Hospitality Design - July 2016 - 30

from the editor

an ode to women

STACY SHOEMAKER RAUEN < Editor in Chief
stacy.shoemaker@emeraldexpo.com
646.668.3751
MICHAEL ADAMS < Editorial Director
michael.adams@emeraldexpo.com
646.668.3690
JONATHAN MARSLAND < Creative Director
jonathan.marsland@emeraldexpo.com
646.668.3733

Photo by JEFFREY MOSIER

The idea for this, our annual People issue, to focus primarily on women started

somewhat organically. As we were gathering people to feature, a handful of women
were heading up a few very timely projects and initiatives.
So we decided to delve deeper. Obviously we can't include everyone-and for some
the timing just wasn't right. But look at this as a small sampling of the many women in
this industry doing unbelievable things.
We've gathered a mix of CEOs and COOs, visionary designers and brand leaders-
many of whom have been at the same companies for decades. They are pushing the
design envelope, defining and redefining brands,
and encouraging the next generation. In all, they
are talented, passionate, extremely hardworking,
influential, and most of all, inspiring.
When asked what it meant to them to be leading
ladies in their field, some said they are just doing
what they love without thinking about it; while
some felt they had a responsibility to help other
women succeed. Yet there was agreement that it
is an issue that should be discussed more often.
In fact, for the first time in 19 years, the topic of
IIDA's annual roundtable was diversity, in terms of
gender, race, and age. One of the reasons, says IIDA
executive vice president and CEO Cheryl Durst, is
that "When you look at the demographics of our
industry, it is overwhelmingly female but flip that and start talking about leadership
in firms and it is a different picture" especially for C-level hotel executives (walk into
any investment conference and it is a sea of men in dark suits). The question remains
why, especially since studies point to the fact that more female leaders in a business
correlates with increased profitability, and women's natural skillsets are in general
more apt for maneuvering businesses in today's social and global marketplace.
There isn't one hard and fast reason-a bit based on history, on attaining work-life
balance, on sheer opportunity-and it seems no one has all the answers. But perhaps
this issue will spark a conversation, or an idea, or just be a celebration of all that
women do in hospitality design. As Brooke Barrett, CEO of Denihan Hospitality, said
during our sit down in her offices in New York in June: "There is something to be said
for women who have finally broken through that glass ceiling. A lot of progress has
been made, and people want it to change, but I think we have a long way to go. I'm glad
you're focusing on women."

Stacy Shoemaker Rauen

Editor in Chief
stacy.shoemaker@emeraldexpo.com
@StacyRauen

hd editorial advisory board
Andrew Alford AJ Capital Partners Jeffrey Beers Jeffrey Beers International Malcolm Berg EoA Mark Boekenheide
Related Companies Glen Coben Glen & Co. Meghann Day HBA Gary Dollens Hyatt Hotels & Resorts Deborah
Lloyd Forrest ForrestPerkins William Harris AvroKO Kemper Hyers Starwood Capital Amy Hulbert Best Western
International Tom Ito Gensler Ted Jacobs Starwood Hotels & Resorts Gulla Jonsdottir Gulla Jonsdottir Architecture
& Design Helen Jorgensen Host Hotels & Resorts Jon Kastl Champalimaud Aliya Khan Neuehouse Studio Raul
Leal Virgin Hotels Scott Lee SB Architects Tony Machado Morgans Hotel Group Lisa McClung INT LLC Margaret
McMahon Wimberly Interiors Will Meyer Meyer Davis Studio Julia Monk HOK Alessandro Munge Studio Munge
Barry Nidiffer Chartres Lodging Group Lionel Ohayon ICRAVE Robert Polacek Puccini Group Thomas Schoos
Schoos Design Lisa Simeone Simeone Deary Design Group Kellie Sirna Studio 11 Design Sam Suleman Equinox
Hospitality Shawn Sullivan Rockwell Group Michael Suomi Stonehill & Taylor Roger Thomas Wynn Design &
Development Larry Traxler Hilton Worldwide Audra Tuskes Lightstone Group Joel Villalon BraytonHughes Design
Studios Anne Wilkinson BAMO Glenn Wilson Marriott International

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Hospitality Design - July 2016

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