I MUST ADMIT, I STRUGGLED some in the past with the concept of a women’s issue or articles about female travelers and their wants and needs because, as a woman and as a traveler, I think my basic wants and needs are no different than any other traveler’s. We’re all looking for comfort, safety, great amenities, exceptional cuisine, clean accommodations, hassle-free transit, mobility, working technology and more. Any business traveler wants space to hang their clothes for a meeting. No traveler would feel okay with a broken hotel door lock, and no traveler should wander down a dimly lit street late at night in a strange city. All people want to visit beautiful destinations and meet interesting people. So, for me, it was important to produce a Women’s Issue that doesn’t marginalize or categorize women as a certain way but rather honors and acknowledges the impacts made by women in the travel industry and takes a look at the future and how travel can and will be made better for all people.

With that caveat out of the way, I am honored to welcome you to our first-ever Women’s Issue, a celebration of women in the industry. You’ll hear from women who had to hide their role at a hotel they owned because a woman in the kitchen was unheard of at the time. Compare that to Chef Kaya Peters, whom I watched recently at Marriott’s Masters of the Craft competition take on a number of other chefs, male and female, and shine because of her skills, with no one batting an eyelash at her gender. Nashville aims to honor women this year with a look back at the historic amendment allowing women to vote in 1920, marking the 100-year milestone as women this year prepare to cast their own ballots and make their voices heard in the presidential election. Of course, there’s always room to improve, to diversify, but women are making their mark on the industry.

I’ve been fortunate to be surrounded by strong female role models my whole life, starting with my mom and my maternal grandmother, and continuing today. I’m constantly in awe of the trailblazers and leaders I meet on a regular basis, and I work daily with the remarkable women of FXExpress Publications, Inc. and throughout the industry, from public relations agencies to airlines and hotels. In my personal life, I am surrounded by female friends who are successful professionals managing families, households and other obligations with ease. I draw confidence from each and every one of them. I hope I inspire them as they inspire me. And all of this together is what I hope we achieved with this Women’s Issue.

An intrepid bunch of fierce females, many of whom personally motivated, inspired and mentored me, helps us take you on a global journey this issue, from Hong Kong, Zanzibar, Norway and Dublin to Taipei, Los Cabos, Paris, Cartagena, Nashville and Christchurch.

And I’d be remiss not to also mention another milestone, as this month marks Global Traveler’s 16th anniversary. We debuted in February 2004; take a trip down memory lane with a photo retrospective on page 46. Join us next month as we fly over Cappadocia in hot air balloons and kick back in the Florida Keys. Until then, keep inspiring and traveling!