The glass ceiling in hospitality organisations.

Abstract

Although, the employment in the hospitality industry shows growth, only few women are found in high managerial positions in the sector in Greece. Gender and gender role stereotypes are persistent in organisations that operate in Greece, challenging women’s employment and showing evidence of the glass ceiling in hotel management in the country. This paper explores the position of women in Greek hotel management as well as the barriers they face in climbing the career ladder. The findings from the semi-structured interviews with 15 male and 15 female hotel managers suggest that they identify long hours work, stereotypical behaviour, a good choice for single people, low wages and a few opportunities for women to evolve and others as the main challenges in their career. It also proposes that hotel managers are gradually learning how to create cultures in which expectations and professionalism are not necessarily gender-linked.