International Women's Day 2024: the women behind Dakota

International Women’s Day: a global celebration, taking place every year on the 8th of March, marking a powerful reminder to recognise the incredible contributions of women throughout history, and those in our everyday lives.

Our award-winning bar team has expertly crafted a signature cocktail to celebrate the special occasion; available in each of our prestigious hotels. ‘Grain ‘n’ Grind’ can be found on our cocktail menus from March the 8th – boasting a harmonious blend of Scotch Whisky, Ginger Liqueur, and Vanilla Syrup with hints of lemon. A lightly spiced and perfectly sweetened cocktail paying homage to some of the most courageous, yet caring women of Dakota.

Dakota Hotels is proud to be supporting two inspirational charities this International Women’s Day – for the second year running, with proceeds from our specially curated Women’s Day cocktail being donated to ‘Women’s Fund Scotland’ and ‘Girls Out Loud’.

Each year Dakota Hotels shines the spotlight on some of the incredible women we have the privilege of working with; women who have helped shape our esteemed brand into what it is today. We had the chance to speak with some of our female colleagues about what it means to them to be a woman working in the hospitality industry today, what inspires and motivates them in their careers, and who the inspirational women in their lives are who have helped shape them into the incredible people they are today.

Laura Welsh – Head Bartender, Dakota Edinburgh

Dakota Edinburgh is one of our inaugural Hotels – just a short 5-minute walk from the quaint seaside town of South Queensferry. It’s here that the exceptional service and unprecedented professionalism you know and love from Dakota was coined – and it would not have been possible without our dedicated team. We caught up with our Head Bartender, Laura Welsh to discuss all things International Women’s Day.

Laura, can you tell us about a woman who has helped influence your career?

‘It would have to be my sister – I have always looked up to her from a young age. She got her first job in hospitality when she was 16 and I knew immediately I wanted to follow in her footsteps – watching her work hard doing something she loved and seeing her dedication to the job was inspiring and two years later I joined her working behind the bar!’

Why is International Women’s Day important to you?

‘This is a day to celebrate the strength and determination of women from around the world. I am so lucky to have such strong female influences in my life, and they have helped guide me to where I am today. I hope to one day have the same influence on the next generation of young females.’

Diamond Reid – Reception Supervisor, Dakota Manchester

Dakota Manchester opened its doors in 2019 and has since become our flagship destination – known as a luxurious haven in the city, we are proud to bring our old-school hospitality ethos with a Dakota twist to the centre of Manchester. Our dedicated front-of-house team has the incredibly important duty of being the first point of contact with any guest – we sat down with our Reception Supervisor and Guest Relations expert, Diamond to find out what International Women’s Day means to her.

Diamond, is there a woman who has had a profound influence on your career?

‘It has to be my Mum, she has heavily influenced my career. She’s always taught me to be resilient and never to give up – even when you face hurdles. She has always offered her guidance, wisdom, and unwavering support – it’s this that has empowered me to always pursue my ambitions and work toward my goals.’

What is the proudest moment in your career so far?

‘I’m most proud of the opportunity I’ve had to work my way up within my department in such a short space of time – alongside gaining experience in other areas of the business, overseeing the Guest Relations Department. While it’s been a lot to juggle – it’s so rewarding being given the freedom to express my creativity and shine in my role.’

Diamond, why is International Women’s Day important to you?

‘It’s important because it allows us a moment to reflect and celebrate the resilience, strength, diversity, and achievements of women globally. Although sometimes we may be met with challenges International Women’s Day is a reminder that we should be proud to be female.’

Lindsay Kennedy – Night Manager, Dakota Glasgow

Dakota Glasgow is situated on the bustling West Regent Street in the city centre of Glasgow, a haven for shoppers, foodies, and night owls – amongst which is our very own Night Manager, Lindsay Kennedy who is responsible for ensuring our exemplary guest experience doesn’t just start and stop from 9am – 5pm and is on hand to deliver 24/7 care and attention to our valued Dakota guests. We sat down with Linsday to speak to her about the influential women who have had an impact on her life and career.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you, Lindsay?

‘International Women’s Day to me, is about celebrating accomplishments, raising awareness and worldwide solidarity amongst women and their ongoing fight for global equality. I encourage every woman to embrace this day as a celebration of resilience, a call for action, and a reminder of the power of collective efforts. Happy International Women’s Day!’

Who would you say has been a powerful female influence in your life and career?

‘The most influential woman to me has to be my Gran. She’s had a pivotal role in shaping my professional journey and is always prepared to share her wealth of experience and unwavering support. As I navigate the intricacies of the Hospitality industry I always think back to the lessons she’s shared with me: the importance of empathy, the art of making people feel at home, and finding joy in creating memories.’

Sophie Pedlar – Junior Sous Chef, Dakota Eurocentral

At Dakota we don’t just provide exceptional guest experiences for those staying overnight – we also pride ourselves on delivering world-class dining experiences in our sophisticated Grills. In fact, we often say the Grill is the ‘Heart and Soul’ of Dakota – because nothing brings people together quite like great food. At Dakota Eurocentral we’re experts in bringing exceptional dining experiences to life for large corporate events and small intimate affairs – with no detail spared. This wouldn’t be possible without our dedicated kitchen teams – we caught up with our Junior Sous Chef, Sophie Pedlar to discuss her inspirations and how we can encourage more women to pursue a career in cheffing.

Sophie, what’s been the proudest moment of your career so far?

‘Becoming Junior Sous Chef at Dakota Eurocentral! It’s amazing to have people believe in your abilities and it’s proof that hard work does pay off, even if sometimes you doubt yourself.’

How do you think the industry can encourage more women to seek a career in cheffing?

‘Working in a kitchen environment can seem like a really daunting thing to an outsider – chefs are often labelled as being ‘scary’ or ‘intimidating’ but that really isn’t the case at all! It’s about breaking down the stigma and seeing a stronger presence of female chefs online. I believe working in the kitchen environment is one of the best ways to build confidence in yourself – and I’m speaking from personal experience.’

Justine Moran – Executive Housekeeping Manager, Dakota Leeds

Dakota Leeds was our first city centre destination outside of Scotland and soon became renowned for being experts in providing luxury accommodations to the city – so much so, that we’ve won multiple awards for it. Being a luxury accommodation provider comes with a high expectation to deliver exceptional in-room experiences for our guests – and our dedicated Housekeeping team is on hand to deliver just that. We asked our Executive Housekeeping Manager, Justine Moran who her biggest female influence is in both life and her career.

Can you share with us your greatest female influence, Justine?

‘This has to be my Mother! My Mum worked in the Hospitality industry herself for over 35 years – I remember visiting her at work when I was growing up and being so intrigued by everything she did. Watching how she has navigated difficult situations through her strength and resilience has given me the motivation and the tools to succeed in anything I do.’

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

‘It’s a day to celebrate all women – and their strength, determination, and accomplishments!’

We’re beyond proud of all the wonderful women of Dakota who work tirelessly to bring our guest’s experiences to life and help create cherished memories for all those who visit our destinations. Their spirit and passion shine through in their service and truly embody the values of our growing brand. If you would like to know more about building a fulfilling career in the Hospitality industry with Dakota Hotels – have a look through our careers page and discover your dream role.