According to one CBS News report, “Women are the fastest-growing segment of business travelers in the country, and that has hotels paying attention. They’re offering new programs designed by and for women to get their business.”
Today, women comprise half of all business travelers in the United States and Europe. With more women in business, boutique hotels and hotel chains are like are considering their desires, and diving deeper into the amenities that business women want.
Carolyn Pearson, who started a company called Maiden Voyage to help connect female solo travelers, told Travel + Leisure, “The industry is starting to wake up, and some hotels are asking, ‘How do we get involved?’”
Here are just a few of the most well-known hotels around the world for business travelers:
Four Seasons, Washington
The Four Seasons Hotel in Washington has long made strides to connect with their female visitors. In 2013, they launched a pilot program “Gal on the Go” to target women business travelers. “We think that is a very valuable and important market to us and we want to cater to that market specifically,” Dirk Burghartz, general manager at the Four Seasons, said in an interview. Bathrooms, for example, feature all the commodities a female enjoys and needs when traveling, like brand name hair products, flat irons, and professional-grade blow dryers. An “Oh No” kit features last-minute must-haves that might be forgotten or lost, like earring backs and makeup remover.
Concorde Hotel, New York City
When it comes to the best business hotels in NYC, the Concorde Hotel certainly makes the list. This hotel pays special attention to promoting comfort above all else. A joint study conducted by the National Sleep Foundation and Hilton Hotels found that rest and comfortable sleeping arrangements were significantly more important to women than men.
Concorde Hotel offers refined hospitality with high-thread count sheets, leather sofas, private soaking tubs, and other amenities that contribute to relaxation. On the business front, there are also several meeting rooms and on-site mail and printing services.
Hamilton Crowne Plaza in Washington D.C.
Safety is a major concern for solo female business travelers, and there are many properties that have made strides to address those concerns. Hamilton Crowne Plaza in Washington D.C. reserves an entire floor just for women. The floor is only accessed by a special key card.
The White House, smithsonian, and several other major attractions are all within walking distance from the hotel, making it easy for busy business women to maneuver the district quickly and easily. The hotel also features five meeting rooms, 6,700 square feet of indoor function space and 10 on-site sales meeting professionals.
Ellis Hotel, Atlanta
Like the Hamilton Crowne Plaza, the Ellis Hotel in Atlanta also has an entire floor dedicated to female travelers and female-only staff. A special access card is required to enter the floor, in addition to the access key card for individual bedrooms (both access points are programed into the same card).
The hotel was also rated the #1 hotel in Atlanta two years in a row by Conde Nast Traveler. Upon arrival to the Women’s Only floor, guests receive a gift bag of luxurious amenities, including L’Occitane like face cream, hand cream, eye patches, lavender pillow mist, lip balm, a cosmetics bag, and much more.
One&Only Royal Mirage, Dubai
The One&Only Royal Mirage in Dubai has been rated one of the best business hotels in the world by Forbes. Ana Martins, former executive for Versace who now runs her own PR company, said in an interview with Forbes that she prefers the hotel because of “the aesthetics, service, and its beach location, but [it’s] still convenient for business.”
There are several boardrooms and meeting rooms available for guests, including the elegantly designed Al Montazah, several ballrooms, and an outdoor dining and meeting space. For business travelers traveling in groups, there are plenty of viable group activities in and outside of hotel walls, including water sports and local-inspired activities, which the hotel can arrange for you.
Grange Hotel, London
There’s nothing that makes a women feel more comfortable than the company of all-female staff. Fortunately, there are several hotels around the world that have considered this exact sentiment, including the Grange Hotel in London. This hotel has “female-friendly” Executive and Superior suites that are serviced entirely by female staff. The hotel says that they believe this will help give some of the female travelers some added piece of mind.
Virgin Hotel, Chicago
The Virgin Hotel in Chicago has special chamber rooms geared towards women. These chambers comprise of a lounge and dressing room that are cordoned by a sliding wooden door with a peephole. Guests can also order room service without having to interact with staff. According to their website, “Our groundbreaking Chamber design combines the hallway, closet, and bathroom into one luxurious Dressing Room area, while Privacy Doors close to create a personal Sleeping Lounge, ideal for working, recharging, and playing. Everything you would normally expect in a suite is here, plus a few surprises.”