Middle East Business: WTTC reveals women speakers at global summit in Riyadh – Gulf Digital News

Middle East Business: WTTC reveals women speakers at global summit in Riyadh – Gulf Digital News

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has announced details of the many inspirational women in philanthropy, business and government who will take the stage for its Global Summit in Saudi Arabia from November 28 to December 1.

Women dominate tourism employment worldwide and the presence of such inspirational leaders in Riyadh will stimulate debate on the need for them to play a greater role in decision making and leadership in the travel and tourism sector.

The tourism industry employs 54 per cent of women in the sector but only one in 5 of Tourism Ministers worldwide are women and they are under-represented in senior roles in many hospitality and travel companies.

Among the many women leaders present at the Summit are Former British Prime Minister Theresa May.

Patricia Espinosa, former executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Desiree Bollier Chairwoman & Chief Merchant, Value Retail, and European Union Parliament member Elena Kountoura will join them along with the Founder and Chief Executive Office of Healing Hotels, Anne Biging, and Global CEO of JLL Hotels & Hospitality, Gilda Perez Alvarado.

Princess Haifa Al Saud, the Saudi Vice Minister of Tourism, said: “Tourism is one of the few global industries where women