International Women’s Day 2026
Accelerating Action at 116 Pall Mall
This year, International Women’s Day is centred around the theme “Accelerate Action”; a call to move beyond conversation and actively drive meaningful progress toward gender equality.
At 116 Pall Mall, action is reflected in our people.
Out of 71 team members across the business, 36 are women; just over 50% of our workforce. This places us above the wider UK hospitality average, where women represent approximately 52–55% of the overall workforce, but remain underrepresented in senior leadership roles, typically holding fewer than one in three executive positions across the sector.
Representation matters; but representation across all levels matters even more.
Women Leading Across Departments
At 116 Pall Mall, women are not concentrated in one function, they are embedded across leadership, operations, culinary, sales, finance, and front-of-house roles.
From Ana, Deputy General Manager, to Charlotte, Head of Sales and Marketing, to department managers across the Directors Lounge, Brasserie, Events, and Business Centre, women are shaping strategy, driving revenue, managing teams, and delivering excellence daily.
In hospitality, women have traditionally formed the backbone of guest experience roles. However, industry research continues to show gaps in:
Senior leadership representation
Pay equity at executive level
Visibility in culinary leadership positions
That’s why having women represented in management, kitchen leadership, commercial strategy, and operational oversight is not just positive; it’s essential.
Hospitality: A Sector Powered by Women
Hospitality is one of the UK’s largest employers, and women play a crucial role in its success. The sector offers dynamic career pathways — from events and sales to culinary arts and senior operations — yet progression can often be limited by lack of mentorship, flexible working structures, and visibility of female role models.
Accelerating action means:
Supporting career progression at every level
Championing leadership development
Creating inclusive workplace policies
Ensuring new talent sees clear pathways forward
At 116 Pall Mall, women lead event operations, oversee financial controls, manage premium guest environments, supervise bar operations, and deliver culinary craftsmanship. They are planners, strategists, supervisors, managers, chefs, and service professionals.
More Than a Number
While 36 out of 71 means women make up the majority of our workforce, today is not simply about celebrating a statistic. It’s about recognising the contribution, professionalism, and leadership demonstrated every day across our venue.
It’s about ensuring that progress continues; that representation translates into opportunity, that leadership pipelines remain open, and that hospitality continues evolving into a sector where talent thrives regardless of gender.
International Women’s Day reminds us that progress doesn’t happen passively.
It happens when organisations choose to accelerate action.
Today, we celebrate the women of 116 Pall Mall and our continued commitment to building a workplace where equality, growth, and excellence go hand in hand.