Career Challenges faced by Female Managers in Five Star Hotels

This research is dedicated to identifying female managers’ career status and provides a profile of female managers in the hospitality industry in China. It investigates the career barriers that hinder female managers’ career progression and determines the factors that are needed to encourage career progression for female managers in the hospitality industry. A quantitative research methodology was utilized; 300 questionnaires were collected from 40 five star hotels in Beijing. Findings showed that female managers’ career status was still not high. Three factors (lack of work-life balance, lack of networking and gender discrimination) are found in the hospitality industry that hindered female managers’ career progression. Communication skills and people consciousness are two other factors suggested by most respondents that have positive impact on their career progression. It is anticipated that the findings of this research may provide some useful suggestions to female managers who want to make career progression in the hospitality industry in China.