A Travel Industry Club panel at ITB Berlin underscored the importance of diverse teams in the tourism industry, particularly highlighting the need for increased female leadership.

The Travel Industry Club has initiated a mentoring program to encourage women in their leadership journeys.

The program emphasizes clear communication of ambitions and continuous professional development.
In a recent panel discussion at ITB Berlin, experts from the tourism industry discussed the integral role of female leadership.

Female leadership was the focus of the panel discussion - Image Credit ITB Berlin

The discussion, held on the Lighthouse Stage, emphasized the importance of diversity in teams, the communication prowess of female leaders, and offered guidance for prospective women managers, often hindered by self-doubt and a desire to please everyone.

Christina Verhaelen of DERTOUR, reflecting on her own journey to leadership, stressed the need for female mentorship. Verhaelen, who is the vice president of the Travel Industry Club and heads a team of 35, has helped launch a mentoring program within the club. The program aims to encourage women to communicate their ambitions clearly and promote a culture of continuous learning through training courses and seminars.

Anne Rösener, a team and organizational developer, advised women to scrutinize the interpersonal dynamics at potential workplaces. She encouraged them to focus on issues that can aid their progress and leverage their strengths. She added that having a clear vision of their future role within the company is also crucial.

Highlighting the merits of diversity, Steffen Butzkow, an event organizer, praised his female colleagues' communication skills and collaborative management style. Uwe Sieblist, an HR consultant, agreed, noting that mixed-gender teams demonstrated superior performance. Despite this, Sieblist observed that women often had to outperform their male counterparts to attain recognition. He emphasized the importance of team fit for any potential applicant.

In conclusion, the panel urged the tourism industry to embrace female leadership, underscoring its potential to drive the sector forward.