Rosewood Foundation Opens Applications for the 2027 Rise to the Table Leadership Program to Empower Women in Hospitality

The global hospitality sector has long faced systemic challenges regarding gender equality, particularly within leadership and culinary ranks where men have historically dominated executive positions. In a concerted effort to dismantle these barriers and foster a more inclusive future for the industry, the Rosewood Foundation has officially opened applications for the second installment of its premier leadership development initiative, Rise to the Table. Female chefs, bartenders, sommeliers, and diverse hospitality professionals from around the world are now invited to apply for this transformative program, which will host its upcoming residency at the highly anticipated Chancery Rosewood in London from March 7 through March 13, 2027.

The initiative is designed to address the persistent professional bottlenecks that prevent women from ascending to executive roles, offering a comprehensive curriculum paired with long-term mentorship. For the 2027 London residency, the foundation is seeking to select a cohort of 10 exceptional women. Applications for this prestigious opportunity will remain open until October 28, 2026. Beyond the immersive, week-long intensive in the British capital, the program extends into a full year of dedicated mentorship, connecting each participant directly with a senior leader within the Rosewood Hotel Group to provide ongoing career guidance, strategic advice, and professional advocacy.

Addressing the Gender Gap in Global Gastronomy and Hospitality

The launch of the second Rise to the Table cohort comes at a critical time for the culinary and hospitality industries, which continue to grapple with stark gender disparities at the highest levels of management and kitchen operations. While women make up a significant portion of the global hospitality workforce, their representation diminishes sharply as one moves up the organizational hierarchy.

This systemic imbalance is particularly acute in elite culinary environments. Comprehensive research conducted by Chef’s Pencil into female-led Michelin-starred restaurants highlights the magnitude of the challenge. According to the data analysis across 16 countries, a mere 6.04% of the 2,286 Michelin-starred restaurants evaluated were under the leadership of female head chefs or executive chefs. This stark metric underscores the reality that exceptional talent alone is often insufficient to overcome the structural, cultural, and operational barriers inherent in professional kitchens and high-end hospitality venues.

Sonia Cheng, chief executive officer of Rosewood Hotel Group and chairperson of the Rosewood Foundation, emphasized the foundational philosophy driving the initiative. "Rise to the Table was created from a simple belief: championing female talent is how we shape the future of hospitality," Cheng noted. By directly confronting these historical inequities, the foundation aims to build an ecosystem where women are not only welcomed into the industry but are equipped with the tools, networks, and authority to lead it.

The Evolution of the Program: From Hong Kong to London

The upcoming London residency builds directly upon the success of the program’s inaugural iteration, which established a high benchmark for executive development in the sector. In March 2026, the first Rise to the Table residency took place at Rosewood Hong Kong, bringing together a diverse and accomplished inaugural cohort of 11 women hailing from eight different countries.

The trailblazing group featured a dynamic mix of culinary and beverage leaders, including chef and cookbook author Marie Mitchell, chef and food stylist Lelani Lewis, and Leigh-Ann Luckett, co-founder of Crushed Wine Bar. The success of the Hong Kong program demonstrated the profound value of cross-cultural collaboration and interdisciplinary networking. Participants engaged in rigorous workshops focused on business strategy, financial acumen, team management, and personal leadership branding, while also sharing regional insights and culinary philosophies.

Transitioning the residency to The Chancery Rosewood in London for 2027 marks an expansion of the program’s geographic footprint and strategic reach. London serves as one of the world’s premier culinary and hospitality capitals, offering participants exposure to a mature, highly competitive market and access to a vast network of European industry leaders, investors, and innovators.

Program Structure, Curriculum, and Strategic Objectives

The Rise to the Table curriculum is meticulously designed to bridge the gap between operational excellence and executive leadership. Participants accepted into the 2027 cohort will partake in an intensive schedule of masterclasses, panel discussions, and strategic brainstorming sessions led by top-tier hospitality executives, entrepreneurs, and specialists.

Core components of the curriculum include:

• Strategic Business Management: Understanding P&L statements, operational scalability, and financial decision-making in high-end hospitality environments.
• Innovation and Adaptability: Navigating post-pandemic market shifts, technological advancements in guest services, and shifting consumer behaviors.
• Executive Presence and Public Leadership: Cultivating authoritative communication skills, navigating media engagements, and building a professional personal brand.
• Collaborative Networking: Fostering lifelong professional relationships with peers across diverse disciplines, from beverage programs and culinary arts to guest relations and hotel operations.

Following the conclusion of the week-long London residency, the program transitions into its year-long mentorship phase. Each participant is paired with a hand-selected senior executive from the Rosewood Hotel Group. This mentorship is designed to be deeply personalized, offering confidential advisory support, career mapping, and advocacy as the participants navigate the next critical phases of their professional journeys.

Candidate Criteria and Application Process

To ensure the program attracts candidates poised to maximize the opportunity, the Rosewood Foundation has established clear eligibility parameters for the 2027 cohort.

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Professional Background: Open to women across all global regions and educational backgrounds. Eligible roles include chefs, bartenders, sommeliers, service professionals, operations specialists, and those actively carving out leadership trajectories within the broader hospitality sector.
• Experience Level: Candidates must be at least 18 years of age and possess a minimum of five years of professional experience within the hospitality or culinary industry.
• Language Proficiency: Applicants must demonstrate full professional fluency in spoken and written English to actively engage with the curriculum and international cohort.
• Availability: Selected candidates must be fully available to travel to London and commit to participating in the entire duration of the residency from March 7 to March 13, 2027.

Interested professionals can access detailed application guidelines, informational resources, and submission portals directly through the official Rise to the Table program page hosted on the Rosewood Hotel Group careers portal. The application window is structured to allow adequate time for candidates to prepare their submissions, with the final deadline firmly set for October 28, 2026.

Broader Industry Implications and Future Outlook

Programs like Rise to the Table represent a vital evolution in how multinational hospitality corporations approach talent retention and diversity. For decades, the demanding nature of hospitality work—characterized by grueling hours, high-stress environments, and rigid hierarchy—has disproportionately pushed women out of the pipeline before they could reach senior leadership or ownership roles.

Industry analysts point out that targeted intervention programs do more than just elevate individual participants; they create cascading cultural shifts within organizations. When women occupy visible executive roles, boardrooms, and executive chef positions, it reshapes workplace culture, improves talent retention across the board, and introduces diverse perspectives that resonate with an increasingly discerning global clientele.

As the Rosewood Foundation prepares to welcome its second cohort in London, the broader hospitality landscape will be watching closely. By investing directly in the operational and strategic capabilities of female leaders, initiatives such as Rise to the Table are setting a new standard for corporate responsibility and operational excellence, proving that a more inclusive industry is also a more innovative and prosperous one.