Business travel: The way to treat a lady

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.