Constructing a career advancement model with women hotel executives

Purpose Understanding women’s career decisions and actions over time is crucial to eliminating systemic barriers in hotel leadership. The purpose of this study was to develop a hotel-specific, process-oriented model of women’s career advancement by examining the actions, sequences and conditions that shape their progression to executive leadership roles. Design/methodology/approach Using constructivist grounded theory, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 women hotel executives in the USA. Findings The career advancement model emerged from data analysis. Results reveal four cyclical career actions: gaining knowledge, developing a network, setting goals and mobility, with personal and organizational factors serving as boundary conditions of their trajectories. Research limitations/implications Theoretically, the study integrates individual, organizational and societal perspectives to explain women’s career progression. Practically, it provides actionable strategies for organizations, the industry and women seeking advancement. Originality/value By focusing on the actions women take, this study advances existing research on barriers and facilitators to leadership, offering a deeper understanding of how women circumvent organizational challenges.