Latest news with #AmbaYaalu
The Guardian
05-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
From Sri Lanka to Tanzania: the pioneering hotels run entirely by women
It took Jeewanthi Adhikari a decade to get the promotion she wanted working in the tourism industry in Sri Lanka. For years, she watched as men with less experience were promoted before her. 'Even if I got to interview,' says Adhikari, 42, 'the interviewer would be judging me, asking if I might get married, or have children and then suggesting family commitments would take over.' Adhikari's career finally advanced when she was appointed manager of Amba Yaalu, the first and only hotel with an all-female staff in Sri Lanka, which opened in January. She is part of an 84-strong team busting gender stereotypes in a country where less than 10% of the tourism workforce is female. Sri Lanka is an outlier in terms of gender equality in the tourism industry. Worldwide, 54% of the workforce is female. However, only 14% of women progress to any level of seniority, according to Natalia Bayona, executive director of UN Tourism. Despite this, Bayona thinks the tourism industry is changing quickly, especially since the pandemic. 'The good thing about Covid was that it opened a window for developing opportunities that were not there before for women, especially in rural areas,' she says. Women are leading businesses and seeing opportunities to rebuild through tourism, she adds, particularly in countries in the global south which have been ravaged by inequality and conflict in the past. 'Gender equality is moving fast in tourism and this won't be a trend, it will [yield] results that tourists want,' she adds. 'Women lead in a very special way that takes into account multitasking, responsibility and humanity.' Located on a mango plantation along the banks of Kandalama Reservoir, Amba Yaalu is the newest addition to the Thema collection of hotels, founded by Chandra Wickramasinghe. His inspiration for a female-operated hotel came from his mother, who raised eight children alone while working as a nurse. His aim is to boost female participation in the tourism workforce as well as provide an alternative source of employment for the hundreds of thousands of women who leave to become domestic workers in Gulf states. Wickramasinghe was aware that women made up about 10% of the tourism workforce in Sri Lanka. 'This is crazy,' he says. 'We have got women leaving to Middle Eastern countries. Most are domestic workers, and sometimes used badly. Because they are poor, they go there. So I thought we should help this.' Amba Yaalu follows the all female-operated Westin Hyderabad Hitec City in India, run by Marriott International that opened in June 2023. 'The reason we wanted to do something like this was to really champion the cause of diversity,' says Khushnooma Kapadia, vice president of marketing for south Asia at Marriott International. Amrita Biswas, a sous chef at the hotel, had previously worked in male-dominated kitchens for most of her career but says the culinary landscape for female chefs in the country is evolving. 'Traditionally, Indian women did the cooking at home,' she says. 'But now, they are making significant strides in professional kitchens and leading restaurants. Many talented women are gaining recognition for their culinary expertise and for enriching gastronomy.' In Tanzania, Dunia Camp, Africa's first and only entirely female-run safari camp located in the south-central Serengeti, often leads the way in guest feedback among the 17 camps within the Asilia group. 'Dunia has always been top, top, top,' says camp manager Petronila Mosha. 'The guests will rave about the service.' Dunia Camp opened in June 2016, and has meant more women have been able to build careers in the tourism industry, traditionally the preserve of men in Tanzania. When it was floated as a concept, there were only two or three women working in camps across the company, says Mosha. Now up to 30% of the workforce across the company is female. 'We have paved the way for many women … Now if you are a female guide, every company will be like: 'You are a hotcake, come to us.' We have inspired a lot of women.' Sign up to Her Stage Hear directly from incredible women from around the world on the issues that matter most to them – from the climate crisis to the arts to sport after newsletter promotion It hasn't always been easy. Getting women to come and work in the bush was a challenge at first. 'Everybody was excited about all women working together only to get here and hear the roar of lions or see their footprints next to their tent,' remembers Mosha. Some only lasted a few days before returning to the town. Then, they had to get used to the physical demands of the job. 'We grew up knowing these jobs are to be done by men. When it was you [who had to unload heavy boxes] and there were no men there, it was quite challenging. But we found a way to manage,' she adds. Back in Sri Lanka, the team at Amba Yaalu has also had to get used to working with no men. The kitchen is led by Kaushalya Batagoda, one of the few female executive chefs in the country, who was the only woman in her class at hotel school. She grew up in the area and is passionate about encouraging women from rural communities, many of whom have never set foot in a hotel, into the hospitality business. Some people she manages can't read and this has been a challenge when handling strong chemicals used for cleaning, for example. Lifting heavy gas canisters also takes a bit more time. 'They are very capable and very brave women,' says Wickramasinghe. 'That helps to build a lot of confidence, especially at night.' In both Sri Lanka and Tanzania, the teams have had to battle people voicing doubt over whether women could run a hotel. They have also fought against stereotypes dictating that a woman's place is at home and that those who are exposed to western cultures will perhaps start questioning the status quo, or develop habits such as smoking and drinking. In the future, all involved want to see more entirely female-run hospitality and tourism ventures and more women working in the sector. Mosha in Tanzania says: 'I think it's needed and it will happen, especially now people are becoming more open-minded.'
Malay Mail
21-04-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Sri Lanka's women-run hotel breaks down barriers
KANDALAMA (Sri Lanka), April 21 —Time for the daily staff meeting at Sri Lanka's Hotel Amba Yaalu where woman manager Jeewanthi Adhikari jokes: 'This won't look very serious, there are only girls around the table.' The hotel, on the shores of Lake Kandalama in the green hills of central Sri Lanka, opened in January with a unique selling point—its staff are exclusively women. It is a first in the country, designed to promote women in a tourism sector where men hold up to 90 percent of hotel jobs. 'The chairman wanted to start a new hotel with a new concept,' said Adhikari. She explained how the idea sprouted from twin blows that hammered the island's tourism industry—first Covid-19, then the 2022 financial crisis and subsequent political unrest that toppled the president. 'It has been really a bad time,' the 42-year-old said, noting that when there were employment vacancies, only men got the job. 'We wanted to give opportunity and attract more women.' Owner Chandra Wickramasinghe, president of the Thema Collection group which runs 14 hotels, said he wanted to showcase what women can do if given the chance. 'Unfortunately, in Sri Lanka in the hotels, there is no gender equality,' he said. The blame rests on a mix of factors—lack of training, a culture where women are seen first and foremost as mothers, and very low wages which lead to the perception that women may as well stay at home. 'In our men's society, when it comes to women working in hotels, it's one nice girl in the reception and housekeepers to clean,' he said. 'I wanted to go a little bit further.' 'Skills and courage' For the 33 rooms of the Amba Yaalu—meaning 'best friend' in the island's Sinhala language—a team of 75 women handle every task, including those traditionally seen as for men. They are enthusiastic, like maintenance worker Hansika Rajapaksa. 'People think it's difficult for women to be involved in maintenance,' the 28-year-old said. 'But after coming here and undergoing training, we also can carry out the work that is expected of us without any difficulty'. Meanwhile, Dilhani, who gave only her first name, feels confident in her role as a security officer after 15 years in the army. 'I have experienced war... I have manned roadblocks,' she said. 'With that experience, it is very easy to do our work here.' Others want to set an example. 'This a good opportunity for women to demonstrate their talents, to showcase our skills and courage to the new generations', said 23-year-old chef Upeka Ekanayake. Old habits were initially hard to break, manager Adhikari said. 'Our experienced staff were used to working around male colleagues,' she said. 'Automatically, they waited for someone else to do things, because that is how they had been trained.' But the owner said he shrugged off the doubts of colleagues. 'Some people didn't believe in it,' said owner Wickramasinghe, who dismissed the misogynists who scoffed that an all-women team would just 'start gossiping'. The hotel has been welcomed as an 'excellent initiative' by Nalin Jayasundera, president of the association of tour operators. 'We want to encourage even more women to join the tourism industry,' he said, adding it made a 'very good impression on our customers'. Clients have taken notice. 'I felt like I could speak up and answer questions ahead of my partner without them looking to him for confirmation,' one Canadian tourist wrote in a review on a booking website. 'Power of a woman' Women's rights activist Nimalka Fernando said the initiative was 'really path-breaking for Sri Lankan society'. While she noted Sri Lanka was the first nation to elect a woman as prime minister—Sirimavo Bandaranaike in 1960 -- tradition, culture and the labour market continue to block women's rights. She points out that women dominate the sectors that provide the country with its main sources of income: textiles, tea and foreign remittances. 'Women are treated as an exploitable commodity,' she said. 'The important thing now is to give dignity to female labour.' The Amba Yaalu is only the first step, acknowledges its manager, but it is making a change. 'We have single mothers and mothers with two or three kids,' Adhikari said. 'Here, they don't have to suppress what they want to do in their life.' Wickramasinghe sees it as a way to highlight the lesson he learned as a boy. 'I'm inspired by my mother... she became a single parent with eight children,' he said. 'She was working in a hospital at the same time and she managed very well. So I realised the power of a woman... that they can do wonders.' — AFP
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A resort entirely staffed and run by women in Sri Lanka seeks to break gender barriers
DAMBULLA, Sri Lanka (AP) — After leaving school, Jeewanthi Adikari was determined to pursue her studies in accounting. But her life took a different path when she began a three-month training program in hospitality. She has since worked in different hotels throughout a career spanning over two decades. Now 42, she is in charge of Sri Lanka's first resort fully operated and managed by women. It's an attempt to address gender disparities in a male-dominated tourism sector crucial for the country's economic recovery after a major crisis. 'This is a place where women can realise their potential. They will not be inside the shell. Instead, they will come out and try to perform better," said Adikari, who oversees the daily operations of Amba Yaalu, a resort located in Dambulla city that serves as a gateway to most of Sri Lanka's tourist attractions. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Most Sri Lankan women don't get a chance to work in the tourism industry, earn money and own a career. In a country where 52% of the 22 million people are women, they account for only about 10% of the 200,000-strong workforce in the hospitality sector. Amba Yaalu wants to be the driver of change Some 160 kilometers (100 miles) northeast of Colombo, the resort is nestled in a mango plantation and all work is managed by 75 women staff who garden, work in the kitchens, clean the facility, address the guests and provide security in the form of seven ex-military members. The resort's facilities also include training programs for women to develop their skills in different areas of hospitality. The resort opened in January and has been seen as a move unlocking women's potential and driving the tourism economy in the debt-stricken nation. The idea was conceived by seasoned hotelier Chandra Wickramasinghe, who said he was 'inspired by the power of women," especially that of his mother who raised him and his seven siblings as a single parent. 'I knew what these ladies can do. I got the idea and put my team to work on it. We got a strong team to run it and it worked very well,' said Wickramasinghe, adding that the resort would enable women to thrive as leaders. Social stigma, language barrier, work-life balance, lack of training facilities and low salaries have long kept the majority of Sri Lankan women away from the hospitality industry, especially those in the rural areas, said Suranga Silva, professor of tourism economics in the University of Colombo. Much of this stems from a patriarchal structure and traditional gender roles deeply embedded in Sri Lanka's society, even though many women have made their mark in the country's politics and have held key positions in the government. The island nation's current prime minister, Harini Amarasuriya, is a woman. 'Tourism industry can't be isolated from women,' said Silva, adding that women's employment in Sri Lanka's tourism is very low compared to the global and regional levels. Lack of women professionals Sri Lanka's tourism and hospitality sector contributed 2.3% to the country's economy in 2023 — down from 5% in 2018 — and the industry has traditionally been the country's third largest foreign exchange earner. But the shortage of skilled women and some of them leaving jobs after getting married have been challenges faced by the industry since the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings and the coronavirus pandemic. Kaushalya Batagoda, the executive chef at the resort, said the industry faces a shortage of female professionals to serve in the kitchen and as a result, most staff recruited to the resort's kitchen were rookies still in training. "But, the new generation has a passion for working in the kitchen," she said, adding that she gets a lot of applications from women. The resort has been lauded by women's rights activists who have long been concerned about limited career choices for women in Sri Lanka. Activist Sepali Kottegoda said such business enterprises can "open up more safe employment opportunities for women.' Silva, the professor, said that 'a dramatic change' is taking place as more young women are eager to join the industry, but suggested that the government and the sector must jointly provide training programs for women to improve their skills and employability. At Amba Yaalu resort, some of these concerns are already being tackled. 'This is purely to empower women," Adikari said. 'We invite women to come and join us, see whether they can perform better in the career, sharpen their capacities and skills and contribute to the industry.'
The Independent
08-03-2025
- Business
- The Independent
A resort entirely staffed and run by women in Sri Lanka seeks to break gender barriers
After leaving school, Jeewanthi Adikari was determined to pursue her studies in accounting. But her life took a different path when she began a three-month training program in hospitality. She has since worked in different hotels in a career spanning over two decades. Now 42, she is in charge of Sri Lanka's first resort fully operated and managed by women. It's an attempt to address gender disparities in a male-dominated tourism sector crucial for the country's economic recovery after a major crisis. 'This is a place where women can realise their potential. They will not be inside the shell. Instead, they will come out and try to perform better," said Adikari, who oversees the daily operations of Amba Yaalu, a resort located in Dambulla city that serves as a gateway to most of Sri Lanka's tourist attractions. Most Sri Lankan women don't get a chance to work in the tourism industry, earn money and own a career. In a country where 52% of the 22 million people are women, they account for only about 10% of the 200,000-strong workforce in the hospitality sector. Amba Yaalu wants to be the driver of change Some 160 kilometers (100 miles) northeast of Colombo, the resort is nestled in a mango plantation and all work is managed by 75 women staff who garden, work in the kitchens, clean the facility, address the guests and provide security in form of seven ex-military members. The resort's facilities also include training programs for women to develop their skills in different areas of hospitality. The resort opened in January and has been seen as a move unlocking women's potential and driving the tourism economy in the debt-stricken nation. The idea was conceived by seasoned hotelier Chandra Wickramasinghe, who said he was 'inspired by the power of women," especially that of his mother who raised him and and his seven siblings as a single parent. 'I knew what these ladies can do. I got the idea and put my team to work on it. We got a strong team to run it and it worked very well,' said Wickramasinghe, adding that the resort would enable women to thrive as leaders. Social stigma, language barrier, work-life balance, lack of training facilities and low salaries have long kept majority of Sri Lankan women away from the hospitality industry, especially those in the rural areas, said Suranga Silva, professor of tourism economics in the University of Colombo. Much of this stems from a patriarchal structure and traditional gender roles deeply embedded in Sri Lanka's society, even though many women have made their mark in the country's politics and have held key positions in the government. The island nation's current prime minister, Harini Amarasuriya, is a woman. 'Tourism industry can't be isolated from women,' said Silva, adding that women employment in Sri Lanka's tourism is very low compared to the global and regional levels. Lack of women professionals Sri Lanka's tourism and hospitality sector contributed 2.3% to the country's economy in 2023 — down from 5% in 2018 — and the industry has traditionally been the country's third largest foreign exchange earner. But the shortage of skilled women and some of them leaving jobs after getting married have challenges faced by the industry since the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings and the coronavirus pandemic. Kaushalya Batagoda, the executive chef at the resort, said the industry faces a shortage of female professionals to serve in the kitchen and as a result, most the staff recruited to the resort's kitchen were freshers who are still in training. "But, the new generation has a passion for working in the kitchen," she said, adding that she gets a lot of applications from women seeking jobs in the kitchen. The resort has been lauded by women rights activists who have long been concerned about limited career choices of women and their mobility in Sri Lanka. Women rights activist Sepali Kottegoda said such business enterprises can "open up more safe employment opportunities for women.' Silva, the professor, said that 'a dramatic change' is taking place as more young women are eager to join the industry, but suggested that the government and the sector must jointly provide training programs for women to improve their skills and employability. At Amba Yaalu resort, some of these concerns are already being tackled. 'This is purely to empower women," Adikari said. 'We invite women to come and join us, see whether they can perform better in the career, sharpen their capacities and skills and contribute to the industry.'
