(Seychelles News Agency) - Hilton hotels in Seychelles are encouraging more women to work in their establishments to promote gender parity among their staff.

Seychelles has three Hilton hotels: Hilton Northholme in the north of the main island of Mahe; Hilton Labriz on Silhouette -- the third biggest island; and DoubleTree Allamanda Resort and Spa in the south of Mahe.

The hotels organised a career week last week under the theme ‘Women at Hilton.’ The activities saw the participation of students across the island nation in the western Indian Ocean. It ended on May 16 with a presentation facilitated by women leaders from the Hilton hotels.

Students across Seychelles took part in the Career's Week. (Hilton Northolme) Photo License: CC-BY

Speaking at the conference, the general manager of Hilton Labriz, Andre Borg, said that he wanted to see more Seychellois working at the Hotels, more of the Seychellois culture and more Seychellois women to lead such objectives. 

“We do love women, we do want more women in our hotels. Because the more we are trying it seems to be difficult to get equality in the system,” said Borg.

Three women leaders in the Hilton Seychelles shared their personal experience and progression with the hotel.  They also shared the key values that allows one to progress to leadership roles and the benefits it brings to them. These key values included self-discipline, focus, optimism, passion and team spirit.

The presentation included panel discussions by other women leaders in the tourism-related field.

The women leaders also share the opportunities of training offered they got by Hilton especially with the three-stage Elevate programme which moulds leaders from supervisory to head of department levels.

A presentation by women leaders in the Hilton Seychelles took place last Wednesday. (Hilton Labriz) Photo License: CC-BY

Gretel Aimable, a former teacher, said she is grateful to Hilton which believed in her even though she did not have any prior experience in hospitality.

“I am proud that Hilton takes care of women and pushes them higher,” says Aimable, the Human Resources and development coordinator at Double Tree Allamanda resort.

The talks received good participation from the students who aside from making general remarks on women pursuing leadership roles, enquired about job opportunities with Hilton.

One of the students, Emma Reddy, from the School of Advanced Level, said she is now even more motivated to join the tourism industry.

“It was very interesting and we actually got a lot of motivation from the women who came here, we learnt that you don’t have to be dependent on other people even if you are a woman, you just have to work to improve and develop,” says Reddy.

The women leaders from other tourism-related fields believe that such activities should continue.