A new Marriot hotel in Grand Rapids, Michigan plans to have a women-only floor when it opens in September, as well as a women-only lounge. A hotel spokeswoman has said that since more than half of all business travelers are women, they are trying to create a space where women can feel comfortable, and avoid male advances. What do you think about this idea? Is it reverse discrimination? Do you think it’s necessary?
May 22, 2007
May 22, 2007 at 4:40 pm
Great idea to have women only spaces at Marriott Hotels. This should be aded to the advertising and encourage othrs to do the same.
May 22, 2007 at 4:40 pm
I do not travel for business so I can only speak from my experiences as a woman. I don’t think it is necessary to sequester women on their own floor. I don’t think women should be afraid to live among men. I refuse to give up my power to anyone. Some women prefer the company of other women but would also be outraged at a men’s only floor. I would be for this if there were men’s only floors as well. What’s good for the gander is good for the goose.
May 22, 2007 at 4:43 pm
I think this is a great idea! There have always been men’s clubs, gentlemen only spaces, etc…so this is a good step forward.
May 22, 2007 at 4:46 pm
This is absolutely necessary. We want to feel safe when we rest and recreate, which is why we have women-only gyms. It’s an equal opportunity world. I’m sure those that create our womens lounge are prepared for resistance, much like any “new” idea when it comes forward. Men have men-only clubs. The strength lies in numbers of women willing to have the courage of their convictions and not sell-out by allowing something like this to go down the tubes. It will be a pleasure to attend a function in a larger hotel and know we don’t have to stay in our rooms because of less than appropriate interactions with men also visiting the hotel.
May 22, 2007 at 4:54 pm
As a business traveler in the states & abroad, safety is always a concern. I would stay on a women’s only floor, and I know my coworkers feel the same. In addition to safey, it is nice to see other women business travelers and support each other, even if it is only a friendly smile in the elevator. I don’t feel as though I am giving up power to men (I work in a male dominated field). It is nice however, just to have a “break”.
As for the comment on “men’s only floor”, often when I travel, I feel as though every floor, every restaurant, every business lounge is men’s only, especially abroad where business women are still a rarity and safety is major concern.
May 22, 2007 at 4:55 pm
As a long time business traveler– I don’t feel this is necessary. I have never felt “unsafe” when on a business trip- as long as the hotel was a safe and secure facility. However the proof will be in the purchasing. If women want to support this- then more power to them- as for me– I will continue to “travel” as I always have- looking forward to meeting interesting and sometimes future clients.
May 22, 2007 at 5:32 pm
I travel some on business. In the past, I have never had a problem. However, on my last three-day trip in March, a man from the convention I was attending and had been in a small group with, kept showing up everywhere and hanging around. It gave me the creeps. When I would go to my hotel room at night, I’d make sure no one was following me and go quickly into my room. A women’s only floor would have been nice in this case.
May 22, 2007 at 5:47 pm
Unfortunately, it’s a terrific idea! Men have brought it on themselves since so many of them are predatory when they’re out of town.
May 22, 2007 at 6:06 pm
Despite that I want to feel like an empowered woman, some men still scare me. A strange man kocked at the door to my hotel room once. Sometimes I feel obligated to respond to people. Afterall, you never know if someone has harmful intentions or is just being nice. Predators use this uncertainty and sense of obligation to their advantage. Therefore, a women only floor is a great idea.
May 22, 2007 at 7:24 pm
I think this a silly idea that only serves to perpetuate the idea that women are helpless. I thought that as adults we had outgrown the single sex dorm. Both men and women need to learn to deal with each other.
May 22, 2007 at 7:58 pm
This idea would be more appealing if there weren’t so many places where women in the world of business are excluded–and deals and promotions are created–this only provides another reason for women to miss out on the “inside plays” –and gives men another excuse to ignore us when important things are going on and to see us as needing tp be protected.
We shouldn’t reward our own fears this way–women need to be more alert, and sensible, not take unnecessary chances, and not further “ghetto-ize” ourselves.
May 23, 2007 at 1:08 am
Can’t these women handle themselves? They should not be travelling, in that case. I travel all the time, for business, and this idea is proposterous! It goes against everthing we are trying to achieve as women. Creating segregation? That’s absolutely ludicrous!
May 23, 2007 at 1:13 am
I asked my 24 year old son what he thought, and he said it was a good thing. I went to a holiday inn in dec with two of my girlfriends and they were very leary of a man that was opening his door down the hall, and were kinda scared of him. He did not bother me as he looked like a dishelved professor to me, but to them he looked like a homeless bum that the red cross had put up for the night. I dont know, but they were really freaked by him and used a chair on the door, the hotel was being redone and it did not look the best in the world at the time. And there had been shootings at one across the street a few years back, so i think there is something to a woman feeling afraid for good reason.
May 23, 2007 at 2:57 am
As ridiculous as this idea sounds to most, I do believe that is is necessary in some places. I work at a motel in San Jose, CA and often I answer calls from women who ask me to escort them to their cars. Our property is completely safe and police patrolled but these women want to know for sure that they will not be bothered. In all honesty, this is a concept that I would readily embrace. My mother travels alone and my brother, a Chief in our U.S. Navy, still insists that she use a security escort at every airport, have only the hotel shuttle pick her up, and stay only in places we deem safe. This isn’t because she can’t handle herself as a woman, or because she’s scared. Rather, it is because her children, both world travelers living in large cities, have seen perfectly docile situations go horribly awry. That said, to each her own… those of you who don’t like the idea don’t need to stay on that floor. Those of you who do, I respect your desire for an uninterrupted stay and encourage you to ask your hotel’s concierge for directions to the best female friendly spots in town. You’d be suprised what’s out there. Thank you for reading my opinion. I hope you post your own.
May 23, 2007 at 7:14 am
This is absolutely going backwards! How would women feel if there is a “men only” floor in their hotel? I’m sure they would feel excluded, just as they have over the years with men only business networking clubs. Let’s focus on developing women’s leadership and networking skills so that they feel comfortable networking with business travelers, whether they be male or female.
May 23, 2007 at 9:23 am
I don’t like this in theory, but it serves men right if we can’t learn to behave. Should there then be men only spaces?
May 23, 2007 at 10:32 am
I think this is a great idea! It’s very difficult to travel alone and safety is always an issue. I believe this will create a safe haven for business travelers and it will be good for business as well.
May 23, 2007 at 3:01 pm
I really think that this is reverse discrimination. If we want to be truly equal then we need to stop saying we should have something men don’t have. How many “mens only clubs” are really left? I can’t name one. I love spending time with my women friends, but I also love hanging with my male friends as well. I would not stay on this kind of floor and as one commentor said, you need to mix with both men and women in buisness.
May 24, 2007 at 7:53 am
I think this is a wonderful idea. I have always been a believer in women having alot more power and say so in everything. This is something that should have happened years ago. lets face it, men have always been in charge and have had everything made to suit them. Let the ladies have more power and control. This is a sign that women are moving up. I am so glad to see these things happening in my lifetime.
May 24, 2007 at 6:41 pm
I believe this is a very good idea. I traveled extensively for years for the company I worked for and after trying to eat in the hotel restaurant sand having men approach me, I succumbed to room service for my meals. I even had men watch me check in, follow me to see what room I entered and then call my room. I would end up spending all of my time in my room, not even feeling confortable working out unless there were other women in the workout room.
I felt angry and sad that I was not able to enjoy the same freedom as men could traveling alone, i.e. enjoy a drink in the lounge or a nice meal in the hotel restaurant. Now, at least in Grand Rapids, women can enjoy what men have always been able to enjoy while traveling without the worry of being bothered by agressive males.
May 27, 2007 at 7:38 pm
Yes, this is reverse discrimination. Which gender is being discriminated against doesn’t matter, only that it is happening. Now, if they also have a men’s only floor, and they are of equal quality, then it wouldn’t be discriminatory. Either way, I wouldn’t book a room there, I think it’s rather silly.
June 6, 2007 at 10:57 am
As an African American male business traveler, I have probably been discriminated against more than any of the women that want women only floors. I would much rather be have unwanted advances from the opposite sex, than to be arrested for being the wrong race in a “nice area”. There have been times while walking down a hotel floor I have been assumed to on the staff. I can no longer count the number of times I was assumed “persona no grata”. The only good thing that has come out of these “woman only” floors is showing people that discrimination is not limited to white males.
June 6, 2007 at 11:04 pm
I would call this segregation, it is a very scary development and I am very much against it. The hotel (and all of society for that matter) should work on developing a safe environment for everybody, men and women. Not trying to segregate certain groups.
August 6, 2007 at 11:38 am
A graduate from University of Ghana.
April 8, 2008 at 10:34 pm
I think that it is a nice ideal, but not so practical. I would enjoy a women’s only lounge for the fact that I feel that women have a different dynamic when in a group together than the dynamic of a group of men and women mixed and sometimes I enjoy opportunities to take part in this female dynamic. I do see it as tricky though when it comes to excluding people. As a single mom of a son–I wouldn’t want him to get to an age where he was too young to be left alone, but too old to make the room feel “women’s only”–I may or may not bring him along for business travel–but I feel like as a women I could still get excluded from this kind of a place. Plus, like the person above commented, I don’t like the idea of men being demonized if they go on the wrong floor by accident. Being excluded isn’t fun.
April 16, 2008 at 8:35 am
A women only floor sounds like a good idea but discrimination is discrimination. I think the hotel is looking for trouble. Women approach business men as well. I think if a person is interested in another person enough (good intentions or not) they will make contact no matter what floor they are on. How about the men who are approached by men and women or the women being approach by other women? Would the hotel start giving every group their own floor? I don’t think it is a good idea. It’s like segregation all over again.