Words of Wisdom From Female Travel Leaders on International Women's Day

In honor of International Women's Day, we wanted to talk to female trailblazers in the industry that are leading the way in top positions in the travel industry. These powerful women are sellers of travel, general managers at hotels, they head departments at global hotel chains, own properties in paradise and lead the way for tour companies.

It wasn't always easy to get where they are but they share words of wisdom to empower a new generation of women in the travel industry.

Kristin Karst has one of the best jobs in travel as co-president of AmaWaterways and she is constantly championing women in the travel industry.

"I am living proof of that saying that choosing a job you love, means you'll never have to work a day in your life! While growing up in East Germany, I may not have dreamt that I would be a co-founder of a leading river cruise line, but I always believed that my most rewarding career path would be found by following my heart. I followed my passion for travel and customer service, and it led me to a career in river cruising and to founding a company committed to delivering unforgettable river cruise vacations.

"We all have different passions that can positively influence the travel industry, whether it's protecting our environment or encouraging travelers to explore and appreciate new cultures, and my advice to all women is to follow your heart and go after it! I have been fortunate to be surrounded by many talented, inspiring women throughout my career, and I'm so pleased to see more and more examples of the innovation, leadership and exciting opportunities that women are bringing to the travel industry today."

Travvy Award-winning travel agent and entrepreneur, Tammy Levent is the CEO of Elite Travel and Founder of T.A.S.K. (the Travel Agent's Success Kit).

"Be empowered by your innate virtues! Fear of failure is something all leaders deal with - even our male counterparts. Whenever I feel like I am failing or falling I keep this in mind: Resilience is in our genetic makeup. Women are built to deal with chaos and stress and we know how to adapt to the environment and respond appropriately. We have evolved to multitask, nurture, teach, learn and create. (All qualities that make for effective leadership.) Because of this women never "fail." Instead, we gain insight, adjust accordingly, and keep working toward the goal. If you follow these innate virtues, it will help guide your path to success and you will always lead by example."

Leslie Pchola serves as senior vice president operations full service North America East, at Hilton's corporate headquarters.

"Maya Angelou said, 'At the end of the day people won't remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel.' I believe this is how we should lead in the hotel industry. In hotels, it is the responsibility of leaders to set the weather forecast every day, and it should be clear and sunny!"

Melissa DaSilva leads the way for a number of different tour brands as president of Trafalgar, Brendan Vacations and Costsaver with a team of 140 employees across all of the brands.

"This month we celebrate women, and how far we have come within the travel space and beyond. We are continually working to blaze a trail of diversity in what has been a traditionally male-dominated industry and we are a testament to that, my team is all strong women, and over half of The Travel Corporation's global leadership positions are held by women-thanks to the ethos, values, and trust of the Tollmans, who have empowered female leadership since day one."

"As leaders in the travel space, we [Trafalgar] stand at the forefront of cultural exploration, promoting unity and tolerance beyond borders. Women in the industry bring passion and have reinforced the humanity of travel-engaging in important conversations about the issues facing the industry, including the future of responsible travel, experiences that build local communities, ethical connections with the indigenous communities historically hidden and supporting women's livelihoods across the globe. Travel empowers and inspires women whether you choose to work in it or enjoy the leisure of it, let's make travel matter."

Abby Murtagh is general manager at the Hilton Salt Lake City Center, a modern conference hotel in the heart of the city.

"Being a hotel general manager has made me a better person all around. As a general manager of Hilton Salt Lake City Center, I am constantly challenged to develop and grow dynamically as I stretch to be the best possible leader. For future female leaders, my guidance is, 'The time is now for female leadership. Be yourself. Take the shot. This is what the world needs now.'"

Esin Güral Argat is the owner of the stunning JOALI Maldives, where guests are sure to find a slice of paradise.

"Following a career at one of the largest glassware producers in the world, it was a dream to take my background and apply it to creating a luxurious, design-focused resort in the Maldives. JOALI embodies an elegant spirit that I hope inspires guests and those in our industry to live in an aspirational way, spending days in the sun, immersing oneself in art and appreciating the finer things in life such as dinner paired with hand-selected wine vintages and whisky from around the world."

Julieta Perez is the general manager at the Umbral, Curio Collection by Hilton, in Mexico City, a boutique hotel known for its beautifully preserved historic architecture.

"I'm proud to work for a company where equality and diversity are ingrained in our culture, and where women not only have a voice at the table but are also leading the conversation. I believe that empowering one another to take chances and supporting our colleagues is key to our growth. I pride myself on being surrounded by inspiring women who bring fresh perspectives and together, are the force driving our success. We are committed to continue mentoring others who want to join this amazing industry."

Stephanie Alderete is the Chef de Cuisine, Nikolai's Roof, a AAA Four Diamond restaurant that is the epitome contemporary dining located inside the Hilton Atlanta.

"Having the opportunity to work with inspiring women from various walks of life has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my career as a chef. From front of house managers to sous chefs, my fellow female team members and their global perspective have helped shape my menu and inspired me to expand my knowledge of global cuisine. Hilton has empowered me to push myself in my career, take risks mentor those around me and grow as a leader."

Hanna Bankston is the director of marketing at the sophisticated JW Marriott Nashville, located in the heart of Music City.

"Creativity is an endless pursuit in my love of hospitality marketing. Developing new and exciting ways to position JW Marriott Nashville and its unique offerings is what inspires me. Without Marketing, there is no storytelling. You too will create your own story. What will your story be?"