Kristina Shrestha Shakya’s journey from a struggling international student in Australia to a respected hospitality leader and educator in Nepal stands as a compelling example of how global experience, when brought home, can help reshape an industry still working through questions of gender leadership and talent retention.
Nepal’s hospitality sector has increasingly seen women rising to leadership positions in recent times, and within this evolving landscape, the story of Kristina Shrestha Shakya, who carries nearly two decades of experience in the industry, stands out as a source of inspiration for many. Kristina Shrestha’s journey, spanning continents and roles, reflects both the personal determination required to build a hospitality career and the broader structural challenges still facing women in leadership positions within Nepal’s tourism industry.
Roots in Kathmandu, Heritage in Tanahun
Kristina was born in Kathmandu as the eldest daughter of her father, Krishna Kumar Shrestha, and mother Dina Kumari Shrestha, though her ancestral roots trace back to Tanahun district. She has since brought her extensive Australian hospitality experience back to apply within Nepal’s domestic hospitality sector, creating a bridge between international industry standards and the local market.
Early Education and First Steps into the Workforce
Kristina Shrestha’s early education began at New Horizon Boarding School in Kuleshwor, Kathmandu. Her studies from grades 8 through 10 were completed at Viswa Niketan Higher Secondary School in Tripureshwor. After completing her Plus Two at Cambridge College, she briefly worked as a computer operator at Malhotra Enterprises before pursuing further opportunities abroad.
A Challenging Start in Australia
In 2008, Kristina travelled to Australia to pursue higher education, enrolling at Stirling College to study Culinary Arts. Arriving in Australia for the first time, she faced considerable financial struggles during her studies. To support herself while studying, she took her first job as a waiter at “Kathmandu Newa: Chhe” restaurant, operated by fellow Nepali citizen Suraj Shrestha in Australia, a role that would unexpectedly shape the direction of her entire career.
From Waiting Tables to Housekeeping Leadership
Her combination of studying Culinary Arts and working as a restaurant waiter drew Kristina toward the housekeeping field. Her journey, which began at Quest Service Apartments, eventually led her to globally renowned five-star hotels, including InterContinental, Sheraton, and Stamford. During her time in Australia, she gained experience ranging from housekeeping supervisor to executive-level positions. Alongside this hospitality career, she also worked as a nursing assistant caring for elderly residents, demonstrating a versatility that extended beyond conventional hotel roles.
Returning to Nepal with a Decade of Experience
Carrying a decade’s worth of hospitality experience from Australia, Kristina returned to Nepal in 2018, where she has since taken on significant responsibilities at several of the country’s most prestigious hotels. Immediately upon her return, she worked as Head of Housekeeping at Nepal’s renowned Dwarika’s Hotel. She has since demonstrated her professional capabilities at Rupakot Resort, the five-star Malla Hotel in Thamel, and the Hilton Hotel, building a portfolio of experience across some of Nepal’s most recognised hospitality brands.
Current Role and Contribution to Hospitality Education
Kristina Shrestha currently serves as Executive Assistant Manager at Nigalo Hotel, a Nepali-invested property soon to begin operations in Nagarkot. Her involvement in the hospitality sector, however, is not limited to hotel operations alone. She also serves as a faculty member in Hotel Management at Gate College in Dhumbarahi, where she trains the new generation entering the hospitality field, passing on the practical knowledge and international exposure she gained over her career.
Sharing Hard Truths About Nepal’s Hospitality Sector
Kristina Shrestha has also been candid in sharing some difficult realities about Nepal’s hospitality industry. “When I first came to Nepal, international experience wasn’t given much value. Even now, societal attitudes toward women taking leadership roles or working night duty still need to change,” she says, pointing to persistent gender-based perceptions that continue to shape professional experiences for women in the sector.
Structural Challenges: Union Politics and Brain Drain
Kristina Shrestha further explains that trade union politics within Nepali hotels, combined with the trend of skilled workers emigrating abroad, are adding further challenges to the sector. “Students pursuing Bachelor’s degrees in Hotel Management (BHM) in Nepal are often studying with the intention of going abroad rather than working for Nepal’s own industry, and this is a worrying trend for Nepal’s hospitality sector,” Kristina Shrestha states, highlighting a structural concern that threatens the long-term development of skilled local hospitality leadership.
A Belief in Nepal’s Untapped Potential
Despite spending considerable time abroad herself, Kristina Shrestha explains that she returned to Nepal driven by a desire to contribute something meaningful to her own country. Kristina Shrestha firmly believes that the skilled workforce trained and produced within Nepal holds significant opportunity right here at home, suggesting that with the right institutional support and changing social attitudes, Nepal’s hospitality sector could retain and benefit far more from its homegrown talent than it currently does.
