This report documents the experiences of women hotel workers—a group of women who have been deeply affected by the COVID-19 pandemic but rarely represented in media, research or policy debates. It draws on focus groups and interviews with 27 women hotel workers in B.C. Canada, the majority of whom are immigrant and racialized women. Their lived experiences illustrate how pandemic responses initiated changes in the hotel sector that interacted with pre-existing inequities, challenging labour conditions and a devaluing of care work. This has led to ongoing negative effects on their health and livelihoods, with little regard for their contributions to the hospitality and tourism industries, which represent a significant source of national revenue.

Mũrage, A., Machado,S., Selinger, A., Travis, M., and Smith, J. A Paradox in COVID-19 Recovery, CCPA (2024). https://policyalternatives.ca/pandemic-recovery-paradox