| Sue Kavanagh |
As more women break through the workplace glass ceiling,
the business travel sector is no longer the preserve of men in grey
suits.
Hotels are tailoring product to a new set of demands and an
increasing number are now catering for lone female business
travellers making a pit stop on gruelling schedules. Savvy business
travel consultants can win loyalty points by ensuring female
travellers have access to these added extras aimed at enhancing
their stay.
Hotels as far apart as Manchester, India and South Africa have
introduced female-friendly initiatives, and the London Hilton on
Park Lane has the capital’s only women-only floor. With the
hotel claiming to have more than 10,000 female business travellers
each year, the floor has improved security, female-orientated
reading materials and menus, and improved its beauty
facilities.
Travel Weekly asked Carlson Wagonlit Travel director of human
resources Sue Kavanagh to test drive the female floor. After all,
this is a business traveller whose feminine touch is more like a
punch – even bossy fashion gurus Trinny and Susannah
couldn’t knock the leopard print high-heels and cerise pink
lipstick out of her.
Kavanagh stayed at the hotel for one night to see if the feminine
touches made her stay more comfortable or whether they are little
more than a marketing gimmick.
Did you feel safe and secure?
Certainly secure as guests have a special key to get
access to the women-only floor. Security is something I think
about, particularly if checking in late at night and having to walk
down quiet corridors.
I checked in and thought I would go to the gym, so quickly changed,
leaving my clothes and jewellery on the bed. While I was at the gym
a maid came in and turned down my bed. On my return I
couldn’t find my jewellery and had a panicked 45 minutes
looking for it. It transpired the maid had put it in the safe for
me, which is helpful, but it would have helped if she’d told
me where it was.
Sounds like a spot of relaxation was in order. Was the
pampering a pleasure or just puff?
The room had little pots of Molton Brown products so I had a lovely
bubble bath. Guests can also request an in-room massage. When the
bed was turned down there was a bottle of stress-relief oil on the
pillow instead of the usual chocolate, which was a nice touch. The
make-up mirrors were definitely a highlight. Quite often when you
are in hotels the only place you can apply make-up is the bathroom
– where there is usually no natural light. The hairdryer was
good and there were power points near the mirror – it’s
amazing how many hotels don’t have this. There were
instructions in the bathroom saying where the hairdryer was –
so often in hotels I’ve had to look in a dozen drawers before
I’ve found it.
Was there a healthy selection on the in-room dining
menu?
There was a plate of fruit already in the room and a large bottle
of water, instead of the usual small one. The in-room menu was
impressive with lots of healthy options. I ordered the salad
niçoise and it came within 20 minutes and was very tasty, as
well as being well presented.
Were there the usual bland business magazines to help send
you off to sleep?
The room had the latest editions of OK and Vogue, which I
haven’t seen in other hotels. I appreciated the light reading
and enjoyed the mix between a gossip and a fashion magazine.
What about the in-room décor?
If I hadn’t know it was a room specifically designed for
women business travellers, I wouldn’t have known by the
décor. But there were lots of thoughtful touches, such as the
magazines and stress-relief oil.
Did anything else catch your eye?
There was a trouser press but no iron, which was strange in a room
for women. I had to order an iron from reception and it took about
40 minutes to arrive.
Did you venture off the floor?
Staying on the floor gives you access to the executive lounge where
I had both an evening drink and breakfast the next day. Sometimes I
don’t feel comfortable walking into a big restaurant on my
own. It was also nice to have a drink and feel comfortable about
being on my own.
Did the stay, and the facilities, meet your
expectations?
Given the choice I would definitely stay on the women-only floor
again because of all the added extras you receive.
I imagine it’s got to be worth the Hilton group’s while
to run the floor as it’s a good selling point for the
property. But one of the issues is making agents aware these types
of rooms are available.
