hôtelière

Hôtelière is a French noun and adjective. As a noun, it designates a woman who owns or operates a hotel, i.e., a female hotelier. The masculine form is hôtelier. As an adjective, hôtelière describes things related to hotels or the hotel industry, for example, une activité hôtelière or une hôtelière de renom.

Étymologie: The word derives from hôtel (hotel) with the agentive suffix -ier/-ière, forming the gendered occupation name. The feminine ending marks the feminine form of the profession.

Usage: In contemporary French, hôtelière is commonly used to specify gender in professional titles. The term can appear in historical, literary, or industry contexts. In neutral or gender-inclusive writing, phrases such as “profession dans l’hôtellerie” may be used to refer to the sector without gender specification.

Role and responsibilities: A hôtelière is typically involved in managing hotel operations, guest services, staff supervision, financial oversight, marketing, and property maintenance. In small or family-run establishments, she may combine ownership with day-to-day management; in larger hotels, she may hold executive leadership or ownership with delegated management.

Industry context: The hôtellerie, or hotel industry, encompasses accommodation, food service, and related services. Women have played a longstanding and increasingly visible role in the sector, from historic inn-keepers to contemporary hotel executives, contributing to boutique and luxury properties as well as broader hospitality networks.

See also: hôtelier, hôtellerie, tourism, hospitality industry.