MYSTERY BUYER
ABOUT SEX LET’S TALK
Is it sensible to implement risk mitigation based on gender alone? If not, why do some suppliers still do it?
M
OST WOMEN TRAVEL SAFELY around the world each year. However culturally, attitudes to women can differ vastly in some of the countries female travellers may find themselves in for business. We are also often perceived as an easy target for crime, and should we report the crime in some countries, we could be treated as an offender. How many women reading this article have nervously walked across a poorly lit area clutching a mobile phone with the police on speed dial or a key to potentially use as a weapon? According to research carried out in 2018 by the GBTA and ser- viced apartment specialist WWStay, 61 per cent of respondents feel it is important to consider the safety of female travellers when implementing risk management programmes. When asked about their top concerns for women on the road, buyers cited travel to certain countries or cities, sexual harassment and assault or kidnapping. To address these concerns, some hotel chains have introduced “female friendly” rooms and floors dedicated to single women guests. In my role, which also in- cludes security manager duties, and as a female traveller, I read about these rooms and I pause: is there a genuine need for this service, or are hotels playing on that “walking across a poorly lit area” fear? Perhaps the hotel offers a dedicated floor for lone female travellers – what level is this dedicated floor on? I recommend my travellers stay between the second and sixth floors in a hotel – any higher and a rescue in the event of a fire could be difficult. I would also recom- mend that lone female travellers avoid rooms close to stairways so this could rule out certain rooms, too. But is putting female travellers on a dedicated floor infantilising often very high-level female executives? These room types don’t take into account their
buyingbusinesstravel.com
experience as travellers, their own personal safety rules and the support and advice provided by their company. In addition, these room types don’t consider public areas and other minimum safety requirements, such as 24/7 manned reception, a well-lit entrance or a bar/restaurant area where females won’t have to endure harassment and unwanted attention.
FACING THE FACTS SOME
HOTELS HAVE ‘FEMALE FRIENDLY’ ROOMS
The unfortunate truth is that women do face greater risks than men, especially when travelling alone, but is implementing risk mitigation purely on the basis of their gender the most effective way to assess travellers? To quote The Good Fight’s’ Diane Lockhart, “Women aren’t just one thing.” If you categorise female travellers in one group you ignore other potential equally sig- nificant risks, such as experience (or lack of) as a traveller, cultural differences, ethnicity, religion, mobility and disability, are they LGBTQ+ and are they “out” in the community? Take, for example,
some travel health issues. In my experience of dealing with traveller incidents, malaria is
often a lamentable risk of overseas travel; a mosquito doesn’t care about religious or cultural differences and mitigation advice is universal. It is vital that all travellers, no matter their gender or risk profile, are aware of health risks, cultural and societal differ- ences when visiting any country and to take steps to reduce the risk of any dangers.
2020 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 53
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