The rising force in travel: Solo business trips by women on the rise

As women gradually take on greater roles across various sectors, the long-held tradition of male-dominated business travel is being challenged. More and more women are leaving the office to travel the world as female professionals, becoming another new force driving tourism growth. Sales data from Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH), which represents a wide variety of hotels globally, shows a rapid increase in the number of solo female guests, and that businesswomen are placing greater emphasis on quality during their travels.

From 2011 to 2012, the number of solo guest nights at SLH properties increased from 4,115 to 5,841, with revenue from solo bookings growing by approximately $400,000. In SLH’s core markets during the same period, the number of bookings by women grew particularly significantly, with solo female guest nights increasing by 53%, compared to a 38% rise in solo male guest nights. This means solo business trips by women have become another key battleground in the travel market.

 

SLH sales data also show that in emerging markets and business hub cities, Hong Kong has seen the most notable growth in solo female guests. Between 2011 and 2012, solo guest nights in Hong Kong increased by 300%, including many travelers using Hong Kong as a transit hub to and from mainland China and as a base for travel across the Far East. Germany also saw significant growth in the number of solo female guests during the same period, with room revenue from female travelers increasing by 153%.

 

SLH’s global network of hotels has not only witnessed a surge in the number of solo business and leisure female travelers, but also found that these guests are staying longer than in previous years. According to a study by the Amadeus global travel distribution system, the number of international business trips taken by women is expected to grow by 250% by 2030, with the Asia-Pacific region being the main area of growth. The role of solo female travelers in the tourism industry is becoming increasingly prominent. As more women thrive in the workplace, the hospitality industry is also beginning to recognize the potential of developing hotel services tailored to the needs of businesswomen.

When it comes to serving solo female travelers, the focus is no longer just on offering spa and beauty services. SLH provides solo female guests with private, luxurious experiences through its diverse accommodation options in various travel destinations and key business markets.

 

When offering private luxury experiences to female guests, SLH hotels place the greatest emphasis on two aspects: making female guests feel comfortable and safe. Singapore’s Naumi Hotel has a “Women Only” floor dedicated to serving women. Building on the success of its “Women Only” floor introduced in 2012, Dukes London is now celebrating its latest transformation by inviting female guests to experience its newest luxury suites, with a special welcome extended to female guests from the Gulf region.

 

Solo female guests particularly value services provided by female hotel staff. For example, Madeleine Calon, who works at St James Hotel and Club, is the only female concierge supervisor among SLH hotels in London. She can offer advice from a female perspective. Meanwhile, The Chester Grosvenor has found that services provided by female drivers are especially favored by solo female guests, as female drivers help them feel more comfortable and safe in the confined space of a car.

 

The female perspective of hotel owners can also create an atmosphere that is particularly appealing to solo female guests. For instance, the owner of The Margi Hotel in Athens is a woman, which makes businesswomen feel more inspired, relaxed, and better able to achieve results in this home-like and safe environment. Kate Levin, General Manager of The Levin and The Capital hotels in London and daughter of the founder, has inherited her father’s philosophy and is committed to developing the female market. Under this guiding principle, 25% of rooms at the Capital Hotel have recently been renovated to serve solo travelers. The concierge desk provides a specially curated list of recommended local restaurants and bars for solo female guests. For more information about Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH), visit: www.slh.com.

 

 

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