Can Tech Solve the Hospitality Industry’s Gender Problem?

The #MeToo movement unveiled a crisis in the hospitality industry. But this is not a new story, and the problems go far beyond harassment. Women in the hospitality industry have less access to capital, less pay and less media coverage. Women restaurant workers experience poverty at nearly one and one third the rate of their male counterparts. This has got to change.

Women in Hospitality United (WiHU) was born of the #MeToo movement and the belief that there is an urgent need for evolution in the hospitality industry. Our mission is to develop solutions and to provide policies that set new standards for equity, accountability, and transparency in the industry.

On September 24th, at the Wythe Hotel in Brooklyn, Women in Hospitality United is hosting Solution Sprint, a one-day, crowdsourced event to convene individuals from across the food space to tackle some of the most pressing gender challenges facing the hospitality industry. Modeled after a hackathon, this first of its kind initiative for the hospitality industry will drive resources, expertise and attention to resolving community-identified challenges.

Individuals, groups or organizations with ideas for improving workplace culture in the hospitality space are encouraged to apply.  Selected projects will receive the opportunity to collaborate with a group of experts for a one-day intensive workshopping of new initiatives.

The applications deadline is August 31.  To learn more and apply visit their website www.WomeninHospitalityUnited.org.  

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About The Authors:
Founded by three women deep in the New York food industry trenches — Elizabeth Meltz (Dig Inn), Liz Murray (The Marlow Collective) and Erin Fairbanks (GROUT Consulting) — Women in Hospitality United (WiHU) is a new organization born from the #metoo movement and the urgent need for evolution in the hospitality industry.