wmnsWORK Tourism Accelerator
The tourism industry’s award-winning business accelerator program
for women and non-binary early-stage entrepreneurs.
Cohort 5: September 16th – December 6th, 2024
WHY
The tourism industry has a problem:
Despite making up the majority of the industry, women are disproportionately represented in leadership. wmnsWORK’s mission is to grow economic ownership by women and non-binary folks in our sector, by supporting them in starting their own ventures.
55%
female makeup of the tourism industry workforce
~20%
general management roles held by women
8%
board positions held by women
Program
We help women and non-binary folks build thriving tourism businesses through education, mentorship and community.
Next Cohort Launch Countdown
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Thank You To Our Founding Sponsors
Kirsten Gardner, Outlier Journeys
“I’ve worked in the travel industry for 16 years but never in the context of a business owner; finding the wmnsWORK cohort has provided me with the toolkit that I didn’t know I needed, from tips on maintaining an entrepreneurial mindset to understanding risk, evaluating tech stacks and taking a hard look an accounting and financial planning. This is all accompanied by the support of fellow program members and experienced mentors making it a very positive, collaborative experience.”
Meet more participants here.
Get Involved: Elevate Women and Non-Binary Entrepreneurs in Tourism
Contact Us to learn more about how you can get involved.
Sponsor
As a scholarship sponsor, cover 80% of a participant’s fees, making the accelerator accessible to those who identify as racialized, disabled and/or LGBTQ+.
Subject Matter Expert
Lead a cohort workshop in your area of expertise, helping our participants further their businesses on the topic and take tangible action.
Mentor
Provide valuable insight and act as a sounding board to a mentee as they navigate their own entrepreneurial journey.
Guest Speaker
Share your entrepreneurial story or come speak on a topic of interest at one of our Fireside Chats.
Advisor
Participants peruse the Advisor Roster and book 30-min meetings with those whose expertise match topics they need advice on.
Media Partner
Share an article or post about wmnsWORK with your audience and help bring awareness to the program.
Besides gaining clear and practical informative knowledge on how to run my travel business with the right mindset, I have formed great relationships with the other participants in the program. I would recommend this program wholeheartedly to all new entrepreneurs in the travel industry. wmnsWORK Founder, Iris, is always open to supporting you in every way possible.”
Poonam Rawat-Hahne, Fernweh Fair Travel
About the Founder
Iris Serbanescu
In 2021, Iris noticed the lack of women leadership and ownership in the industry and after asking herself how she could help, founded wmnsWORK Tourism Business Accelerator. With more than a decade of experience in the tourism industry, Iris uses her expertise to bring together the right experts and mentors who can help experiential tour operators and hotels further their businesses and develop meaningful industry partnerships. She facilitates mentorship and knowledge sharing for women- and non-binary-owned businesses in order to break down barriers within the industry.
Awards
Awarded in May 2023 ‘to a brand that has gone above and beyond to empower, support, and represent women in the past year