INTERNATIONAL. Rosewood Hotel Group, together with its Rosewood Foundation, has unveiled a new annual initiative designed to tackle the gender imbalance in hospitality leadership.
The programme, Rise to the Table, is a first-of-its-kind, fully sponsored global effort aimed at empowering the next generation of female leaders in food & beverage.
The scheme will welcome ten women from across the global food & beverage industry – not just Rosewood employees – offering immersive training and a year of mentorship with senior leaders.
Successful applicants will participate in a first week-long residency to be hosted at Rosewood Hong Kong in early March 2026.
Rosewood noted women continue to be underrepresented in leadership roles across the food & beverage industry. According to the company, fewer than 7% of the world’s top restaurants are led by women and barriers persist across roles from chefs to sommeliers and service managers.
It said Rise to the Table seeks to break these barriers by providing access to skills, mentorship and professional networks.
The Hong Kong residency will combine leadership and business development coaching with practical exposure. Workshops will cover personal branding, financial literacy and sustainability-driven innovation.
Participants will also gain insights from local wine tastings, market and farm visits, and group dining experiences with some of Hong Kong’s most acclaimed hospitality talents.
Following the residency, each participant will be paired with a senior Rosewood leader for a year-long mentorship, ensuring the momentum continues well beyond the programme.
The initiative will recur annually, with future residencies rotating across Rosewood’s global property portfolio.
Rosewood Hotel Group Chief Executive Officer Sonia Cheng said, “By championing the extraordinary women shaping the future of food & beverage, we are not only supporting individual careers but also creating systemic change.
“This programme aims to cultivate equity, innovation and leadership in an industry that inspires and unites. We’re not just changing the narrative; we’re creating a new one that highlights the diverse talent shaping the future.”
Rise to the Table is part of Rosewood Foundation’s broader mission to support communities through its two core pillars: Women and Young People in Employment, and Innovation in Circularity.
Since its establishment in 2022, the foundation has upskilled over 300 women and young people across 13 countries and helped more than 60 entrepreneurs scale sustainable solutions.
Rosewood Hotel Group Vice President of Impact and Sustainability Mehvesh Mumtaz Ahmed commented, “Rosewood Foundation has worked behind the scenes since 2022 with the singular focus of making our communities more accessible, equitable and sustainable.
“With the official launch of Rise to the Table, we are proud to extend that mission even further – empowering women with the tools, expertise and opportunities they need to thrive, fostering a more inclusive future in hospitality and beyond.”
Applications for the inaugural intake of Rise to the Table close on 13 October.
For more information on Rise to the Table or to apply to the programme, click here. 
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