Behind some of the most exceptional hotels, is a woman who poured her heart, soul and genius into it.
Over the past few years, the number of women-led and women-owned luxury hotels has skyrocketed. These aren’t just properties with a female name on the door. They’re hotels that bring a distinctly different perspective to service, design, and the guest experience.
This month, we're spotlighting hoteliers whose names you’ll want to know— not just for the impressive properties they’ve built, but for how it feels to stay in them.
Let us introduce you to the pioneers shaping your stay:
Sheila Johnson
Salamander Collection
After co-founding Black Entertainment Television (BET), the Illinois-born entrepreneur built Salamander from the ground up, starting with the flagship Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg, Virginia. The collection now includes Salamander DC, Hotel Bennett in Charleston, Half Moon in Jamaica, Aspen Meadows in Colorado, and Innisbrook and Florida PGA National Resort, both in Florida. Each property takes its distinctive design and programming cues from its location, but a sense of community unifies the brand as a whole.
Christina Ong
COMO Hotels and Resorts
Singapore-based Ong has spent 35 years curating a varied portfolio of 18 international properties that stretch from Turks & Caicos (Parrot Cay) to Australia (COMO the Treasury). Her steady approach to scaling, coupled with an eye for restorations, has ensured the brand retains its commitment to holistic wellness and understated luxury, even as it grows.
Meryanne Loum-Martin
Jnane Tamsna, Mar
A lawyer-turned-hotelier, Meryanne created one of Marrakech's most enchanting properties by weaving her Senegalese and West Indian heritage into impeccable Moroccan design. Experiences here are equally thoughtful, with options including personalized cooking classes and calligraphy workshops for children. The result is a personal, artful stay in the heart of the Palmeraie that’s beloved by travelers and honored by industry stalwarts like the Michelin Guide.
Liz Biden
The Royal Portfolio, South Africa
The family-owned and operated group founded by Biden and her husband, Phil, encompasses some of South Africa’s most sought-after boutique hotels. In 1999, the couple decided to turn their private bush lodge in Kruger National Park into a safari lodge, now known as Royal Malewane. Since then, they’ve added The Silo in Cape Town, Birkenhead House in Hermanus (think: the Hamptons of Cape Town), and La Residence in the Winelands. With each addition, Biden has drawn on her fashion background to create maximalist, color-infused spaces that feel fanciful without becoming too precious.
Valentina De Santis
Passalacqua, Lake Como
A third-generation hotelier whose family has owned the Grand Hotel Tremezzo since the 1970s, De Santis spent three years transforming an 18th-century private villa into a stunning, 24-suite resort on a seven-acre stretch of the storied lake. Carefully chosen details—Murano glass chandeliers, multiple types of Italian marble, frescoed ceilings, and antiques sourced from auctions across Italy—preserve the building’s character. Taken together, these thoughtful touches create an ambiance that feels like a museum, a private estate, and a friend’s home all at once.
Elizabeth Steinvorth and Elena Rohrmoser
Hotel Aguas Claras, Costa Rica 
This mother-daughter duo turned a cluster of Victorian cabins in Costa Rica’s Limón province into one of the country's most captivating boutique hotels. Elizabeth draws on her work as a multimedia artist to fill every corner of the hotel with murals, mosaics, and other handcrafted pieces. Part of the Cayuga Collection of sustainable luxury hotels, the property was built using reclaimed materials from the original structures and designed to minimize ecological impact. It’s art, jungle, and warm Caribbean water in one very personal package.
Anjali Singh
SUJÁN Jawai, Rajasthan 
Anjali Singh co-founded the SUJÁN brand alongside her husband, Jaisal. As creative director, Singh anchors each of the brand’s properties in Rajasthan’s diverse landscapes and vibrant artisan traditions, taking care to source materials and products from local makers. In 2013, the Singhs launched their most ambitious project: SUJÁN Jawai. The trailblazing luxury tented camp set a new standard for regenerative hospitality—a model of sustainability where both the community and environment benefit from tourism’s impact. Guests can see the impact firsthand during wilderness drives through roughly 40 square miles of restored wild leopard habitat and visits to local villages.
Supporting female-founded properties isn't just about celebrating Women’s History Month, it's about experiencing hospitality through a different lens. These hotels embody a range of fresh perspectives on service, design, wellness, and community that make stays more meaningful and memorable.
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