Atrium Hospitality has launched WomenRISE, the company’s new hotel general manager development program targeted to women leaders.
“With WomenRISE, we hope to hasten the career paths of women in hospitality, a group that tends to be underrepresented at the general manager level,” Anneliesse Cooper, chief human resources officer, Atrium, told Hotel Business. “WomenRISE will prepare female leaders and build their confidence to take the next steps to pursue a hotel GM role.”
WomenRISE Inaugural Class
Atrium’s WomenRISE inaugural class includes nine participants from across Atrium-managed hotels in Arizona, Florida, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas. Program participants were selected during the company’s portfolio-wide talent review in 2023 and come from varying departments, including operations, sales and marketing and finance.
“I serve as the executive sponsor of Atrium Hospitality’s Diversity & Inclusion Collective, which is comprised of representatives from across Atrium’s national management portfolio of 80 hotels,” Cooper said. “WomenRISE brings to life an original idea that was generated by the D&I Collective and that easily gained support from senior leaders. Atrium’s new female GM development program demonstrates our company’s commitment to empowering female hospitality leaders to successfully navigate the next steps in their career journeys.”
Over a nine-month period, WomenRISE participants will:
- Join in scheduled opportunities to explore their leadership qualities
- Build their network within Atrium
- Gain learnings on specific topics related to successful hotel operations
- Prepare to take the next steps to pursue a hotel general manager role
Atrium manages a portfolio of 80 hotels, representing brands such as Hilton, Marriott, IHG and Wyndham, in 28 states. The company operates approximately 20,000 guestrooms/suites and 3 million sq. ft. of event space.
