Celebrating Women in Hospitality

Harbour Hotels welcomes three new General Managers

In celebration of International Women’s Day, Harbour Hotels is proud to announce the appointment of three new female General Managers across its South West coastal properties - further strengthening the group’s commitment to championing women in hospitality leadership.

The latest appointments include:

Fiona Darde, General Manager, Harbour Hotel Sidmouth
Alison Warren, General Manager, Harbour Hotel Padstow
Kate Edwards‑Tulloch, General Manager, Harbour Hotel Fowey

These additions bring Harbour Hotels’ total number of female GMs to five, reinforcing a culture where women are empowered to lead, shape strategy, and deliver exceptional guest experiences across the group.

A sector traditionally underrepresented by women in leadership

Progress is being made across the hospitality sector, but gender imbalance in senior roles is still widely acknowledged. Industry benchmarks show:

  • Only 30% of senior management roles across hospitality are held by women (Hospitality Investor).
  • Just 15 to 30% of General Manager positions are filled by women globally (Forbes).

Building balanced, inclusive leadership

Against this backdrop, Harbour Hotels stands out. Across the group, women make up:

  • 55% of the total workforce
  • 45% of senior management and leadership roles (well above the 30% industry average)
  • 33% of all General Managers - exceeding the industry range of 15 to 30%

With Fiona, Alison and Kate joining the leadership team, Harbour Hotels continues to set new benchmarks for representation and impact within the sector. Their experience, energy and vision will help shape the next chapter of growth across the South West and beyond.

This International Women’s Day, Harbour Hotels celebrates not only these new appointments but the many women who contribute daily to the group’s success. Their leadership is helping redefine what the future of hospitality looks like.

A snapshot of female representation across the group:

Hotel Female workforce Female leadership
Harbour Hotel Southampton 60% 60%
Harbour Hotel Guildford 49% 30%
Harbour Hotel Richmond 55% 71%
Harbour Hotel Christchurch 56% 44%
Harbour Hotel Padstow 58% 60%
Alison Warren is a seasoned hospitality leader with extensive experience elevating luxury hotels, exclusive‑use venues, and visitor attractions.
Known for developing high‑performing, people‑focused teams, she now joins Harbour Hotels as General Manager, further strengthening an already impressive leadership presence in Padstow, where 60% of senior roles are held by women.

Kate Edwards‑Tulloch is an experienced hospitality leader with over 20 years in luxury hotels and high‑profile venues. Formerly Deputy General Manager at the five‑star Nare Hotel, she is known for strengthening teams and elevating guest experience.

She now steps into her role as General Manager at Harbour Hotel Fowey, bringing a hands‑on, commercially focused approach to leadership and is set to lead the team through a new chapter of service, style and local collaboration.

Fiona Darde - Harbour Hotel Sidmouth

With extensive experience across luxury hospitality, Fiona joins Sidmouth with a focus on guest-led innovation and coastal community engagement. Her leadership style champions empathy, empowerment and operational excellence.