The Association of Women Travel Executives (AWTE) has announced a cracking line-up for its legendary Christmas Lunch, sponsored by Dubai Tourism, with big-name speaker, fabulous entertainment, charity auction prizes and industry awards.

Journalist and presenter Selina Scott is this year's keynote speaker. She has interviewed business leaders, statesmen, politicians and royals, launched BBC Breakfast TV in the 1980s, and she has recently received acclaim for her campaign against ageism in the media. She will engage and inspire with stories from her career on both sides of the Atlantic.

Other entertainment includes a sparkling wine reception, sponsored by White Hart Associates LLP, music from the Singing Waitresses, sponsored by Bicester Village, and a silent and live auction - led by Trevor Harding - for this year's chosen charity Just a Drop.

AWTE chair Karen Ramirez will also be presenting the AWTE's Chair's awards to two outstanding women in the travel industry, and announcing exciting new plans for the organisation in 2012.

Karen Ramirez said: "We are working on practical and meaningful ways of making the AWTE even more beneficial to members. We will reveal all during the revelry of our Christmas Lunch. Book soon, as tickets are already selling fast."

Just a Drop founder and chairman Fiona Jeffery said: "We are honoured to be AWTE's chosen charity this year. The travel and tourism sector is tremendously generous in helping us supply clean, safe water to the poorest villages across the globe. Your contributions to the AWTE auction will go directly to providing clean water - and saving lives - in four communities in the Orellana Province of Ecuador."

Ian Scott, UK & Ireland director at Dubai Tourism, said: "We are delighted once again to be the headline sponsor of the AWTE Christmas Lunch. As well as being one of the highlights of the travel industry calendar, it celebrates the fantastic work the AWTE does in supporting the careers of women in travel."

The AWTE Christmas Lunch is on Tuesday 6 December from 12.15pm at the Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington. Tickets: Members £80. Non-members £90. Tables of 10: £800.

To book click HERE.

Sponsorship and support of women at junior and senior levels is key to creating a pipeline of women with the skills, mindset and experience to fill directorships and board-level positions.

That was the conclusion of a panel debate on Choosing Your Board - held by the Association of Women Travel Executives (AWTE) - which discussed how leaders choose a spread of skills for the board, how to decide the role a non-executive director should play in a business, and how more women can claim a seat in the boardroom.

The panel included senior executives from travel and banking: Heidi Dahl, director of Innovation Norway; John McEwan, chief executive of Advantage Travel Centres and chair of ABTA; Chris Photi, partner at White Hart Associates; and Emily Landis Walker, chief executive of Landis & Co. (For full speaker profiles click HERE).

While the panel rejected statutory quotas for helping to achieve Lord Davies' recommendations that board composition for FTSE companies should be 25% by 2015, they agreed that women weren't progressing organically, and so more structured programmes were needed to address gender inequality at the top.

Heidi Dahl - who has had both male and female mentors throughout her career - said that, while the 40% board quota rule has had considerable success in her home country of Norway, women should be promoted on the basis of ability, not to make up the numbers.

John McEwan has already sponsored and mentored a female member of his team, who has now taken on a board role. And he said he would welcome more female speakers putting themselves forward to take to the stage at the ABTA conference and other major events.

Emily Landis said that often it's the attitude of board members when choosing their board, and they just don't think about women. However, while getting the first board appointment is often difficult for a woman, once they've secured the first one, they're likely to be inundated, she said.

Chris Photi, who has appointed many non-executive directors to SMEs and corporates, said it was important for women to broaden their experience, and not to believe that the boardroom is "just a man's world".

AWTE chair Karen Ramírez said: "The Choosing Your Board debate, which is part of our Boardroom Ready programme, got to the heart of the issue of why women aren't reaching the top. We as an organisation aim to help women do just that, so watch this space for a compelling new initiative that will help more women in travel secure a boardroom role."

The in-depth and lively debate was followed by networking over a glass of wine.

(l-r): Hoda Lacey, moderator Karen Dempsey, Chair Karen Ramírez, Linda Paterson, Claire Riches

Bethany Woodward, the paralympic competitor sponsored by AWTE, will be speaking at this year's Chair's Awards Dinner on Tuesday, 13 October.

Bethany who suffers from cerebral palsy stands a good chance of winning the 400m race next summer after attaining a gold medal in the world championships in New Zealand earlier this year.

Click HERE for Bethany's schedule at the Paralympics.

Click HERE to read all about Bethany in today's 'Guardian' Paralympics 2012 supplement (go to number 20).

Boardroom diversity is a hot topic, thanks to the Davies Report setting targets for female representation on the boards of FTSE 100 companies.

But what needs to happen to ensure that women will make up 25% of boards by 2015? To address how companies will make these changes at the top, the Association of Women Travel Executives (AWTE) has a stellar line-up of speakers from both within and outside the travel industry for the next session in its Boardroom Ready programme: a panel debate on Choosing Your Board.

The panel includes:

Heidi Dahl, director of Innovation Norway, who has 20 years of international experience in travel, and has witnessed first hand the controversial move by the Norwegian government to impose a 40% quota of women on boards.

John McEwan, chief executive of Advantage Travel Centres and chairman of ABTA, who has worked in the travel industry for 40 years, and has built effective teams to lead the organisation to growth and profitability.

Chris Photi, partner at White Heart Associates and director of UK Travel Awards, who advises FTSE 100 companies and smaller entrepreneurial businesses, and can offer insights into the role of a non-executive director.

Emily Landis Walker, chief executive of Landis & Co, who has 25 years' international experience in the banking sector, and can share her experience in senior board-level roles, both in the UK and internationally.

The panel will answer questions on how to select a board, and the role of women on boards. Questions will include:

• What steps the headhunting profession is taking to ensure there's a robust talent pipeline.
• How you decide the role that non-executive directors play.
• The business case for including more women on boards.
• How women will learn the skills and behaviours to take their place in the boardroom.

AWTE chair Karen Ramirez said: "The AWTE's Boardroom Ready Programme has given our members an insight into what a boardroom role entails - and the skills that are necessary to succeed. Our panel debate with senior figures from travel and beyond will tackle the issues about what makes a successful team, and discuss some of the perceived obstacles that prevent more women making it to the board."

AWTE Choosing Your Board takes place on 20 September from 6pm to 9.30pm at the London Chamber of Commerce.

For more details and to book, click HERE or email chair@awte.org.uk

Having considered the applications at this week's Board meeting, I am delighted that the lucky recipient of this award is Bethany Woodward, a paralympian 400m, 200m and 4 x 100m relay athlete based in Lea Valley.

Bethany Woodward

Bethany is currently ranked World Number 2 for 400m and World Number 6 for 200m. Bethany is delighted to have been successful and will be attending some of our forthcoming events - watch out for press and further details coming out in the next few week.

(l-r) AWTE Board members Debbee Dale, Karen Ramírez, Amanda Taylor and Jane Stuart-Palikira with Bethy.

Chairman Karen Ramírez guided the vessel along the Thames under the expert eye of the Captain.

Our speaker was Jo Rzymowska, associate vice president and general manager of Royal Caribbean International, a leading female figure in travel.

Jo Rzymowska

Businesses need diversity of age, gender and experience to be successful – not gender quotas for the board. Jo recounted her rise to the top in travel, from her early days as a rep in Majorca and her time working with major corporates such as Hertz and Thomas Cook, through to her current role at Royal Caribbean. She concluded: “There are lots of women in senior roles in cruise. Being a woman hasn’t hindered or helped me. Age and gender don’t matter. It depends how valuable you are to the company you work for.”

AWTE chair Karen Ramírez said: “As an association, we’re working to support women in helping them with the tools to progress up the ranks and secure board-level roles on merit, not because of quotas. We’re also working to encourage more women to take to the podium and put themselves forward at conferences and events. Jo Rzymowska has certainly showed us how it’s done.”

Click HERE for the picture gallery of the event.

It was a delight to invite all women attending ITT to our annual Sunset Reception at Harry's Dolci on the banks of the Giudecca Canal in Venice!

A heavy downpour and spectacular lightening did not dampen the enthusiasm and good fun had by some 80 guests. Are you in the photos? View the gallery, courtesy of Steve Dunlop Photography.

Gail Kenny, MD of the Gail Kenny Group, addressed a packed room, commenting: "I regularly compile long lists and shortlists for my clients, but what is clearly noticeable is the distinct lack of female candidates on these lists. This is a big challenge when searching within the travel and hospitality sector. Saying that, we always and only select women for their experience rather than their gender."

GK Executive Search (part of the Gail Kenny Group), is a dedicated headhunting division for board level candidates.

More women in travel and hospitality need to put themselves forward for board-level roles - and take advantage of the support that's available in the sector to help them reach the top.

That was the key message from the Association of Women Travel Executives' (AWTE) Ladies' Sunset Reception, sponsored by executive search and recruitment company the Gail Kenny Group, at the recent ITT conference.

Addressing the reception 100 days on from the publication of the Lord Davies report - which instructed businesses to achieve voluntary boardroom diversity targets by 2015, or face statutory quotas - Gail Kenny highlighted the challenges headhunters face in sourcing women for leadership. This is not because they lack the talent or skills to fill the brief, she said, but because they are reticent about putting themselves in the running for a boardroom position.

Gail added: "Lord Davies told FTSE100 companies that at least a quarter of their board directors should be women by 2015. I regularly compile long lists and shortlists for my clients, but what is clearly noticeable is the distinct lack of female candidates on these lists.

"Since Christmas, the FTSE100 is on track with female board appointments at about 30%. The FTSE250 still has a way to go at 19%. We, as headhunters, also have a code of conduct (albeit voluntary) that requires us to present long lists on which a fair percentage of candidates are women. This is a big challenge when searching within the travel and hospitality sector. Saying that, we always and only select women for their experience rather than their gender."

Gail also highlighted the limited number of women who speak at senior-level conferences such as the ITT - an issue the AWTE is addressing head-on with its Women to the Podium initiative.

AWTE chair Karen Ramirez said: "Women to the Podium is an extension of our Boardroom Ready programme, which doesn't just equip women in travel with the nuts and bolts of what's needed to make it to the top; it also helps tackle the fundamental issues and underlying beliefs that prevent women putting themselves forward in the first place.

"We all know the benefits a diverse board can bring to business as a whole - from multinationals to entrepreneurially driven companies - and AWTE members are increasingly proving that point. We'll be charting their successes in the months ahead, so watch this space - and the podium near you!"

For more information on the AWTE and its upcoming events email chair@awte.org.uk

The Association of Women Travel Executives (AWTE) is delighted to announce that executive search company the Gail Kenny Group is sponsoring the Ladies' Sunset Reception at the ITT conference in Venice.

The now infamous reception will take place on the terrace overlooking the Giudecca Canal at Harry's Dolci - just a couple of minutes from ITT conference venue the Molino Stucky Hilton - on Monday 6 June from 6.30pm to 7.45pm.

At the reception, AWTE chair Karen Ramirez will reveal the AWTE's plans for the year ahead, and how membership of the association can help boost business connections and commercial prowess.

Karen said: "We have a packed calendar of events, training, and networking for AWTE members - with the objective of helping women build a higher profile within their companies, and in the industry as a whole. I am delighted that the Gail Kenny Group, a company dedicated to supporting and promoting the people of our industry, is sponsoring this event."

Gail Kenny said: "The Gail Kenny Group firmly supports AWTE's recent initiative in terms of diversity in the boardroom, and we are delighted to be sponsoring the Sunset Reception. We recognise that our people are the foundations of our success, and we also recruit the most talented individuals, regardless of age, race, or gender, not just internally, but also on behalf of our clients. It's our role to continue to encourage our clients' commitment to equality in this industry, and promote and support women in the workplace. With the support of the AWTE network, we can attempt to ensure that women are recognised, rewarded and promoted for their contribution to the travel industry."

For more information on the AWTE and its upcoming events email chair@awte.org.uk

The Association of Women Travel Executives (AWTE) is preparing its members to step up to the podium - to put themselves forward for speaking engagements instead of shying away from them - with its latest Boardroom Ready seminar on Presentation Skills.

The seminar was packed full of insights, tips, techniques and real-life stories to help boost women's confidence when presenting.

Expert trainer Trisha Proud delivered some excellent tips on opening and structuring a presentation, and offered some thought-provoking ideas on who delegates believed to be good presenters and why - so they could challenge their own mindset when it comes to presenting.

Debbee Dale, director of Debbee Dale Development, explained how to use body language, tone of voice and language in a positive way to leave a lasting impression on the audience. She gave delegates her top tips for preparing, structuring and delivering a presentation - plus a personal action plan to assess their individual skills and techniques and put them into practice.

Professional singer and actress Laura Armstrong gave delegates vocal and breathing exercises to help project the voice, use range, pitch and tone - and, importantly, to take away some of the vocal wobbles that can reveal nerves.

Lorraine Barnes Burton, chief executive of the British Travel Awards, gave an honest and open insight into her journey in the past few years when it comes to presenting; how she prepares for big speeches. Here are Lorraine's top tips:

• Research your content.
• Practise your speech: video yourself and be constructively critical.
• Be natural, but don't try too hard, because that's not natural.
• Smile, pause and breathe.
• Make sure you have a glass of water.
• Don't assume anyone else on the podium is more confident than you - they're not.
• Accept every invitation to speak in a roundtable forum situation - it helps you to understand and embrace your specialist areas, and women are naturally great in conversational speaking environments.
• Believe in yourself - we are usually our own harshest critics.

The AWTE offered all delegates the opportunity to deliver a presentation to the board, if they need an audience to practise with.

It is also holding an evening session for delegates to prepare a short presentation and deliver to an audience, on camera - with a critique on how they can improve on their delivery. Date and further details to be announced soon.

AWTE chair Karen Ramirez said: "Women to the Podium is one of our core areas of focus this year. The AWTE has a wealth of experienced women among its membership whose expertise would be welcomed on the conference stage. Our programme of seminars helps develop women's confidence and skills to stride up to those places on the podium."

For more information on the AWTE and the Boardroom Ready programme, email chair@awte.org.uk

To see the gallery of pictures taken at the event by Steve Dunlop click HERE.

Some 40 members attended the Annual General Meeting at the University Women's Club, once again generously sponsored by Bella Rangel Callan.

The Board - which has formally changed its name from Committee - has created two new roles of Board Members without Portfolio, who are: Lorraine Barnes Burton, Chief Executive of the British Travel Awards, and Victoria Sanders, Managing Director of Teletext Holidays, who was crowned 'Woman of the Year' at the recent Women 1st Shine Awards. These roles will be to assist with the considerable volume of work that AWTE has in the pipeline.

Formal proceedings took place in the beautiful Drawing Room where the new Board posed for an official photograph.

Back row (l-r): Finance Barbro McAusland, Membership Debbee Dale, Vice Chair Amanda Taylor, Website & Communications Monika Warburton, Board Members without Portfolio Lorraine Barnes Burton and Victoria Sanders
Front row (l-r): Hons & Associates Aileen Sweeney, Events Jane Stuart-Palikira, Chair Karen Ramírez, PR Karen Dempsey, Events Karen Sequeira (Missing: Secretary Linda Paterson, Benevolent Fund Bella Callan).

(l-r): Karen Sequeira and Jane Stuart-Palikira
the new Events team.

(l-r): Julie Merritt, Alessandra Alonso and Sue Kavanagh

         (l-r): Caroline Patterson and Gill Craig   New member Sandra Butler and Maggie Dobson

(l-r): Chair Karen Ramírez, Elaine Emmerton, Nikki Spoor, Barbro McAusland

A great beginning to another challenging year for AWTE!

Last night, at a glittering event at the Savoy Hotel a number of our members received recognition from Women 1st through their inclusion in the Women 1st Top 100 and Shine Awards. Congratulations to AWTE members: Lorraine Barnes Burton, Kathryn Beadle, Debbee Dale, Sue Kavanagh, Barbara Kolosinska, Carol Marlow, Flo Powell, Karen Ramírez and Victoria Sanders. The full list can be viewed HERE.

Particular congratulations go to Victoria Sanders, MD of Teletext Holidays, who was awarded Women 1st Shine Woman of the Year.

The much-anticipated budget has now been delivered by Chancellor George Osborne and whilst the devil may be in the detail, there are a number of changes that will be good for business and demonstrate that the Government is keen to get businesses on-side and the economy moving again. AWTE member, White Hart Associates, have produced their annual WHA Spring Budget 2011 summary which highlights key points, including tips and traps to pay particular attention to. Click here to download a copy, and thanks to Nikki Spoor, Chris Photi and the team for such prompt and useful information.

We held our AWTE Bite-Size session, "Handling Complaints to Avoid Litigation," at travel law specialists Gates and Partners. Partner, Jo Kolatsis, stressed the importance of having clear policies and procedures in place, and ensuring staff - particularly in-resort - are trained to the point that they automatically know what is required when an incident occurs. Information gathering, witness statements and photographic evidence all play a huge part in record-keeping, even when resort staff are under the impression that customers are satisfied with action taken at the time. If you are interested to find out more, be it on a retainer, one-off or capped fee basis, do contact Jo for a no-obligation chat.

Honorary Member Dita Boettcher sadly passed away last Friday. Dita joined AWTE in 1969 and was our Events Chairman for many years. Her particular forte was the organisation of the Christmas Lunch which she did so successfully with great dedication, attention to detail and panache - and without ever using a computer.

Rabbi Elizabeth Tikvah Sarah gave a very moving tribute to Dita whom we will all miss greatly. Click HERE for the full text of the Rabbi's eulogy.

Almost 20 members attended the AWTE Speed Networking evening held at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel. This is fast becoming a favourite event, especially with new members, as it gives them a chance to network in an informal setting, getting to know everybody, exchanging news and views and - most importantly - new business contacts within our Association.

The Millennium Gloucester provided us with a private conference room, wine and nibbles, and made us feel very welcome - another great occasion for AWTE.

AWTE member and Managing Director of Breathing Space Therapies, Annie Lawler, conducted a very lively workshop on how to reduce stress in our daily lives. Annie introduced a new way of balancing multiple commitments so that our energy is concentrated where it makes most impact. Included in AWTE's latest Bite-sized Workshop 'Get You, Get Results!' were numerous hints, tips and 'how-tos' about making 2011 really count.

Some 25 members and guests followed Annie's inspiring presentation at the premises of Gates and Partners Solicitors who generously sponsored the evening.