It’s Earth Week, a timely moment to recognize the women helping drive sustainability across the global travel industry. From aviation and cruise to destinations and beyond, female leaders are helping shape how the industry balances growth with long-term responsibility, proving sustainability is no longer a side conversation, but a business imperative.
In the United States, women leaders are helping shape sustainability across every corner of the travel industry. At JetBlue CEO Joanna Geraghty leads one of the country’s largest airlines at a time when carriers are investing in fleet modernization, fuel efficiency and sustainable aviation fuel initiatives. In cruise, Christine Duffy, President of Carnival Cruise Line, is leading during a period of cleaner fuel adoption, next-generation ship investment, and operational efficiency improvements. And in destinations, Angela Val, President & CEO of Visit Philadelphia, represents a growing group of leaders focused on inclusive tourism growth, local economic impact and responsible destination development.
Within the Asia Pacific region, Sonia Cheng, CEO of Rosewood Hotel Group, has advanced responsible luxury through the company’s Rosewood Impacts strategy, focused on carbon reduction, circularity, cultural preservation and community engagement. Kamonwan Wipulakorn, Managing Director of Thailand-based Bound and Beyond, represents a new generation of hospitality leaders shaping long-term destination development through thoughtful investment and stewardship. From the UK, Dame Irene Hays, owner and chair of Hays Travel, has helped champion responsible tourism, workforce development and long-term resilience across one of Britain’s largest travel businesses.
Their work is a reminder that progress rarely happens through headlines alone. It happens through smarter operations, capital allocation, innovation, partnerships and leaders willing to make long-term bets. This Earth Week, it’s worth recognizing that many of those decisions are being shaped by women leading travel forward.
– Elisabeth Segura
Strategic Content Senior Manager
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Director, Sales Operations and Business Development, Lindblad Expeditions
Leading the strategy, execution and performance of onboard future voyage sales programs, this Orlando-based role drives alignment across shipboard teams, shoreside leadership and external partners to maximize conversion and revenue. This role focuses on translating sales strategy into operational excellence through process optimization, training and cross-functional collaboration, and is a hybrid position.
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