Employees at Crowne Plaza Riyadh Recount Their Experiences as Women Working in Hospitality

In a continued commitment to champion a culture where everyone can thrive, IHG Hotels & Resorts encourages the commemoration of International Women’s Day to celebrate the social, economic, political and cultural achievements of women.

According to the leading hospitality brand, recognizing DE&I Celebration and Education days is a really important part of embedding an inclusive culture. It supports team engagement and retention, as well as talent attraction. Besides, guests love it too, as IHG research found that they will spend 31% more on accommodation that behaves in a more conscious and responsible way.

This year’s theme is named Embrace Equity, a concept which recognizes that each person has different circumstances, and allocates the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome. In fact, IHG embraces equity through various programs, such as RISE, parental leave policies and flexible working practices.

A proud member of the IHG Hotels & Resorts Group, Crowne Plaza Riyadh RDC Hotel and Convention Center takes pride in providing an enabling work environment for women in their establishment. In this context, Learning and Quality Coordinator Sara Jedea, Concierge Agent Reyof Alessa and Restaurant Host Maha Aldosari, recount their experiences and accomplishments as women working in the hospitality industry.

Sara Jedea – Learning and Quality Coordinator

“I have only been working for 3 months as a Learning and Quality Coordinator. As a person who just recently started working in the hospitality industry and already coming from an international background, Crowne Plaza has given me the support to keep continuing the experience to use my international field every day, with guests coming in from all around the world. Crowne Plaza RDC will keep being the hidden gem of Riyadh and of all Saudi Arabia. Crowne Plaza hotel has also given me the opportunity to keep pursing my equestrian career professionally, as my goal is for Saudi female equestrians to be forerunners in the world of show jumping. Crowne Plaza is a prime example of focusing on women empowerment and Vision 2030. We get to express who we are as professional females in this industry in a country where it just keeps exceeding in our expectation. I am looking forward to continuing being part of the Crowne Plaza RDC family in the coming years. This year, IHG is focusing on equality and equity, and Crowne Plaza RDC does just that. Although I’ve only been working with Crowne Plaza for such a short period of time, it has really opened my eyes and really shows the bright future of Saudi Arabia, which used to be a closed country once. Now, you can really see how much they have opened up in the past few years by allowing women to be involved in this beautiful country we get to call home. IHG has done a great job focusing on the equality and equity in terms of women empowerment. I am really looking forward to seeing what else Saudi Arabia has in stock for me and for Vision 2030″, says Sara Jedea.

Reyof Alessa – Concierge Agent

“It’s been 6 months since I started working with Crowne Plaza. Every day in the hotel is full of support from management and colleagues. In Crowne Plaza, you have a chance to grow, achieve and build a future for yourself”, says Reyof Alessa.

Maha Aldosari – Host at Mosaique Restaurant

“I have been a host at Mosaique, the main restaurant of the hotel, for the past 6 months. I have a wonderful team that always provides support without conditions or restrictions, which makes me work in full comfort and happiness. I have many opportunities for development, as there is no difference in positions between men and women, and there is also constant support for development. I see that Crowne Plaza Hotel is with the vision of 2023, and it is a very comfortable work environment for women”, says Maha Aldosari.

Although there is still progress to be made, there is no doubt that the position of women in Saudi Arabia has undergone significant changes in recent years, as the country aims at increasing their participation and leadership roles, as well as create a more inclusive and diverse workforce. The Saudi government has launched several initiatives to support women in the hospitality industry, including providing training and education programs, promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment, and encouraging the private sector to hire more women in senior positions. The goal is to not only increase the number of women employed in hospitality, but also to promote their career advancement and leadership opportunities by creating a supportive and flexible work environment that accommodates women’s needs and enables them to balance work and family responsibilities, creating a thriving and sustainable hospitality industry in Saudi Arabia that benefits from the talents and contributions of both men and women.

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