Women’s History Month, observed throughout March, provides an opportunity to acknowledge the accomplishments of women across various industries.
Highlighted below are four visionary leaders representing diverse facets of the global hospitality industry.
These women excel in areas including wellness, sustainability, transformative travel, food and beverage, design, and more.
Aashica Khanna
Director, Ananda in the Himalayas
Aashica Khanna is redefining the global wellness landscape through her leadership at Ananda in the Himalayas, one of the world’s premier wellness retreats. With a deep-rooted passion for holistic well-being, she has played a pivotal role in shaping Ananda’s offerings, seamlessly integrating ancient Indian wellness traditions with modern luxury hospitality.
Under her leadership, Ananda has evolved significantly, offering deeper, more intensive wellness programs that now span 14–24 nights. Over 80% of Ananda guests opt for targeted wellness programs to address chronic physical and mental health conditions, with proven success in reversing obesity, diabetes, arthritis, menstrual issues, and even complex mental health cases. To support this shift, Ananda has built a team of top experts across Ayurveda, yoga, meditation, and traditional Chinese medicine. Diagnostics now play a key role in ensuring evidence-based, outcome-driven treatments.
Beyond luxury wellness, Aashica is actively expanding Ananda’s reach through strategic partnerships, international retreats, and digital wellness initiatives. She has also spearheaded a transformation in Ananda’s approach, moving beyond a traditional retreat model to becoming a long-term wellness partner. With year-round consultations and follow-ups, Ananda now plays a sustained role in clients’ well-being journeys, delivering truly sustainable results.
With a background that blends heritage, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to well-being, Aashica is shaping the future of wellness tourism on a global scale. For 25 years, Ananda in the Himalayas has been a trailblazer of holistic wellness, earning multiple global awards as the world’s No. 1 wellness retreat and destination spa. Born out of the vision to blend ancient wisdom with modern innovation, Ananda in the Himalayas creates transformative wellness experiences and life-changing experiences that have touched countless lives.
Vera Zeledón
Founder and Executive Advisor, Hotel Belmar
Vera Zeledón is a visionary entrepreneur and co-founder of Hotel Belmar, one of Costa Rica’s most celebrated eco-luxury destinations. Nearly four decades ago, she and her husband conceived a dream to build Hotel Belmar from the ground up, driven by a shared vision of sustainability, excellence, and authentic Costa Rican hospitality.
At a time when hospitality leadership in Costa Rica was largely male-dominated, Vera played a pioneering role as a woman in the industry, shaping not just the success of Hotel Belmar but also the broader landscape of eco-luxury tourism. Her leadership and dedication have propelled the hotel to international acclaim, earning recognition from Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, and other global platforms. But Vera’s impact extends far beyond accolades—she has redefined what it means to offer luxury with purpose.
At the heart of Hotel Belmar’s closed-loop sustainability model is Finca Madre Tierra, the country’s first certified carbon-neutral farm, supplying fresh, organic ingredients that fuel the hotel’s farm-to-table philosophy. Beyond regenerative agriculture, Finca Madre Tierra embraces humane animal husbandry, proving that ethical, cruelty-free farming can yield an abundant, nourishing bounty. Guests are invited to experience this compassionate approach to food production, reinforcing the idea that sustainability must extend to both the land and the lives it sustains.
Beyond her contributions to hospitality, Vera is deeply committed to cultural preservation. She founded Celajes de Mi Tierra, a folkloric dance group dedicated to sharing Costa Rica’s rich traditions with guests and the broader community. Through art, sustainability, and hospitality, she has built a multi-dimensional legacy that connects people to both nature and culture in an authentic way.
Vera’s story is one of resilience, leadership, and innovation. As a pioneer in hospitality and eco-luxury tourism, she has shaped not only Hotel Belmar but also the broader conversation around responsible travel in Costa Rica. Alongside her family, she continues to raise the bar for sustainability-driven hospitality, inspiring future generations of women entrepreneurs, sustainability advocates, and travelers alike. Her vision continues to leave a lasting impact.
Sofia Mascotena
Owner, Founding Member and CEO, Naya Traveler
In a world where the travel industry has long been dominated by male leadership, Naya Traveler is rewriting the narrative. This women-led, women-staffed luxury travel company is redefining what it means to explore the world with purpose. With a keen focus on immersive experiences and cultural authenticity, Naya Traveler offers bespoke journeys that go beyond luxury—they are designed to foster meaningful connections between travelers and the communities they visit.
Sofia Mascotena, owner, founding member, and CEO, has built her career on uncovering remote destinations and ensuring that every journey maintains a perfect balance between exclusivity and cultural respect. Sofia grew up on a family estate in the Pampas of Argentina—a region governed by a balanced lifestyle, where her interest in sustainable living and responsible travel manifested itself from an early age. With a background in humanitarian and cultural studies, she was profoundly influenced by the positive impact that community exchange has on travel. Beyond its leadership, Naya Traveler is dedicated to inspiring women through the transformative power of travel—encouraging them to embrace new experiences, pursue their passions, and push past their limits.
Through thoughtfully curated journeys, the agency invites women to connect with the world in meaningful ways, whether through solo adventures in destinations like Japan, Iceland, Peru and Morocco, —where expert guidance and safety are always prioritized—or through bespoke women’s group trips designed around themes of adventure, culture, and wellness. By fostering connection, self-discovery, and a sense of wonder, Naya Traveler ensures that each journey leaves an imprint on the soul, enriching travelers long after they return home.
The company’s guiding principle is founded on respect — respect for culture, individuals, and the environment. Every trip is designed to be immersive rather than intrusive, ensuring that travelers are not just visitors but engaged participants in the story of a destination. Whether it’s sipping tea with artisans in Morocco, learning ancient craft techniques from local women in Japan, or engaging with indigenous communities in South America, Naya Traveler ensures that its journeys uplift the people and traditions that make each destination unique.
As the travel industry evolves, women-led companies like Naya Traveler are paving the way for more inclusive, conscious, and transformative travel experiences. By championing cultural respect, fostering female-led initiatives, and crafting bespoke journeys that celebrate heritage, Naya Traveler is not just shaping the future of luxury travel—it’s redefining it.
Stefania Bettoja
Food and Beverage Manager and Designer, Bettoja Hotels
For over 150 years, family-owned and operated Bettoja Hotels has been welcoming guests with its passion for hospitality at their three hotels (Hotel Mediterraneo, Hotel Massimo d’Azeglio, Hotel Atlantico) located right in the heart of Rome. In 2017, Stefania Bettoja joined her late husband Valerio Bettoja’s family business, a historic name in Italian hospitality.
With a deep passion for food, Stefania had trained at the prestigious Cordon Bleu cooking school and pursued additional courses in hospitality and restaurant management. Naturally, she began her journey in the business by focusing on the culinary experience, identifying areas for improvement, and introducing a fresh perspective to the Bettoja Hotels’ restaurants.
She refined the menu by incorporating new recipes with a strong focus on seasonality, enhancing the quality of ingredients, and elevating the presentation of dishes—an essential aspect of the guest experience. The hotel’s dining offerings were traditional but in need of innovation. While preserving iconic dishes from Massimo d’Azeglio, such as bollito and steak tartare, Stefania introduced L’Angolo del Piemonte (The Piedmont Corner), a curated selection of regional specialties that pay homage to the Bettoja family’s roots. This marked the beginning of a broader transformation.
Bringing creativity from her years as a television host and entertainer, Stefania combined her artistic sensibility with a strong focus on the guest experience. She put herself in the shoes of modern travelers, recognizing that while the hotels had a storied past, they needed to evolve to meet contemporary expectations. Alongside her cousins, particularly Georgia Bettoja, she spearheaded the ambitious renovation of all three Bettoja Hotels—nearly 500 rooms in total.
Her vision extended beyond just aesthetics. She oversaw the hotels’ redesign of everything from the employee cafeteria to the public spaces, including the Ligea Lounge Bar rooftop at the Art Deco Hotel Mediterraneo and several key venues in Hotel Atlantico and Hotel Massimo d’Azeglio. Her involvement in the company grew from the culinary sector to the broader operational and strategic management of the business—because when a woman takes on a challenge, she does so with a 360-degree approach, embracing every facet of the industry.
Today, Stefania continues to bring innovation and excellence to Bettoja Hotels, ensuring that tradition and modernity coexist in a way that enhances the guest experience and keeps the Bettoja family brand at the forefront of Italian hospitality.
