Women Leaders Shaping the Global Travel Industry Through Tourism, Airlines, Travel Technology, Safety, Cruises, and Sustainable Travel
The concept of travel has changed with the advancement of technology. For example, people can now compare flights, book tickets after checking discounts on different apps, find local guides through their phones, and plan trips with the help of AI.
The change is rapid, and women have been playing an important part in this whole process. They are leading airlines, travel companies, tourism bodies, startups, and cruise businesses. Their work covers different parts of the industry, from global tourism and online bookings to traveler safety and expedition cruises.
The travel and tourism industry is massive. The World Travel & Tourism Council said the sector contributed more than 10% of global GDP and supported over 357 million jobs in 2025. Women already make up 54% of the tourism workforce, according to UN Tourism.
Women Making Their Mark Across Travel
The travel industry has many different sides: airlines need strong operations, travel websites need simple booking systems, tourism bodies need to attract visitors while supporting local communities. New companies are also finding ways to make travel safer and easier.
Shaikha Al Nowais
Shaikha Al Nowais is the Secretary-General of UN Tourism. In November 2025, she was promoted to the post and became the first woman to hold the position. Her career initially began in the hospitality sector, where she worked in hotels at the beginning of her career.
Notably, she got into her new role at a time when there are several issues in the travel industry that need to be taken care of. Some of the most important ones include sustainability, digital tools, local jobs, and responsible tourism. Her appointment also marks a major moment for women in global tourism leadership.
Jane Sun
One of the biggest names in the global travel industry is Jane Sun, the CEO of Trip.com Group. As the CEO of the world’s largest online travel company, her role includes connecting travel with technology. The company helps travelers find flights, book hotels, plan activities, and other services from their phones.
Latest reports show that the Trip.com Group’s 2025’s fourth quarter revenue is standing somewhere around RMB 15.4 billion, or about USD 2.2 billion, which is a sharp 21% increase from the same period a year earlier.
Vanessa Karel
Vanessa Karel is the founder of Greether. The objective of the company is to bring resolution to some of the most frequent problems that women face during solo traveling. The company connects women travelers with local female guides who can help them feel safer in unfamiliar places.
The idea is simple: a traveler can get help from someone who knows the city and understands local conditions. Karel’s work shows how technology can address a very personal part of travel: feeling safe and comfortable in a new place.
Joanna Geraghty
Joanna Geraghty became CEO of JetBlue in February 2024. However, her connection with the airline dated back to 2005. She worked across multiple sections in the airline before reaching the top role. Her experience includes customer experience, operations, people management, and legal work. This mix is useful in an airline business, where customer service and daily operations are closely connected.
Natalya Leahy
Natalya Leahy became CEO of Lindblad Expeditions in January 2025. The company focuses mainly on expedition cruises and travel experiences in places such as Antarctica and the Galápagos. Leahy previously served as President of Seabourn and has held senior roles in the travel industry for several years.
Expedition travel is different from a normal cruise holiday. When it is expedition travel, travelers often visit remote places and spend more time exploring nature and local communities. Leahy’s role comes as travelers look for experiences that feel more personal and different from standard holidays.
Women Shaping How the World Will Travel
These women leaders highlight different sides of modern travel. Their roles differ, but their work highlights the biggest challenges in the travel industry. In modern times, travelers expect easier booking methods, safer journeys, more personal experiences, and new ways to explore the world.
The travel industry will also need more women in senior roles. Better access to training, mentoring, funding, and career opportunities can help more women move into leadership.
The next phase of travel will be about more than where people go. It will also depend on how safely, easily, and responsibly they can get there. Women leaders are already helping shape that journey.
