Inside Goa's All-Women-Run Resort, I Found Sisterhood In Arms

Growing up, my family’s weekend getaways always led us to Goa—a place that felt like a second home. Just a four-hour drive away from our hometown, its sun-kissed beaches, winding Portuguese lanes, and charming churches held a magic I never wanted to let go of. I’d daydream of retiring in a quiet coastal town. But life, like the tide, pulled me elsewhere—into the misty embrace of Kangchenjunga hills. Earlier this month, I returned to Goa after many years, this time as an adult, seeing it through a different lens.

What I rediscovered was something I hadn’t imagined: Club Mahindra Acacia Palms, an all-women-run resort. This initiative marks a historic milestone as Acacia Palms becomes the first resort of its kind across the Club Mahindra Portfolio. Not just in management or guest services, but everywhere. Women manned the front desk, yes, but also the kitchens, the engineering bays, the security gates. Departments long dominated by men now thrived under female staff.

Over the next three days, I found myself immersed in stories of quiet defiance, unexpected sisterhood, and the radical normalcy of seeing women run the show—from front desk to kitchen, housekeeping to management.

Located near Colva Beach, this property offers not just a tropical getaway but invites guests to witness systemic change. It felt different to be among them, not just as a journalist observing their work, but as a woman witnessing what can happen when women are trusted to lead. These women were strong, grounded, and remarkably unshy. They greeted you with confident smiles, joked amongst themselves, and navigated their day with efficiency and pride. 

Tanvi Choksi, Chief Human Resources Officer at Mahindra Holidays and Resorts India Ltd, told me the idea behind Acacia Palms was to create something tangible. She said, "Diversity, equity, and inclusion have been talked about for decades, but the results are still inconsistent. We thought creating a resort run entirely by women would be a bold, visible statement. Even in wider industries, such initiatives are rare. We wanted to be pioneers in laying the foundation for something more permanent."

Unlike many women-led showcases that remain tokenistic—spa managers, guest relation hosts—this was something else. Here, women weren’t just present, they were operationally central. Security? Female-led. Kitchen? Female chefs manning tandoors. Engineering? A female-led crew scaling ladders and recalibrating power units.

Across the resort, the energy is unmistakably collaborative. Everyone pitches in when needed. "It’s not about doing the job because it’s your role," said resort manager Sandhya Anil. "It’s about showing up for each other."

Sandhya’s team is a cross-generational mix—young trainees fresh from hospitality school, seasoned staff from across the country, and mid-career professionals who have returned after a break. For many of these women, this job is more than employment—it’s the first time they’ve lived independently, made their own financial choices, or worked in a space designed for their safety and growth. And while some guests initially questioned if the women could "carry the bags," that scepticism has now turned into admiration.

But the creation of such a space wasn’t simple. Hiring women in traditionally male-dominated departments—such as technical maintenance, security, and commercial kitchens—posed multiple challenges. “It’s still shockingly rare to find women tandoor chefs in our kitchens,” Tanvi told me later. 

One major hurdle was legal: the government of Goa had never issued a license allowing women to work night shifts in hospitality. To enable women to work night shifts safely and legally, Club Mahindra had to collaborate directly with the state government. “We had to help them create that process from scratch. They were candid with us—they said they didn’t know how to audit us or what parameters to use. So we researched policies from other states, shared possible frameworks, and co-developed a roadmap with them,” she said.

That effort didn’t just benefit Acacia Palms. This model is already catching on—internally and beyond. “Now other regional teams want to replicate it,” Tanvi said. “And even folks from outside the company are reaching out, asking how we did it—how we found chefs, engineers, how we got that license. It’s sparked a new kind of momentum.”

"When we started, there were just five women. Today, we’re 73. It wasn’t easy—we had restless days and sleepless nights, but we were determined to make it work. Traditionally, families weren’t comfortable letting daughters work night shifts. But we spoke with parents, ensured security, and offered nearby accommodations. To our surprise, there wasn’t resistance—people were ready,” said Sonali Nair, the Cluster HR lead, adding that they wanted to create a space where women feel seen, supported, and safe, where their careers don’t have to take a backseat to their gender.

Safiya, who heads the resort’s security, remembers the early reactions vividly: "People said it wasn’t possible. But step by step, we proved them wrong. At first, we doubted whether we could handle night shifts or day duty. Now? We know we can do everything. We got training, we supported each other, and most importantly, we took that first step. The rest? We figured it out along the way.”

“In most hotels,” she said, “even when women are present, they’re boxed into roles that are ‘safe’ or ‘feminine’—like guest relations or spa services. Here, they run the engineering department. They negotiate contracts. They lead.”

It wasn’t just the novelty of the model—it was the quiet pride, the solidarity, and a sense of shared purpose that brought these women together. It was the sense of 'why' that echoed most clearly in the voices of the women I met. Many joined Acacia not just for a job, but for what it symbolised. For some, it was the first chance to take on leadership. For others, a path back into the workforce after motherhood. And for most, it was the first time their gender wasn’t seen as a limitation, but a strength.

Barnali, a member of the F&B team, shared her journey candidly: “I was on a career break. I’m a mother of two. When Club Mahindra called with this opportunity, I thought—why not restart my career here? I knew it was an all-women resort, and yes, there were challenges, but I also believed we could overcome them. We are doing great.” Originally from Meghalaya, Barnali relocated to Goa with her entire family for this role. “Acacia is just the first. Club Mahindra is looking at opening more such pink resorts.”

What’s striking is how this emotional intelligence is backed by operational rigour. No department is shielded from standard targets. “We’ve set the same revenue and productivity metrics as any other resort,” Tanvi told me. “We’re not diluting anything. That’s what inclusion means—not different rules, but the same platform.”

Sisterhood in uniform

There’s an informal sisterhood here. It’s not romanticised—it’s real. Muskan Kumari, a kitchen staffer from Ranchi and a first-time employee, admits she had her doubts. "I was scared before joining. I thought I would be shouted at for my mistakes. But they don’t scold you. They guide you. And I’m learning every day—how to smile when speaking to guests, how to manage time, and how to handle pressure."

It was the unscripted symphony of sisterhood that made it thrive. Over three days, I watched as women leaned into each other’s strengths with laughter and ease. They would push each other to participate in a conversation with us, cheer each other on. Giggles erupted over shared lunches, whispers exchanged during shifts, and no women left behind for a photo op. No task was too small to tackle together, no celebration too quiet to amplify.

As Tanvi Nayar, Head of Recreation, aptly puts it: "We were all wondering, how would all women work together given the different conditions we live in? But it just works. There is empathy, there is honesty, and most of all, there is humour. I’ve not made colleagues here, I’ve made friends."

In a world that often talks about empowerment in lofty terms, this resort shows what it can look like in practice: warm, determined, and wholly alive.

Views expressed by the author are their own.