In celebration of International Women’s Day on 8 March, we are delighted to spotlight some of the inspiring women in our membership to learn about their journeys and experiences, champion their achievements, and discuss whether inbound tourism is a welcoming industry for women and how it can better support women in the workplace.
In this first post, we hear from Rebecca Brooks, Managing Director of Abbey – The Destination Experts and Chair of UKinbound and the Scottish Tourism Alliance.
What inspired you to enter the tourism industry?
I must confess, I fell into the industry, so it chose me instead; however, once I landed, I saw the opportunity to progress and enjoyed working in the industry. I have been fortunate to travel all over the world in the various roles I have had within the industry over the years. I have also been involved in several management buyouts throughout my career, so something of an instinctive pattern there has kept me very vested in the industry.
Is there a particular female role model that influenced your career?
As a child, I watched Margaret Thatcher on the TV, bossing all the chaps around, and I thought that looked fun! I wouldn’t say that she was my role model, but she was a good example of how women, and in those days, it was difficult, could get to the top.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Tough to pick one, so I won’t! I work with a wonderful team at Abbey, so Abbey has undoubtedly been my best experience and career highlight. However, from an industry perspective, I had the pleasure of serving on the VisitScotland board as an NED for eight years, and I really enjoyed that. More recently, I was appointed Chair of the wonderful organisation UKinbound, and I’m thrilled to be doing that. I’ve been involved with the Scottish Tourism Alliance for over 15 years and loved every minute of it. It’s a real privilege to advocate on the part of the industry, and I really enjoy it!
As part of your advocacy work, you frequently meet with parliamentarians and are also no stranger to a boardroom. Have you faced any challenges in getting your voice heard in what can often still be male-dominated spaces? And what advice can you give young women with leadership ambitions?
I haven’t felt any barriers to my advocacy within the political landscape in which I operate because I am a woman. However, I appreciate that sometimes it can still be male-dominated, which can feel intimidating for some. There is also clearly more to be done to get more women into boardrooms. My advice to anyone operating in the political arena or the board room is to be confident. Getting one’s voice heard often comes down to the competency of your argument and the manner in which you are delivering it.
Diplomacy and kindness in dealing with people goes a long way, politicians are no different to the rest of us, they have good days and bad days, they have personal and professional challenges, so empathy for someone’s position and point of view whilst ensuring a strong and determined argument, supported by evidence, is a good formula. Ultimately, don’t focus on being the only woman in the room if that is what you are, focus on the contribution you can make.
What can the industry do better to support women’s development and leadership?
I’m not sure that the answer here is industry-specific. Across society, greater load-sharing between couples of all genders helps create greater professional mobility. The reality is that most jobs at a senior level take commitment, flexibility, and time, so the sharing of parenting, in my view, creates more opportunities for women to get to the top of the tree. Typically, working mothers still play a larger role in child-rearing, which impacts women’s ability to get to the C-suite level.
What advice would you give young women starting their tourism careers?
In my experience, women are more likely to lack confidence in the workplace. Have confidence and believe in yourself. Don’t be fearful of failure. Have fun. Don’t sweat the small stuff. It can be a tough industry that demands hard work, so there is no fast track to success, but I do believe these guiding principles are the recipe for a successful career in this industry.
