What Women Want in Hotels and in Luxury Vacation Rentals
Aug. 19, 2006. Surveys of the vacation industry have consistently shown that women are the primary decision makers on where families stay when they go on vacation. Therefore, we are always alert to any articles that indicate what women prefer in their vacation accommodations. We read with interest an article titled “What Women (Really) Want" by Brenda Fields reprinted by Smith Travel Research.
While Ms. Fields’ article is aimed at identifying the unique needs of the woman business traveler, many of her observations are equally applicable to the woman vacation traveler. Her suggestions include (1) good personal security, (2) residential quality bedding—mattresses, linens, and pillows, (3) strategically placed hair dryers, (4) good lighting for applying make-up, (5) having the staff check to make sure the alarm clock is off, (6) full length mirrors, and (7) good quality detachable clothes hangers.
Every one of these suggestions is good for luxury vacation rentals. In our vacation rental development, my wife has always been in charge of what amenities we put in our vacation rentals and how they are decorated. Therefore, from the very beginning we have provided built- in hair dryers in our bathrooms and as many full-length mirrors as possible. Our cabins have always included certain unique decorator touches that appeal to women, but might be lost on men. In retrospect, I am sure that this “woman-friendly� approach is one of the key reasons for our success.
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