept in the community, so has spent the last 30 years building up a network of craftsmen to hand-make all the furniture, bathrobes and furnishings at the resorts. With a passion for building more resilient and sustainable land communities and developing a regenerative approach to travel and tourism, Karolin has held many volunteer leadership roles including President of the Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association, Founder & Chairperson of the Saint Lucia Tourism Enhancement Fund and President of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association. Karolin currently serves as chairperson to The Saint Lucia National Conservation Fund, the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund and the Education Foundation of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association.

Samantha Jameson

Founder, Soapsmith – Hart Shoreditch New Partnership Launch

Samantha Jameson started the Soapsmith journey in 2010, marrying her talent for fragrances and desire to bring joy and new energy into everyday moments, through scent. Soapsmith is the result of Sam’s true love; taking her hobby of artisanal soap making and scent creation, she soon transformed it into a viable business. In a true act of faith, Sam poured all her savings into setting up home in the Old Clockworks in Walthamstow. In 2012 Soapsmith officially launched with a small collection of products and just herself making each one. Recently, Sam has partnered with boutique hotelHart Shoreditch, to offer Soapsmith’s most sought after scent ‘Brick Lane’, in a range of products that will be exclusively offered at the hotel. This collaboration celebrates the hotel’s unique position in East London, with a scent that represents the local community.

Agnes Tijrare

Wilderness Namibia Children in the Wilderness and Community Coordinator

Born and bred in Namibia, Agnes Tjirare has been with Wilderness for 13 years. Through her drive and ambition, she has moved up the ranks from working as a waitress in a camp to currently serving as the Children in the Wilderness (CITW), Culture and Stakeholder Officer for Namibia. Her journey into the tourism and hospitality industry had humble beginnings. Agnes was one of just a few candidates selected to attend a maiden Namibia hospitality training programme 10 years ago. Her unstoppable enthusiasm saw her rise quickly and find work with industry leaders such as Wilderness. Agnes spends time in remote corners of Namibia with children and community members, implementing projects or at schools gardening and offering Environmental Education lessons at Environmental School Clubs.

Kimberley Cohen

Co-Founder & Artistic Director, Maisons Pariente

Maisons Pariente was created in 2018 by Kimberley Cohen, her sister Leslie Kouhana, and her father Patrick Pariente, to curate a hotel experience enriched by personalisation and generosity, where guests would feel at home. Maisons Pariente’s collection now includes four properties, Crillon le Brave in Provence, Hotel Lou Pinet in St Tropez, and Hotel Le Coucou in Meribel, and Le Grand Mazarin in Paris, which opened in September 2023. Each hotel has a distinct personality, but it was important to Kimberley and her family to have consistency throughout the collection, keeping evident the core values of high-end service, strong identity, authenticity, attention to detail, ultra-personalisation, comfort, design, and generosity. By investing their own money, Kimberley and her family can be selective with the projects that Maisons Pariente pursues. This has allowed them to create an exceptional selection of properties that uphold the values important to Kimberley and her family.

The Leela Palaces

Hotels and Resorts partners with NGO: Phool

The Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts, the Rolls Royce of hospitality in India launches a new programme with an NGO called Phool – women from marginalised communities in India reuse petals from the hotel’s floral arrangements and hand roll them into incense sticks and cones. The project will upcycle more than 10 tonnes of flower waste each year – they are beautiful, ethical and smell divine – a truly virtuous circle. Sustainability initiatives that think local are powerful – more likely to make a difference both immediately and visibly as well as with the bigger picture, and with a beneficial effect more likely to ‘ripple outwards’ than many others.

Joanna Ruxton

Plastic Free Pioneer on AE Expeditions

Joanna Ruxton has been hailed as ‘the person responsible for the plastic free movement’ by David Attenborough himself. She spent many years at the BBC Natural History Unit working on the first Blue Planet Series, before releasing her own film ‘A Plastic Ocean’ in 2016, showing the devastating impact of plastic waste on ocean ecosystems and the ocean environment. In 2009 she founded Plastic Oceans UK (now known as Ocean Generation), with the goal of encouraging an inclusive worldwide movement to restore a sustainable relationship between humanity and the ocean. Jo joined other thought leaders on AE Expeditions’ Antarctic Climate Expedition with Dr Sylvia Earle in February 2023. 

Guests can join Joanna on AE Expeditions’ South Georgia and Antarctic Odyssey, departing 24th March 2024. 

Michelle Thomas

New Openings Manager, Lamington Group

Michelle Thomas joined Lamington Group as the New Openings Manager, following being promoted from General Manager at room2 Southampton. Thomas has over 20 years of experience under her belt in various hospitality roles and since taking on her new position, has been responsible for the pre-opening processes for all new room2 hometels, working on operational and supplier partnerships, hiring, training and developing teams that deliver positive customer experiences and building brand engagement in local areas. Thomas is an asset to Lamington Group being the perfect ambassador for the hotel successfully opening room2 Belfast, and having it reach no.1 on TripAdvisor after the first four weeks of opening! Michelle is now covering the General Manager role until room2 recruits the perfect replacement as well as working on the upcoming developments. Thomas has brought together the community of Belfast whilst having strategic planning, operations and high-quality standards at the forefront of the brand to create a community hub in the heart of Belfast City. 

Shefs at The Leela

Shefs at The Leela is an innovative concept that recognises and celebrates women chefs, curated in partnership with Dean With Us. The programme was conceived as a platform to promote equity in the kitchen by providing an opportunity for talented women chefs to share their journey and showcase their talent through curated dinners, panel discussions, and special masterclasses to inspire the younger generation to consider culinary pursuits. The brand has previously hosted unique editions at The Leela Palace Bengaluru, The Leela Ambience Gurugram, The Leela Palace Chennai and The Leela Bhartiya City Bengaluru. The next edition is all set to be held at The Leela Palace Jaipur. This year on Women’s Day, The Leela is also excited to announce the launch of a 2-year long Shefs at The Leela programme to nurture and develop young graduates for a secured future in the culinary world.