We were welcomed at the BC Tourism and Hospitality Conference, with the intention to continue the dialogue that occurred at Seat At The Table with 50 industry leaders. We presented the dynamic results of the study by sharing recommendations related to balance, flexibility, benefits, inclusion, learning, and safe workplaces.

March marked Women’s history month and International Women's Day. How did your organizations deliver? Were you asked to stand for a photo in the lobby for social media? I would go out on a limb and say whatever took place, it was likely organized by women and made zero impact towards gender equity.

Did you catch WORTH’s viral moment a few weeks back? Our talented communications team posted a statement in an Instagram story that got a LOT of attention. In simple white writing, the post said “Put the salary in the job description” … 13 times in a row for effect. It is evident from the reactions by some there is still a lot of conversation (and internal barriers to overcome) to have salary transparency.

For many of us, hearing the term “crucial conversations” or imagining participating in one can trigger a physical, nauseating response. If you find yourself asking “do I really have to have that conversation?”, the answer is always “yes”. Having a few tips to guide you through challenging conversations can help to give you the confidence to engage in one.

Quitting your job brings up all the feels. One second, you’re feeling liberated, empowered and incredibly optimistic and the next you’re doubting your decision, worrying about the potential backlash and guilt-ridden over letting people down. So how can you resign smoothly and on good terms?

Happy New Year! Is that tone deaf these days? Are you feeling “happy”? Wherever you’re at, this issue is intended to help offer different sources of support for starting 2022. It is so important that we all have women in our circle who we can learn from and admire. Keep reading to learn more about WORTH’s upcoming programs, which will provide connection and inspiration.

Let’s be honest, job searching is exhausting. There are countless job postings to sift through, all while cautiously thinking “I could do that” rather than “I want to do that!”. It took me quitting my job with nothing lined up to see what was going wrong in my search. Here are my top five tips on how to get clear on what you want and go after the right opportunities.

When the New Year’s Eve Ball drops, it often feels like the holiday season has come to an instantaneous end. Why not treat the end of the holiday season as an opportunity to reignite the flames of our passions and step into our own power? New year, more empowered you! Check out some of these fantastic video resources to start your journey of “levelling up” to a more empowered you in 2022.

Getting outside to hike or snowshoe in the winter can seem overwhelming, especially for those who dislike the cold or have never done it before, but the benefits are worth it! Here are 10 tips to prepare for your winter adventures, so you can stay safe and warm while having fun outdoors.

This year WORTH led the Marion Harper Treskin Leadership Award along with the generosity of Marion Harper Treskin, outgoing Chair of the Board of Directors at Destination Vancouver. This award is a one-time ($2000) scholarship awarded to a Woman of Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality. We received 41 applications from inspiring and ambitious Women of WORTH but could only choose one.

Whistler has adapted to ever-changing public health orders while still managing to provide a world-class experience. Navigating through the challenges is Barrett Fisher, President & CEO of Tourism Whistler. Barrett has taken the time to share some of her experiences dealing with the current state of the industry, career highlights and words of wisdom for the next generation of Women of WORTH.

For the past 25 years, Brenda Baptiste has been instrumental in her efforts to grow Indigenous Tourism in her role as Chair of Indigenous Tourism Association BC. Brenda has her hands full between serving on the Coalition of BC Tourism & Hospitality Businesses and the Board for Tourism Industry Association of British Columbia but she may time to speak with us about her leadership journey and the importance of Indigenous Tourism.

Before we achieve complete diversity in our environments, businesses, and organizations, they must first be inclusive. Every single individual that is a part of the organization needs to be engaged and supportive because diversity cannot be forced, and inclusivity needs to come from a willingness to be open and make changes. WORTH created a guide with tangible actions on how you can promote, drive and demand inclusivity in your organization.

Bring on the sweater weather, apple cinnamon and pumpkin spice. I love the perks of the season and have little concern if that makes me “basic”. Why do we deride women who enjoy comfort and flavour with this label? I once dreaded the shift in season as a tourism HR professional. The fall may result in further employment declines as business levels change, women take on childcare responsibilities and fourth wave COVID-19 concerns continue.

Since the pandemic, many workers have faced increased burnout and pressure along with a strain on corporate culture. For many in recreation, tourism and hospitality there was the added pressure of inconsistent shifts and income, heavier workloads for the same (or less) pay, challenging customers and health concerns. So how do you know if you should stay or go? Here are 5 questions to ask yourself to help with planning out your next steps.

Like many during the pandemic - the team here at WORTH have found ourselves re-evaluating our career development; looking for new ways to connect, stand out and maybe even upskill. It had us thinking… there’s a ton of valuable content out there breaking down the world of professional development, so why not share our go-to’s? We’ve compiled a list of some of our favourites who helped us navigate job-searching, self-empowerment, networking, and everything in between.

Business in Vancouver’s recent article highlighting 12 predominantly white men as the top restaurateurs and chefs in the city left us shaking our heads and eager to profile a female chef. Kendall Clancy recently connected with Barbara Gregoire, Sous Chef for Fairmont Waterfront. With 25 years of experience, Barbara has a lot to share on following your passions and battling barriers. Read more on why now is the time for the female workforce to “show up and show off”.

The weather is getting warmer and restrictions in BC are lifting. While we might be ready for a hot girl summer, the industry is definitely not. Many women of WORTH have shared they are unsure if they will ever return to the business they once loved. The tourism and hospitality sector is bracing for perhaps the worst labour shortage ever, which will slow the recovery efforts and further hurt this hard hit industry.

With it being Pride month, it is hard to not draw parallels between the performative activism of corporations towards the LGBTQ+ community and the messaging we saw from corporations last year after George Floyd’s murder. This begs the question, after all the pressure that was put on corporations to actively be part of the solution to systemic racism, how much progress has been made? It all starts with a pulse check.

My first experience growing a business, from the ground up to a $12M organization, taught me many lessons. I've carried these lessons forward to the four ventures I've launched since. One of the most critical lessons I learned is that every ambitious woman needs three people in their circle at any given time to achieve success. Here's who you need and why.