Five Gloucestershire women have been named in a list of 64 female hoteliers that are at the top of their game by the UK's leading hospitality trade magazine, Boutique Hotelier.
Tewkesbury Park's owner, Claire White; The Old Stocks Inn's business and brand manager, Charlotte Tuck; spa director at Calcot & Spa, Francesca Rowland; general manager of Thyme, Milly Hibbert; and general manager of The Painswick, Leah Warren, all made the 64-strong list — alongside the likes of Channel 5's The Hotel Inspector Alex Polizzi.
The list celebrates the achievements of female leaders in the hospitality industry across the world, because although 51.2 per cent of the hospitality workforce is female, at a leadership level women only make up 30 per cent.
Shining a spotlight on Gloucestershire's hoteliers, the magazine highlighted the launch of Calcot & Spa's £5 million new fitness club, The Grain Store, with Francesca at the helm; the successful launch of Thyme's Bertiolo brand of table linens and silks, decorated with botanical illustrations by founder Caryn Hibbert and driven by daughter Millie; The Old Stocks Inn earning the title of One of the Best Places to Work in Hospitality in 2022; and Tewkesbury Park's transformation with a £4 million investment in new facilities, event spaces and dog-friendly rooms, all overseen by owner Claire.
The annual list, which featured in the magazine's March 2024 edition to tie in with International Women's Day, aims to challenge preconceived ideas about women in power, highlight the contributions of women in male-dominated fields and encourage the entire hospitality industry to embrace diversity, inclusion and equal opportunities, working towards a time when gender-specific lists become obsolete.