In the hospitality industry, where men occupy the majority of leadership positions, it can be difficult for female employees to make their mark. But not so at Hilton Worldwide Holdings, the storied hospitality company comprised of 24 brands and more than 8,300 properties across five continents. There, as Laura Fuentes, Hilton’s chief human resources officer, says, management’s focus is on “creating an inclusive environment that empowers all of our team members, including the thousands of women across our hotels and offices around the world.” As a result, she says, female employees at Hilton are encouraged to share their ideas and expertise, and “each day, the women of Hilton make our business stronger, smarter and more innovative through their unique contributions.”
The company also supports the growth and wellbeing of employees through training and development programs, mentorship opportunities, and personalized health benefits that address issues impacting women in particular, including menopause and autoimmune conditions. For these reasons and more, Hilton ranked No. 1 on our list of the World’s Top Companies For Women 2024.
To create this fourth annual list, Forbes partnered with market research firm Statista and surveyed approximately 100,000 women working for multinational corporations across 37 countries. To qualify for consideration, each corporate group was required to operate in at least two of the six continental regions of the world (Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America and Oceania). Surveys were collected through anonymous online access panels, allowing participants to answer freely.
Survey participants were asked—among other questions—if they would recommend their employer to friends or family, and to rate the organization on both general workplace practices and gender-specific issues including gender pay equity and whether men and women have the same opportunities for advancement within the company. Participants were also asked to rate how other companies within their respective industries stacked up as employers.