Two IHG Hotels & Resorts properties in Glasgow are championing its female workforce, whose leadership plays a central role in the hotels’ ongoing success, this International Women’s Day (8 March).
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: IHG Careers | Hotel Jobs & Hospitality Careers.
ABOUT IHG®
IHG Hotels & Resorts is a global hospitality company, with a purpose to provide True Hospitality for Good.
With a family of 16 hotel brands and IHG Rewards, one of the world’s largest hotel loyalty programmes, IHG has nearly 6,000 open hotels in more than 100 countries, and a further 1,800 due to open over the next five years.
ABOUT BLYTHSWOOD SQUARE HOTEL & SPA
Deemed as a landmark hotel in Scotland’s biggest, most vibrant city, Kimpton Blythswood Square Hotel & Spa has been a prestigious address since the early 19th century. As one of Glasgow’s best-established hotels, Kimpton Blythswood Square Hotel & Spa is the only one with an AA five-star accreditation. The hotel boasts 113 exquisite bedrooms, as well as a new two-bedroom penthouse suite.
Spa at Blythswood Square is a fantastic spot to relax, available for both hotel guests and locals to enjoy. The spa features nine luxury treatment rooms, a thermal suite, two relaxation pools, a lounge and a café area. Spa at Blythswood Square provides guests with the highest-quality products in all treatments, which you can purchase from the reception area and take home. Take a moment away from the bustling city centre and indulge in an hour or two of relaxation.
ABOUT VOCO GRAND CENTRAL GLASGOW
The recently refurbished voco™ Grand Central Hotel opened in 2021 following a multi-million rebrand to become one of Scotland’s first voco™ hotels, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts.
The expansive refurbishment updated 233 bedrooms, meeting rooms and reception areas enhancing the historic charm and existing grandeur of the Grand Central Hotel with bold branding and a distinctive new identity. A contemporary fresh palette of blues and voco™ signature yellow compliments the original Victorian architecture throughout the 19th century great British railway hotel, preserving memories of the hotel’s golden age, the stories of which are much loved by visitors to the hotel and Glaswegians alike.
Perhaps the best-known stories from the hotel’s past are those of the many famous faces that have come to pass through its doors over the years. From John F. Kennedy to The Beatles, the Grand Central Hotel has a hall of fame to rival even the most august establishments.
However, ask the staff about the history of this marvel on Gordon Street and they'll give you much more than a list of celebrity guests. You’ll hear folk tales of Victorian ghosts roaming the halls, angry chefs dunking their assistants into stock pots, and even an art installation on a derelict hotel floor. But ask guests past and present and you’ll hear a very different story – one of opulence, grandeur, and the very best customer service the dear green place has to offer.
The hotel bar and restaurant, Champagne Central, overlooks Central Station and evokes the golden age of travel. Serving champagne, cocktails, afternoon tea and an exciting menu of delicious food, the bar celebrates the very best of Scottish produce.
