Sri Lanka’s Amba Yaalu, the nation’s first all-female hotel opened in January 2025, and Tanzania’s Dunia Camp, Africa’s only all-women safari camp, empowers women to lead in hospitality and tourism and fosters economic stability.
Amba Yaalu, Sri Lanka’s first all-female hotel, opened in January 2025 with 84 staff, following the model of Westin Hyderabad Hitec City in India, which launched in June 2023 under Marriott International. “The reason we wanted to do something like this was to really champion the cause of diversity,” said Khushnooma Kapadia, vice president of marketing for South Asia at Marriott International. Westin’s sous chef Amrita Biswas added, “Traditionally, Indian women did the cooking at home. But now, they are making significant strides in professional kitchens and leading restaurants.” In Tanzania, Dunia Camp operates as Africa’s only all-women safari camp, managed by Angel Vendeline Mosha.
At Amba Yaalu, manager Jeewanthi Adhikari, 42, overcame a decade of promotion denials due to marriage biases, while chef Kaushalya Batagoda defies norms in a country where women hold less than 10% of hospitality jobs, per 2024 data. Dunia’s staff faced wildlife fears, some leaving after encountering lion tracks. Both hotels challenge male-dominated sectors, offering local jobs and economic stability. Amba Yaalu’s founder, Chandra Wickramasinghe, drew inspiration from Westin to curb women’s migration for low-paid work abroad.
Hailed these hotels as “hospitality trailblazers.” Globally, 54% of tourism workers are women, but only 14% reach senior roles, per UN Tourism 2024 data, making these initiatives vital.
With 70% of tourists valuing inclusive experiences, per a 2025 survey, Amba Yaalu and Dunia are reshaping traveler expectations, signaling a global shift toward gender equity in hospitality.
