Title: Women and the glass ceiling in the community of Madrid hotel industry

Authors: Lydia González-Serrano; Teresa Villacé-Molinero; Pilar Talón-Ballestero; Concepción De La Fuente-Cabrero

Addresses: Business Administration Department, Rey Juan Carlos University, c/ Camino del Molino s/n. 28943 – Fuenlabrada, Madrid, Spain ' Business Administration Department, Rey Juan Carlos University, c/ Camino del Molino s/n. 28943 – Fuenlabrada, Madrid, Spain ' Business Administration Department, Rey Juan Carlos University, c/ Camino del Molino s/n. 28943 – Fuenlabrada, Madrid, Spain ' Business Administration Department, Rey Juan Carlos University, c/ Camino del Molino s/n. 28943 – Fuenlabrada, Madrid, Spain

Abstract: The hotel industry labour market has a strong female presence, although women have limited access to management positions. The gender gap in the industry must be identified in order to overcome it. This research is based on a census designed to analyse the participation of women in management positions at the corporate headquarters of hotel chains and 3, 4 and 5 star hotels (independent and related to a chain) in the community of Madrid. The study concludes that there is a glass ceiling due to the male dominance of management and the stereotyping of certain positions (vertical and horizontal segregation). Nevertheless, a change in the trend has been observed and new positions have appeared as a result of ITCs.

Keywords: hospitality; discrimination; gender gap; glass ceiling; tourism; profile of women managers; Madrid; women; vertical segregation; horizontal segregation; human resources management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHRDM.2018.092289

International Journal of Human Resources Development and Management, 2018 Vol.18 No.1/2, pp.91 - 111

Received: 04 Oct 2016
Accepted: 25 Apr 2017
Published online: 14 Jun 2018 *

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