Virtual Coffees #4 - Empowering Women in Hospitality | Danica Smith (Women in Travel Thrive)

HiJiffy CEO Tiago Araújo sits down with Danica Smith, guest experience advisor, host of the Hospitality Daily podcast, and board member of Women in Travel Thrive, for one of the industry's most important conversations: empowering women in hospitality and building real pathways to leadership. Backed by data and her own experience, Danica talks through the barriers that persist, from visibility and the confidence gap to the hidden mental load and burnout, and why treating maternity leave as taboo helps no one. A candid look at how transparency, mentorship, and male allyship can make careers in hospitality more inclusive and sustainable. ⏱️ In this episode: 00:00 Meet Danica Smith 01:48 The biggest barriers holding women back 04:45 Where bias begins, and what companies can do 08:12 Maternity leave, career progression and the "elephant in the room" 12:38 Mindset, transparency and honest conversations ▶️ Watch more Virtual Coffees: https://www.hijiffy.com/virtual-coffees/ 📅 See how HiJiffy supports hospitality teams. Book a demo: https://www.hijiffy.com/book-a-demo #Hospitality #WomenInLeadership #WomenInHospitality #HotelTech #HiJiffy