AHA Celebrates Women in Hospitality

By Annette Shailer

More than 250 industry members turned out for the Australian Hotels Association (AHA) NSW Women in Tourism and Hospitality ‘High Tea with Attitude’ last Friday (Mar 4).

The annual event was held at Sydney’s Four Seasons Hotel, with MC, well-known comedian and television personality Jean Kittson, a hit with the mostly female audience.

Special guests included AHA (NSW) president, Scott Leach, AHA (NSW) senior vice-president, Lyn Humphreys, Hon Virginia Judge MP, Hon George Souris MP and Pru Goward MP.

One speaker, Amanda Stevens, author of SheMarketing presented a fantastic talk on the importance of the female consumer, their ever-increasing buying power and how to appeal to the market.

Also speaking at the event was AHA (NSW) CEO, Sally Fielke, who encouraged guests to help raise money through the auctions, raffle and clothes stalls set-up around the room.

“This unique and exciting concept event is about celebrating and appreciating the contributions that women have made to the hospitality and tourism industry and about supporting and nurturing more women as they move through the ranks,” Fielke said.

“Last year we launched the AHA (NSW)’s Charitable Foundation and raised $40,000 for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. This year, we have set up a scholarship fund to support a worthy young lady to get her hospitality career off the ground.”

Minister for Fair Trading and Minister for the Arts, Hon Virginia Judge MP, presented Emily Perrin Lawson from Wellington, country New South Wales, with the 2010 AHA (NSW) Foundation Scholarship.

Lawson, who has a family background working in pubs, will undertake a three-year course in Bachelor of Business majoring in hotel and resort management, at the Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School.