Two Glasgow hotels dedication to career progression sees female leadership driving business success

Two IHG Hotels & Resorts properties in Glasgow are championing its female workforce, whose leadership plays a central role in the hotels' ongoing success.

Article Source: IHG Hotels & Resorts
Last Updated: 9 March 2026 17:29

Image: L-R Mellisa, Sue, Brodie, Alison, Verity and Rachel

Two IHG Hotels & Resorts properties in Glasgow are championing its female workforce, whose leadership plays a central role in the hotels’ ongoing success.

Kimpton Blythswood Square Hotel & Spa and voco Grand Central Hotel are two of Glasgow’s most iconic hotels, offering guests an exceptional experience made possible by their dedicated teams, led by predominantly female management.

This strong representation reflects the impact of IHG’s RISE programme – a global mentoring initiative designed to accelerate female career progression into General Manager and senior operational leadership roles.

At Kimpton Blythswood Square, 68 per cent of middle management roles and 80 per cent of department head positions are held by women. Meanwhile, voco Grand Central Hotel also boasts a predominantly female management team, with women representing 65 per cent of middle management and 60 per cent of department heads.

Five out of seven of the cluster executives who manage both hotels are also female.

Director of Operations, Brodie Green, exemplifies the success of IHG’s RISE programme, having risen through the ranks to senior leadership.

Brodie joined voco Grand Central Glasgow in 2019 as Restaurant Manager of Tempus Restaurant, quickly establishing herself as a passionate and capable leader within the Food & Beverage team.

Following the challenges of Covid, she spent a short period working on the Isle of Arran before returning to the Glasgow hotel in 2022 as Conference & Banqueting Manager. In this role, Brodie overseen large-scale events and banqueting operations, supporting both her team and the wider hotel operation.

Her impact was swiftly recognised, and in 2023 she was promoted to Food & Beverage Manager, managing the hotel’s three key outlets – breakfast, conference & banqueting, and Champagne Central – leading multiple teams and driving high standards across the department.

It was at this stage Brodie was selected for the RISE programme. By 2025, she had progressed to Director of Operations at sister property Kimpton Blythswood Square Hotel, demonstrating the programme’s effectiveness in fast-tracking female leadership.

Brodie said: “The RISE programme really helped take my career to the next level, and I’m proud to work alongside other extremely talented female colleagues. Fostering future female leadership was a key part of the programme and it has given me the knowledge and confidence to reach where I am today and continue developing my career.

“We have a supportive culture and work together to ensure the smooth running of the hotel, but it’s especially nice on International Women’s Day to reflect on the amazing teams driving both hotels forward.”

Other key members of the management team who support Brodie and ensure a first-class guest experience include Sue Howell, Finance Business Partner, and Verity Bremner, HR Business Partner, both long-standing members of the team for 15 and 12 years respectively, working across both properties.

At Kimpton Blythswood Square, Melissa Gibson took the helm as Head of Spa and Leisure last year after progressing in the spa team over seven years, from Spa Supervisor to Spa Treatments Manager.

Meanwhile, at voco Grand Central Glasgow, Rachel Mckenna has risen through the Food & Beverage Team to become Champagne Bar Manager. Rachel joined the hotel in 2018 through Skills Development Scotland, gaining experience across housekeeping, food & beverage, front of house, and kitchen.

She joined the F&B team permanently after her apprenticeship, became F&B Team Leader in 2021, Assistant Champagne Bar Manager in 2024, and assumed her current role in January 2026.

Verity Bremner, Cluster HR Business Partner, added: “Hospitality has given me opportunities I could never have imagined when I first started as a team member.

“Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to learn from incredibly strong and supportive female leaders and colleagues who believed in me, challenged me and helped me grow. That culture of support is something we work hard to create for everyone in our hotels today.

“What makes me most proud is seeing that same opportunity now being passed on to the next generation of talent. Programmes like RISE are important, but equally it’s the everyday mentoring, encouragement and belief in people that truly shapes careers. When we invest in our people, we don’t just build great teams, we build future leaders. I’m excited to see how many more careers will grow here in the years ahead.”

International Women’s Day is a chance to celebrate how far we’ve come, but also to reaffirm our commitment to continuing to invest in and champion future female leaders in hospitality.”

Launched in 2018, the IHG RISE programme is a 12-month internal initiative designed to champion female career progression within the hospitality industry. It has since expanded to support both female and male talent, guiding them through their career journey.

For career opportunities with IHG Hotels & Resorts, visit: careers.ihg.com.

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