The future of travel is women because they are the ones often engaging in their communities and are engaged in networks that are critical for success in the travel space today.Support from other women in the industry is something Christine values, especially in a world where gender bias is still a frequent experience for many female travelers. Travel company CEOs are pushing the boundaries to locals calling the shots in the field. Christine’s guest is a trailblazer in the travel sector and an expert in gender empowerment and mentoring.Alessandra Alonso is the pluri-nominated, award-winning founder and MD of Women in Travel CIC and a professional with 20 years of experience in travel and tourism. Alessandra started her career as a trainee in Tourism at the European Commission and later gained senior roles in companies including The World Travel & Tourism Council and KPMG. For full show notes and to access resources mentioned in this episode, head to https://www.lotussojourns.com/episode63Learn more about Lotus Sojourns and ways to be a part of the community here.Find Lotus Sojourns on Facebook, or join the Lotus Sojourns Collective, our FB community for like-hearted women.Follow us on Instagram: @lotussojourns or @souloftravelpodcastLOVE these conversations...support the production of this podcast by making a donation here! Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor.) Alessandra Alonso (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing and production by Rayna BoothSupport the show