For four days, leading women from North America's travel industry took a break from their busy routines to pause, connect, and learn from each other something that doesn’t happen often in today’s fast-paced world.
This was the idea behind the 8th Annual Female Leaders in Travel Conclave, hosted by Grupo Lomas at El Dorado Royale in the Riviera Maya. From July 25 to 29, 55 senior executives from top travel organizations came together for meaningful conversations, professional growth, and idea sharing that often lasts well beyond the event.
The Travel A.L.L.I.E.S. Society organizes this annual conclave, which is now one of the most respected events for women leaders in travel. Instead of just focusing on business results or trends, the event gives executives a chance to reflect on leadership, build real relationships, and learn from others who understand the unique challenges and opportunities in the industry.
More Than a Conference
What sets the Female Leaders in Travel Conclave apart is the welcoming environment it creates.
During the four days, formal presentations turned into open conversations. Executives shared their experiences, talked about leadership challenges, exchanged ideas, and built relationships in a setting that encouraged openness instead of competition.
The program included executive discussions, group workshops, wellness activities, and networking. It recognized that valuable lessons often come from conversations, not just keynote speeches.
Leadership expert Kristen Pucci led many of these sessions, focusing on resilience, confidence, emotional intelligence, and authentic leadership. She encouraged participants to think about how self-awareness, empathy, and adaptability are now key qualities for leaders, not just professional success.
Why These Conversations Matter
vents like this show a broader shift happening across the global travel industry.
In hospitality, airlines, tourism boards, and travel organizations, companies are putting more focus on developing future leaders through mentorship, executive education, and professional networks. As the industry evolves, creating spaces for professionals to share ideas, learn from each other, and build meaningful connections has become even more valuable.
As organizations put more focus on diverse leadership, events like the Female Leaders in Travel Conclave are becoming even more important. They help strengthen professional networks, encourage mentorship, and create opportunities for executives to discuss leadership, organizational change, and innovation openly.
Research from McKinsey & Company shows that organizations with more gender diversity in leadership often see stronger innovation, better decision-making, and improved long-term business performance. This is one reason why investing in leadership development remains a strategic priority across industries like travel and hospitality.
Grupo Lomas Opens Its Doors to Industry Leaders
Grupo Lomas hosted this year’s conclave at El Dorado Royale, offering a week focused on both personal connections and professional growth.
María Dolores López Lira e Hinojo, Founder and Chairwoman of Grupo Lomas, welcomed everyone and spoke about the importance of creating spaces where professionals can learn from each other, share experiences, and grow together.
Her connection with the Travel A.L.L.I.E.S. Society goes beyond this year’s event. In 2019, she received the group’s first Luminary Award for her decades of work in tourism and her ongoing support for women in the industry.
By hosting the conclave, Grupo Lomas shows its ongoing commitment to education, inclusion, and building strong connections in the travel community.
Part of a Global Movement
The Female Leaders in Travel Conclave is part of a growing global movement to create more opportunities for women in hospitality and tourism.
Groups like the Women in Hospitality Leadership Alliance, WINiT by GBTA, and Women in Travel CIC have created mentorship programs, executive forums, and educational projects to help women take on leadership roles in hotels, airlines, destinations, tour operators, and travel tech companies.
All these efforts share one key idea: building a stronger tourism industry starts with investing in the people who make it possible.
The Conversations Continue
As the conclave came to a close, participants returned home carrying far more than pages of notes.
They left with fresh ideas, stronger professional relationships, new perspectives, and the reassurance that many of the challenges facing today's travel leaders are shared across the industry.
Perhaps that's what makes gatherings like the Female Leaders in Travel Conclave so valuable.
The presentations may end after four days, but the conversations continue in boardrooms, hotel offices, destination organizations, and travel companies across North America. Those conversations have the power to influence new partnerships, inspire future leaders, and ultimately help shape the next chapter of global tourism.
In an industry built on connecting people and places, creating opportunities for leaders to connect with one another may be one of the most meaningful investments of all.