Challenges of Saudi Women in five-star hotels: A Focus on Front Office Operations
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Date
2025
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University of Essex
Abstract
This dissertation examines the challenges faced by Saudi women working in front office positions in five-star hotels, specifically in Jeddah. Despite the progressive changes introduced by Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, women in the hospitality industry continue to encounter significant obstacles. Using a qualitative inductive research approach, data was gathered through semi-structured interviews with female front office employees to identify these challenges. The findings reveal that cultural and religious norms enforcing gender segregation significantly limit women's professional interactions, access to male role models, and career progression, leading to social isolation and job dissatisfaction. The demanding and inflexible working hours typical of the hospitality industry exacerbate these issues, making it challenging for women to maintain a healthy work-life balance, often leading to burnout, exhaustion, and higher turnover rates. Moreover, the study found that gender bias and discrimination are prevalent, with women experiencing unfair treatment, lack of promotion opportunities, and being assigned less important tasks than their male counterparts, which contributes to career stagnation, frustration, and dissatisfaction. These challenges have a direct impact on job satisfaction and significantly increase the intention to leave among female employees. The study contributes to the literature by providing specific recommendations for improving workplace diversity, promoting women’s career development, and aligning organisational practices with the goals of Vision 2030.
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Keywords
Saudi women - Five-star hotels - Front office - Hospitality industry - Workplace challenges - Gender roles - Saudization
Citation
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