In a more concentrated effort, airlines have launched programs such as Delta's Executive Woman's Travel Network, for which demand was so great that the airline created a waiting list. And hotel chains including Crowne Plaza, Wyndham, Westin, and Ritz-Carlton are convening advisory boards of female business travelers and retraining their staffs in an effort to hone service. In the process, some travel companies discovered that past efforts to reach out to women were viewed as mere window dressing. Women told us uniformly that they weren't represented properly in promotional material. This time, they're trying not to stereotype.
Security remains a top concern for female travelers.
Hotels are getting more safety conscious. The Omni Los Angeles Hotel instructs staff to write down room numbers, not announce them. James McManemon, general manager of the Ritz-Carlton in Atlanta, was surprised when he recently invited some frequent female guests to lunch. Instead, he uncovered more serious complaints. He looked into it.