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The W.I.T.H. Program was founded in 2015 by Clara Carter, award winning meeting professional and CEO of Multi-Cultural Convention Services Network, (MCCSN).
The W.I.T.H. Program has become the premier program recognizing the contributions of women professionals at all stages of their careers and significantly impacting the changing landscape of Tourism and Hospitality in the San Diego metro-area.
Our Mission: W.I.T.H. supports, empowers and strengthens diversity and inclusion for women in the hospitality industry and provides education, leadership strategies, mentorship and networking opportunities in a forward-thinking environment.
The W.I.T.H. Awards Luncheon was the original program focus. The awards luncheon was produced in partnership with industry sponsors and supporters, to honor well known, respected, influential, and unsung women at the pinnacle of their careers.
Clara Carter, W.I.T.H. founder and event producer, says “We recognize and give visibility to the extraordinary talent and service of women executives who are leading the way and making significant contributions to tourism, while empowering tomorrow’s leaders.“
Guests at the luncheon, including tourism executives, industry insiders, elected officials, renowned guests and students, have coined the term “W.I.T.H. IT!” to express their delight in the concept of the award, the sisterhood embodied within it, and the event itself.
Thanks to our supporters, the program has grown by 25% every year since 2015, with more than 350 attendees, and now includes a Silent Auction to raise funds for the W.I.T.H. Scholarship.
The W.I.T.H. Advisory Board and The W.I.T.H. UNITY Partners were created in 2019, in response to requests from honorees, supporters and attendees to support the W.I.T.H. mission and have greater involvement in the W.I.T.H. movement.
The W.I.T.H. Advisory Board is the “Guiding Light” for the founders’ vision. The Board is comprised of past honorees and industry executives. The board members were selected because of their amazing work in the industry, their superb experience, their excellent reputation, their perceptive insight into industry trends and their ongoing support of the W.I.T.H. program. Through their membership on the Advisory Board, these women and men continue to shape the inclusiveness of our industry by supporting today’s women leaders, helping to guide and prepare leaders of the future, and helping to achieve the vision of expanding this program to a “W.I.T.H. Conference.”
The W.I.T.H. UNITY Partners foster the idea of community. It helps support our mission and increase our capacity to lead, collaborate and create positive change. It is THE way members can access the W.I.T.H. executive network, connect to peers, learn new industry trends, market and promote their company brands globally, talk creatively about the future of our industry, and have FUN.
This 2021 W.I.T.H. Conference is the next step towards our ultimate vision of a beautiful world where women collaborate with each other, companies, educational institutions, governments, corporations, and non-governmental organizations to strengthen diversity and inclusion, and financial capacity.
As Clara says, “The future belongs to those who dream and work. Let’s Get W.I.T.H. it and help strengthen the tourism and hospitality industry together.“