The Association of Women Travel Executives (AWTE) is repositioning itself as a year-round community for women in travel, moving beyond its traditional networking roots to offer support across different stages of members’ careers and lives.
The not-for-profit organisation, which is run by a volunteer board, has reshaped its offer around professional development, connection and more open conversations about the challenges women can face both at work and outside it.
AWTE said the response has been ‘overwhelmingly positive’, with 43 new members joining since 1 May, an increase of 47%.
It has launched a new website and refreshed brand identity to reflect the change.
Its new year-round programme is focused on practical development, accessibility, meaningful connections and ‘creating a stronger sense of belonging’, it said.
Recent virtual lunchtime sessions have tackled subjects including building confidence on LinkedIn, understanding the inner critic and overcoming self-limiting beliefs. The sessions are designed to be accessible around working hours and to women across different roles, locations and career stages.
AWTE has also launched The Honest Room, a series of informal conversations designed to give women a safe space to discuss issues that are not always openly addressed in professional settings, it said.
Topics have included loneliness, returning to work and caring responsibilities, with the initiative aimed at helping women share experiences, listen to each other and feel less alone.
AWTE Chair Debbie O’Neill said networking would remain part of the organisation, but argued that women in the industry need more than traditional networking events.
“They need somewhere they can learn, talk openly, build confidence and feel supported by people who understand the pressures they are facing,” she said.
Debbie added that AWTE wants to be relevant to women ‘of every age, background and stage of their career and life.
The organisation is also reporting increased interest from men who want to understand how they can better support women in the workplace.
“Creating lasting change cannot sit solely with women,” added Debbie. “We need people across the industry to understand the challenges, join the conversation and consider the part they can play.”
Supporting younger women entering the travel industry remains another key priority, with AWTE aiming to make the organisation more accessible to the next generation while connecting them with established industry leaders, she added.
Meanwhile, AWTE said one of its biggest annual events – the Christmas Lunch and Awards – was close to selling out, with only a limited number of individual tickets still available.
