They are increasingly coming into wealth, either as small-business owners or
as corporate executives.
Women control US$14 trillion in wealth in the United States, and that is
expected to grow to US$22 trillion in the next decade, according to the Business
Women's Network, an information source for professional women.
As more women climb the corporate ladder or carve a niche for themselves as
entrepreneurs, corporate travel is having a female makeover. A growing band of
women find their lives increasingly being taken up by having to rush off to the
next meeting often thousands of miles away.
The number of women travelling on business has doubled in the past five years
the fastest growing market in executive travel, says British Airways.
Women comprise 40 per cent of the business travel market in the Asia-Pacific
region, while 30 years ago the figure was only 10 per cent, according to a
recent survey by MasterCard.
From a greater choice of magazines on airplanes to female-only hotel staff,
the travel industry is slowly acknowledging that one of its fastest growing
segments is female passengers.
British Airways last year hired a woman in a marketing campaign for the first
time.
Virgin Atlantic offers in-flight beauty therapists who offer women
treatments.
But many female executives believe there is still a long way to go and there
needs to be universal understanding, from airlines to hotels, to make sure that
the safety, privacy and comfort needs of them are met.
"I don't see any privileges that female travellers have. In some airlines,
the business class chair does not even fit females very well," says Lucille Wu,
managing director of Manpower China.
Business travel can be a burden on an already hectic work schedule. But lots
of female executives find the time spent alone in the air can provide a welcome
short break from tedious office work.
"Usually I try not to work on the plane, though it is difficult. It's the
time I get to rest," says Reene Ho-Phang, managing director of BrandStory Inc.
"During my travels, there is lots of time alone. It is when I find time to
take a break from e-mails and reflect on my life. Natural scenery like that in
Southwest China's Yunnan Province or in India inspires me to think about my life
and my mission."
This week, three high-flying women share their business travel tips with us.
(For more biz stories, please visit Industry Updates)