This March, we’re celebrating women who power hospitality.
In honour of International Women’s Day, we are pleased to spotlight the following inspiring women leaders from our member hotels — professionals who are shaping guest experiences, building strong teams, and leading with excellence every day.
🌟 Meet Anna Chartres, Regional Director of People and Culture Central Canada & Puerto Rico, Fairmont Royal York, 35 years in industry
What leadership lesson has most shaped your approach to leading a team?
Surround yourself with a team that is diverse and lean into their experience – you don’t need to be the subject master of everything!
How do you support & develop the next generation of women leaders in hospitality?
Have honest conversations, don’t sugarcoat the hard issues, Not being afraid to reach out and network and ask for help
What advice would you give your younger self?
Stay in school and finish that degree – while its not relevant to what I do now, I should have finished it!
What keeps you motivated during challenging times?
Covid was the worst of times- and what kept me motivated was by being able to make a difference for one person each day, a small acknowledgement, a simple act of kindness, helping someone- all got me through the dark days.
What achievement in your career are you most proud of?
Seeing all of the young talent that I have helped mentor succeed.
🌟 Meet Edra Godinho, Director of Marketing & Communications, Shangri-La Toronto, 15 years in the industry
What leadership lesson has most shaped your approach to leading a team?
Throughout my 15 years in hospitality, and in my current role at Shangri-La Toronto, the most important lesson has been that leadership is rooted in trust and clarity. When teams feel empowered, informed, and genuinely supported, they perform with greater confidence and creativity. I’ve learned that listening with intention and leading with empathy creates an environment where people feel safe to contribute ideas, take ownership, and grow. That foundation has been key to building strong, collaborative teams within our hotel and across the wider Toronto hospitality community.
How do you support and develop the next generation of women leaders in hospitality?
I focus on creating clear and equitable pathways for growth through mentorship, candid feedback, and meaningful opportunities to contribute to key projects. I also believe in actively advocating for high-potential talent, encouraging cross-department exposure, and supporting experiences that build confidence and leadership capability. It’s rewarding to see emerging leaders grow within our hotel and across Toronto’s hospitality community.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Be patient with the process and don’t measure your progress against anyone else’s timeline. Some of the most meaningful growth comes from the moments that feel uncertain or challenging. I would remind my younger self to stay curious, ask more questions, and trust that consistency, strong relationships, and showing up with integrity will open the right doors, even if the path isn’t always linear.
What keeps you motivated during challenging times?
The people. Hospitality is, at its core, about connection and creating memorable experiences. During challenging periods, seeing teams come together, support one another, and continue to deliver excellence for our guests and community. It’s a reminder that resilience, care, and collaboration are what truly power this industry in Toronto and beyond.
What achievement in your career are you most proud of?
I’m most proud of the moments where I’ve been able to create opportunities not just for the business, but for the people behind it. Seeing team members grow in confidence, take ownership of major initiatives, or step into leadership roles of their own has been incredibly meaningful. While campaigns and partnerships are important milestones, the achievement that stays with me most is building strong, collaborative teams where people feel valued, supported, and inspired to do and bring their best to work.
🌟 Meet Jennifer Worden, Hotel Manager at Sheraton Centre Toronto, 32 years in the industry
What leadership lesson has most shaped your approach to leading a team?
I think it’s the reason I’ve stayed with Marriott for so long – Take care of your people, they will take care of the guests, the financial success will come. Mr. Marriott Sr.’s advice to Mr. Marriott Jr. about running a successful company.
How do you support and develop the next generation of women leaders in hospitality?
Much of my early career was shaped by kind and supportive individuals who believed in growing talent. I would always feel so much gratitude when they invested in me. They made me promise to always pay it forward; and that’s what I’ve tried to do. I also take the time to attend industry events, college and university speaking engagements and our own internal meetings with Marriott, and proactively connect with women and engage them in conversation to help bring out their best and provide support where I can. Time is meaningful.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Don’t be so worried, enjoy the ride. That which is meant for you will not pass you by.
What achievement in your career are you most proud of?
That’s like asking me who my favourite child is. I’ve had some awesome experiences during my career. I think I am most proud, that I was able to grow my career and raise a family at the same time.
What inspired you to pursue a career in hospitality and what has kept you in the industry?
Hospitality was an accidental career for me. It was going to be a stepping stone, but became permanent because it is so much fun. What a gift it is to be paid, to create excellent experiences for people; both your guests and your team.
🌟 Meet Naziver Atac, Pastry Chef at Hilton Toronto/Markham Suites Conference Centre & Spa, 15 years in the industry
How do you support and develop the next generation of women leaders in hospitality?
I support young women by sharing my experience and encouraging them to believe in themselves. I previously worked as a Baking and Pastry Arts Instructor, and teaching gave me the opportunity to guide many students as they started their careers.
In the kitchen, I show professionalism, respect, teamwork, and strong work ethic. I encourage young women to ask questions, take initiative, and not be afraid of challenges. Leadership is about confidence, responsibility, and supporting others.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Believe in yourself.
Changing my career to Baking and Pastry Arts was a big decision. I would tell my younger self to trust her passion and not be afraid to follow her heart. Every experience ,even difficult ones, helps you grow stronger.
What achievement in your career are you most proud of?
I am proud of building a career in pastry and also having the opportunity to teach and mentor students. Being able to work in hospitality while helping others grow in their careers has been very meaningful to me
What inspired you to pursue a career in hospitality and what has kept you in the industry?
I was inspired by the creativity and beauty of pastry. I love transforming simple ingredients into something special. What keeps me in the industry is the teamwork, the fast pace, and the opportunity to continue learning and improving every day.
🌟 Meet Tanya Kooger, Dual General Manager at the Courtyard and Residence Inn by Marriott Mississauga Airport Corporate Centre West, 30 years in the industry
What inspired you to pursue a career in hospitality and what has kept you in the industry?
My first experience in the industry was working at Harvey’s during high school. After this, I knew that I wanted to work in this field (and not because I love a burger and french fries)! A high school guidance counselor suggested the Hotel and Food Administration program at the University of Guelph and that’s how it all got started. I have left the industry twice but returned back both times. Something about it draws you in: every day is different and there are so many opportunities to meet people and learn new things. I am blessed to be in a role where I get to touch a number of different disciplines: operations, maintenance, sales, human resources, accounting… There is no time for boredom and I get to learn new things all the time.
What leadership lesson has most shaped your approach to leading a team?
I have a vivid memory of a situation that happened many years ago. The General Manager of the hotel that I was at had just gone on maternity leave and as the Assistant General Manager, I was the one in charge. A team member came to me and said this person did this, this and this. So I called the other team member into the office, had my verbal warning document ready to go and told him what he did wrong. When I was done, he paused and said, “You know what, Tanya? You never asked me for my side of the story.” I will never, ever forget this. It’s so important to dig deep and find all the information and all the different perspectives. Sometimes things move fast in this industry, decisions get made quickly, and emotions can interfere with our perspective. I still have to remind myself that there are three sides to every story: yours, mine and the truth.
How do you support and develop the next generation of women leaders in hospitality?
I love to read and am always happy to share some of my favourite reads that have inspired me through the years. Regardless of where we are in our career journey, there are always opportunities to learn more and improve our skillset. Your growth and development is in your hands. Keep your eyes open for the opportunities around you and take advantage of them. And two of my favourite reads? It’s Your Ship, by Captain D. Michael Abrashoff, and The Ideal Team Player by Patrick Lencioni.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Don’t try so hard to fit in. You are where you are because someone (and usually more than one person) believes you have what it takes to be there.
What keeps you motivated during challenging times?
There are two sayings that stick with me. The first is, ‘Everything looks better in the light of a new day.’ And the other one, that I remember my mom saying is ‘This too shall pass.’ Challenging times don’t last. We always get through them.