Genève Aéroport, in partnership with Lagardère Travel Retail Group and the WiTR association, organized its first « Women in Travel Retail » conference on Tuesday, October 14. During this inspiring evening, female leaders from the industry shared their thoughts on women’s resilience and how it can transform the professional world. Around sixty women from the sector attended the event and participated in the discussions.
Diversity as a Driver of Performance
« Like other sectors, Travel Retail is based on a traditional and therefore rather male-dominated model. Many women work in this field, but few reach senior management positions. », noted
Kristina Mees, Director of Commercial and Business Development at Genève Aéroport. Yet, women’s resilience can help shape and transform the professional world.
« The diversity of profiles is a key lever for improving business performance. », added
Sarah Gamblin, Communication and Partnerships Officer at the professional integration association
Découvrir.
« Women bring fresh perspectives and think outside the box. They inspire genuine organizational resilience. »
How can this cultural shift be brought into Travel Retail?
Noelle Goris, VP Global Travel Retail & APAC at La Prairie/Chantecaille (Beiersdorf Luxury), was the first woman to hold this position within the group.
« When I joined the company, management was very hierarchical. Women have the ability to bring about deep cultural change by fostering greater autonomy, listening, and collaboration. These are the values that help move things forward. », she explained.
« Seizing Opportunities »
Women’s resilience in Travel Retail is a real asset. It’s even what helped
Charlotte Delmas, Chief Operational Performance Officer and Chief Operating Officer Europe – Lagardère Travel Retail Group, throughout her career.
« Women should not be afraid to seize opportunities — sometimes even to create them — and to step out of their comfort zones. That’s what has allowed me to advance in my career. You have to believe in yourself and take initiative. », she said.
Although women are still underrepresented in the executive bodies of Travel Retail companies, the situation is gradually evolving. How could women’s resilience shape the future of the sector?
« In my view, it’s the strength of doing things together — with more cooperation than competition, more dialogue — that will make a difference. », explained
Susanna Swann, Human Resources Director at Geneva Airport. She also reminded that « all women in leadership positions today are pioneers. They have had to show great strength to get there. That self-confidence must never leave them! »
Two Geneva-based associations were highlighted, demonstrating the strong ties between the Travel Retail industry and the Geneva region: the association «
Découvrir » and the
Ligue Genevoise Contre le Cancer.
The panel was followed by a networking cocktail, encouraging exchanges among the three pillars of the Travel Retail ecosystem — airports, operators, and brands. In today’s complex and volatile context, the unifying power of resilience proves highly relevant for the future of Travel Retail.
See you next year to continue the conversation!
A big thank you to the sponsors: Le Chef, La Prairie, Mavala, Maestrani, Caran d’Ache, Maison Noir, Rémy Cointreau, Choya, and Valrhona.