INSIGHT
Business Travel Tips for Women
We take a look at how the travel sector is meeting the needs of female business travellers – along with incorporating some useful business travel tips for women.
Business travel through a woman’s eyes
Each year more successful female executives, CEOs, business owners and entrepreneurs, are hitting the road for business travel. In fact, the ranks of women travellers are exploding at record levels globally. With this year’s International Women’s Day theme being ‘inspire inclusion’, FCM Travel decided to take a look at how inclusive, or aware, the sector is of meeting the needs of women business travellers – along with incorporating some useful business travel tips for women.
Despite a number of different needs, women business travellers don’t want to be treated differently, just with more awareness of their concerns. From safety to comfort, convenience and wellbeing, there are several ways suppliers, FCM and travellers themselves can plan a trip to empower women to have the best experience possible.
Welcome awareness
The area making the greatest strides in catering to women business travellers is arguably the accommodation sector, which has recognised that women can have different travel priorities and needs. Many hotels are now offering a more tailored experience for women, concentrating on comfort and security. These initiatives include gender-specific rooms and in room amenities like high-quality hair dryers and straighteners.
Some hotels are also going further in meeting the needs of this growing group with a lot of power. For example, the Georgian Court Hotel in Vancouver has the Orchid Floor, dedicated entirely for women travellers – a trend that is increasingly common in the Middle East and some Asian destinations. While Nadesiko Hotel Shibuya in Tokyo’s busy business district, is a women-only capsule hotel. Staff at hotels are also being better trained to respond to the concerns of women business travellers, by following protocols such as not loudly announcing a women’s room number when they check-in at reception.
Watch your safety
When talking corporate travel tips for women, safety and security inevitably come up as the biggest concerns for this group. A 2018 survey by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) revealed that 83 per cent of women business travellers experience safety-related issues during business-related travels.
While another survey of 2,000 women business travellers in Australia, Canada, United States and United Kingdom, commissioned by World Travel Protection, revealed that almost one in three (31 per cent) say they do not travel or go out on their own at night, compared to 18 per cent of men.
What can women business travellers do to feel more comfortable?
- Book your trip through FCM and benefit from our in-house, 24/7 booking and emergency assistance service.
- A professional TMC (Travel Management Company) will also only use vetted and trustworthy suppliers, so you can be sure your airport transfer service will turn up.
- Choose an airport shuttle or ride share service that goes door-to-door, or at the very least, that picks up and drops off in well-lit areas close to your destination.
- Ask for a hotel with a reception area manned 24/7, and with well-lit car parks and public areas.
- Stay in accommodation close to your meeting or conference venue. If it is within walking distance, pre-plan your walking route using a map app to familiarise yourself with the area.
- If using public transport, use their app to research the schedules, so you’re not waiting around for too long on your own.
- Request the ability to select your own seat on transport, so you can feel safe in your personal space. Some countries also have women-only train carriages, which you may wish to use.
- Choose to support women-only ride share services or transport options with women drivers.
- Keep your phone charged at all times and carry a portable charger in your handbag.
- If travelling solo, check in with a friend each day and consider activating your phone’s location services to share with a friend.
- Does your TMC have their own travel safety app? If like FCM they do, download it for up to the minute information and advice in the case of an emergency.
The road to wellbeing
Being prepared for your business trip will help to eliminate stress and ensure smoother travel.
- Packing ear buds or noise cancelling headphone is a must. A great podcast can help the travel hours fly past.
- Use FCM’s tailored mobile app to manage all your bookings and to keep you up-to-date with any travel changes.
- Keep your laptop and phone charged, and carry charging cables and adaptor plugs in your hand luggage.
- When travelling internationally it’s important to understand the cultural norms, sensitivities and business etiquette for women, which can vary widely in different countries. For example, shaking hands with women is not common in some countries.
Power Packing
Packing is an art and travelling light can make business travel for women more manageable and efficient.
- Try to take carry-on only – now is the time to master the art of packing light.
- Plan and pack your wardrobe a few days out from your trip.
- Lighten your load by decanting cleansers, shampoo and moisturisers into small, clear bottles.
- Roll clothing, take non-crease clothing, pack layers and versatile pieces you can dress up and dress down with accessories.
- Research the local customs and dress standard for women, as business dress codes vary from country to country and industry.
For women’s business travel tailored to your unique needs and preferences, talk to the experienced travel experts at FCM Travel.
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