The more, the better!
There are many barometers of measuring how successful your motel business is doing. One simple sure-fire indicator is the number of female business travellers that stay at your establishment. If your accommodation business has a steady stream of regular female business travellers, then you can be assured that you are running a successful business.
A single female on business that chooses your motel above all others is a badge of honor. They are the most perceptive and fussy of all guests and if you can satisfy this group, then give yourself a pat on the back - you must be doing it right!
As moteliers we have empathy for travelling businesswoman and we are aware that they endure special challenges above the more common variety male traveller.
We enjoy reading the blog, Catus Kate that gives snapshots of life and current affairs from a right wing feminist perspective.
With the titillating story of Richard Worth unfolding, Cactus gives us her timely advice on what a businesswoman should be aware of when travelling:
1. Your hotel room is your bedroomSource: Click HERE
Never let anyone into your hotel room under any circumstances while on business, treat the room as you would the bedroom of your house. If people want to meet you at the hotel make them wait in reception or at the bar. Never accept invitations for something even as innocent as going to a man's room to pick up papers. Make him bring them down to you at reception or send a hotel staff member to get them.
2. Be very careful drinking
Always know where the toilet and the taxis are. That way if you need to leave a bar or restaurant you have an escape route. Never get drunk around a client unless you are personally comfortable with them. Never be in a situation where you have to rely on a taxi being present. If in doubt or in a new city, get the hotel to order you a driver to pick you up at a set time at the restaurant. It is important if you are not a good drinker that you practice in the safety of your friends and home to find out precisely how much you can drink. I have had plenty of practice and know almost to the glass what I can handle before I need to leave. The only time I fail is when I am in the company of very good friends, never on business or in front of a client.
3. Invite the wife
If meeting clients or other businessmen for dinner or drinks that are male, always invite the wife. Not only does it neutralise any intentions the man may have, it also creates a far safer environment for you to do business. It also makes the wife comfortable that you are doing business with her husband if you at least invite her.
4. Never flirt with a client
There is a fine line between being nice and having a client enjoy your company, and danger when it comes to having the client believe you want a sexual relationship with them. Never cross that line.
5. Never sleep with a client or anyone in your industry
News spreads and if you are known for sleeping with clients or other members in your industry it will almost always eventually be detrimental to your career.
6. Do not always trust hotel staff
Hotel staff particularly in Asia are not well paid and often work as informants for criminal gangs and people who wish harm on travellers. Tip the staff to look after you but as a female travelling alone on business you are a very large target so extra caution is needed. Always deadlock your hotel door and be as less conspicious as possible around the hotel.
7. Conferences
Never give out your room details to other conference attendees and never drink with men after hours at conferences unless either other women are present or you are completely comfortable with the men. Conference organisers are usually women so make yourself known to them when you arrive as chances are you will be one of only a few females in attendance. Always try to stay at the conference hotel as it will mean you will not be stuck arranging transport after hours or to off site dinners and functions.
8. Drinks
Always be present when your drink is poured. Insist on an ice bucket placed next to you for wine or champagne so you can watch even the waiter pour the alcohol from the bottle to ensure it is not contaminated. That bad hangover may not be 100% alcohol related. This is particularly important in Asian countries but increasingly important in Western countries as well.
9. Hotels and Flights
Get to know the locations you travel to and do ALL the bookings yourself. Even when a client suggests a certain hotel, research it and ensure that it is central, as safe as it can be and family friendly. That is, until you are confident of handling the situation, be careful as a female travelling to "business" hotels as they are often full of travelling males, choose family chain hotels instead.
10. Hotel bars
If you have to drink at a hotel bar make sure once again that you watch the staff as they may receive larger tips from men for information about you than you give to the staff to look out for you. If drinking alone, expect men to come and talk to you. They will not necessarily be interested in what you are doing, but more interested in picking you up.
11. Hotel cars
In Asia a driver from the hotel is a cost-efficient method a travel and safer than using local taxis so I recommend simply hiring a driver for the day for meetings. In Western countries however you will be forced to use taxis and public transport to get around so you must study each country you travel to and work out the safest and most efficient method.
12. Men on business
They are in the same position that you are. Away from home, on their own and bored after hours. Whereas women can happily order room service and watch television before going off to bed early, men cannot and generally are more adventurous in looking for entertainment. Unless you are very interested in a man, don't go near travelling businessmen until you are confident enough to get out of the situation that will inevitably happen nine times out of ten - that he will attempt to have sexual relations with you.
13. After hours
Under no circumstances should you be out on your own after dark, particularly in a city you are not familiar with. Always aim to end your day meetings before it gets dark so you have time to get back to the hotel and either take a hotel car to dinner with clients or retire for the night. If absolutely necessary to entertain a client in the hotel, pick the "business" restaurant and not the "romantic" one. Most large hotels have a distinct selection of restaurants and bars for such purposes.
14. Emergencies
Especially at the most expensive business orientated hotels, staff are on call for you 24/7 to run errands. Do not be afraid to use them as it will mean you don't have to go out after-hours or unnecessarily during the day so you can stay safer. Even if the services are expensive, it is always cost effective once you factor in your time, energy on staying safe and the transportation cost to get to where you need to go.
15. Your Boss
Speak to your boss about the clients you handle. If he or she is a good boss they will not assign any clients to you that they suspect will cause you any of these issues. In Asia frequently the female staff are assigned "safe" clients or clients that you can meet at their offices. The Big Boss will then fly over and deal with clients he knows like to go out after-hours for certain activities. A good boss will differentiate this for you and never put you in a position where you have to ward off advances from his or hers clients.
16. Never accept an invitation by a client to a strip club or night area
As a female this will never end well. Men generally only invite you to be polite, they don't actually want you to come with them. Learn the areas in the different cities that you travel to that are dedicated for sexual entertainment and until you are confident in that environment, stay well away. In Bangkok it is Patpong or Nana, in Hong Kong it is Wan Chai, Singapore it is the infamous "four floors of whores" on Orchard Road.
17. Business Class
If travelling business class or using lounge facilities, chances are you will also be one of a few females at least mid-week that will be flying in that section of the aircraft or using the lounge. Until you are comfortable with the attention, keep to yourself and do not engage in any unnecessary conversation with fellow passengers. Outside a hotel bar, I consider business class to be the single largest attempted pick-up join in town.
18. Are you married?
This is a leading question that men will ask you while you are travelling on business. If you are not completely comfortable, many times it is easier just to say you are. Not always, but sometimes, men will back off at that point on the grounds that you are probably going to be too difficult to pursue in terms of women having a guiltier conscience about extra-marital sex than men.
