Maria Diarra

Maria Diarra is a pioneer in Mali's hospitality industry with over 30 years of experience in hotel management. She began her career in 1994 at the Grand Hôtel in Bamako as a Housekeeping Manager and became the first woman to achieve a director-level position within the Azalaï Hotels Group. She advanced through various roles including Accommodation Manager, Operations Director, and Director of Control and Quality, eventually becoming Operations Director for nine hotels across West Africa. She is known for her advocacy for gender equality and professional promotion of women in the workplace. Currently, she serves as a hospitality consultant and holds board positions at Fondation Azalaï, Centrale d'Achat et de Distribution, and Groupe Azalaï Hotels.