Getting rid of wrinkles...

Remember trying to make creased business suits wearable by hanging them in a steamy bathroom? Or paying a fortune to have something pressed by housekeeping? What about waiting too long for the one iron on your floor to be delivered to your room? Those days have gone, ladies. Now each room has its own ironing board and high-quality steam iron as standard equipement. Ms. Biz can do her own touch-ups if, when, and how she wishes.

Complimentary cheesecake and coffee...

Each hotel offers an exclusive club level with private lounge serving breakfast in the morning, tea in the afternoon and hors d'oeuvres and drinks in the late afternoon and evening. These private lounges are a boon to the female business traveller. True, she is still dining solo but now it's in a smaller more protected atmosphere. At the Swissotel, a computer and library of dictionaries are on hand for last minute revisions to proposals and for collecting e-mail free of charge. At the Crowne Plaza Silversmith, those women not wanting to venture out alone in the evening can enjoy complimentary cheesecake and coffee in the hotel lounge every Monday to Thursday.

There's still more...

The list of other female-friendly standard equipement we found in Chicago goes on and on to include full-length mirrors, padded suit hangers along with skirt hangers, a fridge or mini bar and always a desk, ergonomic chair and handy computer data port for Ms. Biz. Want even more? The Park Hyatt Chicago also provides emergency computer technical support (an invaluable perk from Journeyman's point of view) and the room at the Swissotel had a fax machine as well.

Last, but not least, let's look at the staff attitudes Journeywoman encountered at the four hotels surveyed. Each and every one of these establishments provided us with polished, respectful, unbiased service. We cannot imagine a male guest receiving any more or less than Journeywoman did.

We believe that this mini research is indicative of the new women-centered trends present in five star hotels and which are starting to trickle down to the more moderately priced establishments serving business women not only in North America but around the world. Three cheers for the hotel industry. Journeywoman salutes you!