Professor Stroma Cole named Woman Leader for Impact and Inclusion at International Women in Travel and Tourism Forum Awards 2026

The IWTTF Awards recognise individuals and organisations working to create a more inclusive travel and tourism sector, with categories celebrating achievements in diversity, equity and inclusion, female leadership and allyship.

The awards ceremony took place in Utrecht, the Netherlands, as part of the first IWTTF to be held in continental Europe. The event brought together professionals from across the travel and tourism industry to recognise achievements, initiatives and advocacy in the sector.

Alongside this achievement, Professor Cole was also a finalist for the Travel Trade Gazette (TTG) Diversity Trailblazer Award. Part of the Travel Industry Awards, the prize recognises industry professionals who have made a significant contribution to improving the way the travel industry operates over the past 12 months.

Professor Cole has been actively working towards promoting greater diversity and inclusion in tourism and hospitality at the University and beyond. She leads FUTOURWORK, a three-year Horizon Europe project launched in January 2025 that aims to create a more inclusive future of work in tourism and hospitality by addressing platform work, job security and worker wellbeing. The project explores how workers across cultures and sectors can engage in social dialogue and decision-making, contributing to a more equitable and sustainable future for the industry.

In recognition of Professor Cole, the IWTTF Awards judges said: “Throughout her career — and from a very early age — Professor Cole has lived and breathed her commitment to equality. She has transformed this mission into a truly impressive career, inspiring new generations through her work at universities while challenging businesses and policymakers to rethink the status quo through research and data. Her impact, passion, knowledge and inspiring way of presenting make her a highly deserving winner of this IWTTF Award.”

Professor Cole said: "I picked up the award as a leader but it’s the team I lead that do all the amazing work! I was both proud and honoured to win the award. I dedicated it to every woman who challenges the patriarchal values, that each and every one of us must confront and conquer on a daily basis."

Professor Cole's achievement reinforces the University's commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Gender Equality and 10: Reduced Inequalities. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.

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