Phuket hospitality event to focus on women’s leadership gap

RISE 2026, a Phuket hospitality event focused on women’s leadership, will be held at SAii Laguna Phuket on 3 September 2026.

The not-for-profit event, titled RISE 2026: Reshaping Hospitality by Empowering Women, is organised by C9 Hotelworks, Mrs B Group and Delivering Asia. It follows the inaugural RISE event last year, which brought hospitality professionals from across Thailand together for keynotes, workshops and skills-focused sessions.

Women account for 51.2% of the global hospitality workforce but hold only 30% of executive roles, according to industry data reported by Hospitality Investor in March 2025. The event is aimed at addressing a similar leadership gap in Thailand’s hotel and tourism sector.

The programme will cover four themes: Vision and Voice; Systems and Sectors; Emerging Leaders; and Craft, Communication and Self.

Speakers include Lily Udomkunnatum, managing director of Burasiri Hotel Group; Mary Pakamard, managing director and principal designer at M2 Plus; and Wichupan Phukaoluan Srisanya, president of the Thai Hotels Association’s Southern Chapter.

Udomkunnatum said women in hospitality “hold teams together and often carry enormous responsibility” while remaining underrepresented in ownership and senior decision-making roles. Pakamard said the industry should recognise talent that already exists rather than focus only on creating new opportunities, according to the event’s organisers.

RISE 2026 is supported by SAii Laguna Phuket, the Phuket Hotels Association and UN Women. Tickets cost B1,000, with proceeds funding the not-for-profit platform.

C9 Hotelworks and Delivering Asia are also planning BEING 2026, a wellness conference in Phuket scheduled for 2 September.